#TobaccoFreeNJ News

Ashley Smith
Jul 22
5 min read

The #TobaccoFreeNJ quarterly newsletter, 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 and Prevention, which works to reduce tobacco use and the negative impact of secondhand smoke in all counties of New Jersey.

FEATURED NEWS

BREAKING NEWS:

On June 26, 2025, Tobacco-Free for a Healthy NJ hosted a No Butts on the Beach, Smoke-Free Summer Event at Bradley Park in Asbury Park New Jersey. Incorruptible.Us youth, local officials and public health advocates came together to remind everyone that all parks and beaches are 100% Smoke-free in NJ, it is the law. Thank you Assemblywoman Margie Donlon for attending the event and supporting our work across the state.

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NEW TRENDS:

As part of a funded NIH/FDA initiative, a large collaborative network of tobacco and nicotine experts have been assembled to integrate multiple data sources to establish the Center for Rapid Surveillance of Tobacco (CRST). CRST aims to systematically assess and quickly disseminate changes in tobacco marketing, the marketplace, and use behaviors.

Tobacco Industry Monitoring (TIM) Alert— TIM is a weekly report that highlights timely findings related to the marketing of tobacco products, as well as other topics of interest to tobacco regulatory science. Information is collected across various channels, such as consumer and retailer magazines, social media, press releases, and more. Stay up to date with the tobacco product marketplace by signing up here .

Grizzly has released a line of limited-edition smokeless cans in theme with their care restoration sweepstakes, advertised on Instagram and the brand website. The "American Resto" cans are stylized like classic cards, with chrome and wood paneling designs.

Geek Bar has promoted a new Patriot Edition for their Pulse and Pulse X models, with the American flag design and animations. Limited flavors for this release include Watermelon Ice, Fcuking Fab, Miami Mint, and Blue Razz Ice.

TOBACCO PREVENTION HIGHLIGHTS

New Jersey Prevention Network Annual Conference

Dr. Brian King, formerly with the CDC and the FDA, was one of the keynote speakers on the opening day of the 25th annual NJPN Conference held in Atlantic City on June 12th and 13th, 2025. Dr. King now serves as the Executive Vice President for US Programs for Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. During his keynote presentation, Dr. King highlighted all that has been accomplished in tobacco prevention and control over many decades including the policy successes in NJ. He also focused on the work that still needs to be done. Dr. King emphasized the strong connection between tobacco use, mental health and addiction recovery. CEO and Executive Director of NJPN, Diane Litterer and Tobacco Free for a Healthy NJ staff met with Dr. King to thank him for his commitment and expertise in tobacco prevention and control.

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No Menthol May/Tobacco & The Environment

This past quarter Incorruptible.Us created social media content for our focus topic – Tobacco and the Environment. During this quarter, our youth focused on exposing Big Tobacco and the Vaping industry for their negative impacts on our environment. In addition to our quarterly focus topic, our youth also participated in content creation for Tobacco Free for a Healthy New Jersey’s No Menthol May campaign – highlighting the impact that menthol products have on rates of nicotine addiction, and the disproportionate effect that those products have on communities of color.

To learn more about the No Menthol May Campaign, visit: https://www.tobaccofreenj.com/nomentholmay

To learn more about Incorruptible.Us, please visit

https://www.incorruptibleus.org/

We are so proud to celebrate the graduating seniors who dedicated their time and passion to Incorruptible.Us. These student leaders have been powerful voices for change—raising awareness about the dangers of vaping, promoting healthy choices, and inspiring their peers to live substance-free lives. Their courage, leadership, and commitment to vaping prevention have made a lasting impact in their schools and communities. Thank you for being part of Incorruptible Us!

TFHNJ Initiative Spotlight

On June 17th the Working Well Tobacco-Free initiative hosted a Tobacco-Free Tuesday webinar titled “Changing the Narrative: Promoting Smoke-Free Recovery in Behavioral Health Settings.” Dr. Michael Steinberg, the Medical Director at Rutgers Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies, along with Melanie Bennet, the Director of Intensive Outpatient Treatment and Support Services at Preferred Behavioral Health Group, and Atlantic Prevention Resources spoke from their field’s perspectives and shared cessation resources on the webinar. The webinar’s overall focus was how tobacco and smoke-free policy can be helpful in changing the culture of smoking in recovery, and how cessation options are beneficial to both employees and clients, as both populations have higher tobacco use.

View Webinar Recording Here

On June 24th Tobacco-Free for a Healthy NJ hosted a webinar titled, "Beyond the Ban, The Role of Law Enforcement in the E-Cigarette Flavor Ban." Captain Jason Piotrowski from New Jersey State Police and Project Director, Jacob Delbridge from Counter Tools spoke on the webinar designed for law enforcement officers, school resource officers, and public health partners who play a key role in enforcing youth tobacco laws. With the rise in flavored e-cigarette use among youth and the implementation of Tobacco 21 legislation, effective enforcement strategies are more important than ever.

View Webinar Recording Here

TOBACCO FREE COMMUNITY DESIGNATION

Congratulations Franklin Lakes for receiving 15 points and their Tobacco-Free Community Designation. South Plainfield received 10 points, and Gloucester Township, Galloway Township, and Franklin Township all received 5 points towards their Tobacco-Free Community Designation. Municipalities can pass a point-of-sale ordinance, a smoke-free outdoor ordinance that goes beyond the State Law or other actions like sharing free statewide cessation resources or passing a resolution that supports smoke free workplaces including outdoor dining spaces in order to earn points toward the designation.

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