Welcome to our 1st issue of #TobaccoFreeNJ quarterly newsletter for 2021, created to keep you in the know! Tobacco Free for a Healthy NJ is a comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation program funded by the NJ Department of Health, Office of Tobacco Control which works to reduce tobacco use and the negative impact of second hand smoke in all counties of New Jersey.
FEATURED NEWS
COVID-19 Vaccine Available for Individuals with
Chronic Conditions, Including Smoking!
BREAKING NEWS: NJ residents with chronic conidtions can now register for the COVID-19 vaccine. READ MORE
State of Tobacco Control Report Card: 2021
It’s report card time. The American Lung Association recently released its “State of Tobacco Control” reports which focus on state and federal government efforts to prevent and reduce tobacco. Read More!
Click Below for More Information on NJ's Cessation Resources!
Tobacco Prevention Highlights
Smoke-Free Housing Pledge
Tobacco Free for a Healthy NJ (TFHNJ) works to increase opportunities for Smoke-Free living for all New Jersey residents. We accomplish this by providing assistance to housing authorities, property managers, and landlords who want to implement or improve their Smoke-Free Housing policy, reduce costs attributed to smoking and improve the health of their residents. To better help you adapt to making your home smoke-free, you can now take the pledge to keep your house smoke-free!
Take Down Tobacco
Tobacco Free for a Healthy NJ is pleased to partner with Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids for Take Down Tobacco, National Day of Action on April 1, 2021. Every year, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, a national organization leading the way to reduce tobacco use, uses the National Day of Action to “empower people to stand up and speak out against the tobacco industry.” Although the Take Down Tobacco Program spans every day of the year, the National Day of Action is an opportunity to refocus attention on the marketing tactics of Big Tobacco. This year’s event will be held on April Fool’s Day to let the tobacco industry know that no one will be fooled anymore by their efforts to create another generation addicted to tobacco products. Get your community involved today and visit the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Take Down Tobacco’s website!
Eliminate Tobacco Use Summit
The 2021 Eliminate Tobacco Use Virtual Summit will be taking place on April 14th and 15th, 2021. The summit will bring together experts from across the nation from agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, American Non-Smokers Rights Foundation, and the National Council on Behavioral Health to share evidence-based best practices for your college campus. Day one will feature workshops and discussions regarding tools for tobacco-free campus policy adoption/compliance, health equity and tobacco-related disparity resources and cessation services geared for the young adult population. Day two will focus on NJ specific needs and resources, sparking collaboration & action planning.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
NEW JERSEY
NJ Prohibits the sale of Flavored E-cigarettes & Discounting | EFFECTIVE April 20, 2020
READ MORE: NJ Flavor Law
READ MORE: NJ Coupon Law
Proposed bill to prohibit sale of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices at pharmacies and certain businesses with on-site pharmacies.
Requires tobacco product retailers to carry and offer for sale certain tobacco use cessation products.
S1878/A4541
Proposed bill to eliminate smoking ban exemption for Casinos and Simulcasting Facilities.
FEDERAL
Federal Enforcement Priorities for E-cigarette Products | EFFECTIVE February 2020
National Tobacco 21 | EFFECTIVE December 2019
TFHNJ INITIATIVE SPOTLIGHT
NJ Colleges & Universities Implementing Tobacco & Smoke Free Policies (NJ CUITS)
Tobacco-Free for a Healthy NJ’s NJColleges & Universities Implementing Tobacco & Smoke-Free Policies (NJ CUITS) initiative’s goal is to enhance statewide efforts to institutionalize comprehensive tobacco-free college policies, targeting 18-24-year-old young adults, and create an environment that supports tobacco-free living as well as quitting.
Three new schools have been awarded the NJCUITS grant and we are excited to be working with them to help create a tobacco free campus! We recognize The County College of Morris, Rowan College of Burlington County, and Rutgers University.
Tobacco-Free Ride Pledge
Tobacco- Free Ride Pledge launched in January and encourages everyone who may travel with children to sign the pledge at TobaccoFreeRidePledge.com!
The pledge is in Spanish for our Spanish readers! With every pledge, a car kit will be mailed and it includes a first aid kit, tire pressure gauge, ‘Clean Lungs on Board’ car magnet and much more (as supplies last). Secondhand and thirdhand smoke have serious consequences to our health, and there is no safe amount! This class A carcinogen builds up over time to toxic levels, putting the health of our children and ourselves at risk. Take the pledge to keep your car smoke-free. Take the pledge to protect your family from the cancer causing agents in tobacco smoke!
New Jersey QUITLINE
The New Jersey Quitline had New Year’s goals, and are delivering! As January 1st approached, the Quitline aired multiple infomercials from staff and celebrities encouraging smokers to take the first step. The NJQuitline website is always up to date and currently has information about COVID-19, self-help materials, the provider toolkit and much more. The provider toolkit is constantly updated with information about our state tobacco coalitions, FDA-approved cessation medications and all things tobacco. That’s not all - coming soon is Spanish self-help material! Are you a provider/clinician looking to make a Spanish referral now? Spanish referral forms are available, please reach out to tobaccofreenj@snjpc.org to learn how you can get a referral form today.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tobacco-Free Tuesdays Series
We will be doing another round of Tobacco Free Tuesdays series! We will have more information availible on our website at https://www.tobaccofreenj.com/tft.
