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Team Changes
The Tobacco Prevention and Control Program proudly welcomes Kayla Langford as the new Tobacco Cessation Specialist. Kayla brings extensive experience in local public health, having previously worked for the McDonald County Health Department for 10 years. She believes in the power of communication and collaboration to ensure everyone has access to a safe and healthy environment. Kayla can be reached at kayla.langford@health.mo.gov.
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New resources for providers and patients are available on the Tobacco Prevention and Control website and are FREE to order.
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Tobacco Cessation Health Systems Change
Twenty-three health care and behavioral health care providers attended the DIMENSIONS Tobacco Free Program Advanced Techniques training in Jefferson City November 13-14. Participants were trained to facilitate the DIMENSIONS Tobacco Free Group curriculum—a 6-week tobacco cessation group. The one-and-a-half day in-person training also covered the fundamentals of tobacco and how to engage clients in one-on-one conversations about tobacco cessation.
Ten behavioral health and health care organizations participate in a tobacco cessation
community of practice and have identified rapid improvement goals to implement or expand their tobacco use disorder (TUD) treatment services.
If you are interested in joining next year’s health systems change community of practice or in person DIMENSIONS training, please contact Kayla Langford at Kayla.Langford@health.mo.gov.
View previous webinar recordings here.
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New Missouri Tobacco Quit Services Campaigns
The latest Missouri Tobacco Quit Services campaign reminds Missourians of their “why” to quit in the first place and that free help is available through Missouri Tobacco Quit Services. The campaign reminds Missourians that many chronic health conditions including lung disease, diabetes, and heart complications are worsened by tobacco use. This campaign will run through April and has already reached nearly 12 million Missourians.
Missouri Tobacco Quit Services are FREE, confidential, and an effective way to help Missourians, ages 13 and up, quit all forms of tobacco, including e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
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What Finally Worked
This My Life, My Quit campaign shows teens that help is available to start their quit journey with confidence. This campaign will run through March and has already led 19,178 people to MyLifeMyQuit.com.
Teens 13-17, can enroll to find ongoing support from trained Tobacco Treatment Specialists to be free from nicotine at Mylifemyquit.com.
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FAQ about Vape Detectors!
Are vape detectors evidence-based?
There is no research to suggest that vape detectors in schools prevent or reduce youth vaping. Since youth are heavily and predatorily targeted by the industry, the CDC recommends that accountability for youth vaping should primarily fall on 1) retailers who violate existing laws that prohibit sales to minors and 2) e-cigarette manufacturers who use marketing tactics known to appeal to youth.
Are vape detectors working to reduce student vaping?
Schools across Missouri have spent thousands of dollars to outfit their campuses with vape detectors. However, the detectors have not stopped or reduced student vaping. Students outsmart them by covering the sensor with plastic wrap, vandalizing, or damaging the device until it is unable to work. These devices don't keep kids from vaping because they do not address students’ underlying nicotine addiction, and will therefore continue to vape until their addiction is addressed.
What is the alternative solution?
The CDC recommends schools adopt comprehensive tobacco-free campus policies, which are effective to support and reinforce tobacco-free norms for all students, employees, and visitors. These policies increase cessation and prevent and reduce tobacco use, including vaping. An effective policy includes implementation of evidence-based prevention education for all students, cessation access offered to everyone violating the policy and promoted with the campus community, and supportive discipline tobacco education as part of a supportive discipline framework, which is an effective alternative to punitive suspension. See guide here.
Are schools required to be be tobacco-free?
Some states have passed legislation requiring tobacco-free school campuses and allocated funds for implementation, whereas Missouri law (RSMo Section 191.775) only requires schools to be tobacco-free indoors.
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What's new in the vaping industry?
Newer e-cigarettes have features similar to those found in smartphones. These so called "smart vapes" have digital display screens and can include games and reward systems for vaping, such as points and rankings. These features may make the products even more appealing and addictive to youth.
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Need data to make the case for prevention policies? Check out the new Tobacco Prevention Infographic developed by the Tobacco Prevention and Control Strategic Plan Workgroup!
Youth Leadership Program
Check out Next to Rise youth's latest blog posts here! This policy focused youth-led program gives high school students a platform to work together to create positive change in Missouri. Explore what the youth have been up to at Nexttorise.org or contact christyinskip@health.mo.gov to learn more.
