Nicotine Facts
FACT #1:
According to 2022-2023 TN Together Student Survey, 16.5% of students report using electronic cigarettes in the past month.
FACT #2:
According to 2022-2023 TN Together Student Survey, the average age of initiation of cigarette use is 13.5.
Our Impact
IMPACT #1:
CCDP will impact electronic cigarette use by decreasing the percentage of use in the past month by 3% by 2026
IMPACT #2:
CCDP will impact the average age of initiation of cigarette use through nicotine education at the elementary school level resulting in a delay of first initiation.
Carter County Drug Prevention and Nicotine
A coalition is required to focus on the following Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Seven Strategies according to the Tennessee Department of Health and Substance Abuse Services and the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The ways we focus on these strategies for reducing youth tobacco use are:
- Policy, Practice, or Procedure Change
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- Work to make public places in Elizabethton tobacco-free- including electronic nicotine delivery systems.
- Promote school policies that support a positive school climate and referral to appropriate supports like INDEPTH.
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- Providing Information
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- Collaborate with local and regional partners to co-host presentations, seminars, and/or workshops on tobacco.
- Utilize youth coalition members to talk to elected officials about the culture of tobacco in the county.
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- Building Skills
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- Send local teenagers to the statewide TNStrong Convention to become peer mentors for tobacco prevention and Send coalition staff and youth board members to trainings around implementing peer led strategies.
- Educate community coaching staff on dangers of tobacco use in athletes
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- Providing Support
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- Document campaigns done by youth board
- Document number of materials distributed to youth and parents
- Collect data on citations given and locations
- Provide education to offending locations
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- Increase Barriers/Reduce Access
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- Recruit the faith community and other community groups to provide recovery and cessation resources.
- Provide signage to local retailers, businesses, parks, and sports complexes requesting them not to use tobacco products
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- Reduce Barriers/Increase Access
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- Create a positive school climate and access to early intervention opportunities for youth and families through Triple P parenting and other programs
- Provide a safe space in downtown Elizabethton for youth to access healthy activities and referral to community services
- Promote TN tobacco Quitline
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- Changing Incentives/Consequences
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- Recognize community partners for their role in addressing tobacco use
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- Changing the Physical Design of the Environment
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- Provide technical assistance and support for multi-unit housing organizations in their development of tobacco free policies
- Encourage signs to be posted in public buildings stating that smoking is prohibited
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