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 Dark Balloons Represent Secondhand Smoke Risks
Secondhand smoke sometimes looks and smells different these days. That doesn’t mean it isn’t harmful. The current Dark Balloons campaign raises Missourians’ awareness of secondhand smoke and vape aerosol risks and presence in the places where we work, live, and play. Learn more about the danger of secondhand smoke and vape aerosol and how to prevent exposure by visiting Smoke Free Environments.
Become a Show Me Smokefree Partner
Visit ShowMeSmokefree.com to learn more or join the movement to increase access to smoke-free air and explore partner resources.
Show Me Smokefree also has dedicated Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages with shareable videos, images, and other content explaining the importance of increasing access to smoke-free air in Missouri.
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Congratulations McDonald County
The city of Noel is celebrating the implementation of 100% smoke-free parks. Local businesses, Rosa’s Mexican Supermarket and Shadow Lake also implemented smoke-free worksite policies. These wins are a result of hard work by local champions with technical assistance and provided by the Department of Health and Senior Services. Click here to read more!
Read more about all of the great tobacco prevention work being done at the local level HERE!
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Congratulations Brookview Management
Brookview Management manages 27 apartment complexes throughout Missouri. All 27 complexes will implement a smoke-free housing policy on February 1st, 2025 that will protect the health of all residents and staff. Please join us in congratulating Brookview Management on this amazing accomplishment!
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Calling all Missouri property owners and managers!
The Missouri Tobacco Prevention and Control Program has a new smoke-free housing toolkit to help properties implement smoke-free polices that protect residents, increase profits, and reduce fire risk. The toolkit includes tools for speaking to residents, model polices, and sample enforcement plans that reduce negative outcomes for residents. For technical assistance with smoke-free housing, contact Jennifer.VanBooven@health.mo.gov or calling 573-751-3746.
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Upcoming Conferences and Trainings
Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training (In-person)
Registration closes February 28th! Participants must complete 9 online self-paced modules one week prior to the training on March 25-27th, 2025.
Experience three days of in-person training with a comprehensive approach to learning evidence-based treatment for individuals to master the core competencies defined by the Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence (ATTUD) and obtain the necessary training required to apply for the National Certificate in Tobacco Treatment Practice (NCTTP). Visit Tobaccofree.missouri.edu/tts-training to complete an application and find additional information. Please email quitnow@health.missouri.edu with any questions.
Meeting of the Minds
The Meeting of the Minds Conference is scheduled for April 10-12, 2025 in person at the St. Louis Airport Marriott. The conference features a fantastic subtrack of sessions on tobacco prevention and control, featured in the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Prevention track. For more information and to register visit http://mopiptraining.org/mom. Visit the featured sessions site at Featured Sessions – Meeting of the Minds.
Moving Missouri Forward: Transportation Equity Summit
Presented by Local Motion and sponsored by the Missouri Foundation for Health. The Summit will be held April 16-18, 2025, in Columbia, MO. This three-day event will connect leaders, policymakers, advocates, and community members to explore and enhance transportation equity across the state. It will feature engaging discussions, workshops, and impactful speakers focused on creating inclusive, accessible, and sustainable transportation solutions. Attendees can expect to leave with practical information to create safer roads and transportation options and connect with more transportation advocates across the state. To register for the Summit and to read the full details, click on the link here: https://lomocomo.org/summit/
National Eliminate Tobacco Use Summit and Missouri Summit
The National Eliminate Tobacco Use Summit welcomes a variety of professionals working in higher education, professionals working in tobacco prevention, cessation, and policy, as well as community and non-profit partners whose mission aligns with that of Eliminate Tobacco Use. Find registration details HERE.
Eliminate Tobacco Use Summit March 11, 2025 Register HERE!
National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH)
Registration is Now Open for 2025 NCTOH! Join us on August 26-28, 2025, at the Sheraton Grand Riverwalk in Chicago, Illinois to meet with colleagues from around the country and to learn about best practices and innovations for all aspects of tobacco control. NCTOH brings together a diverse community of public health experts to:
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Explore the latest evidence and best practices in tobacco control policies, advocacy, and programs
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Discover innovative ways to improve tobacco control efforts across the country
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Renew energy and commitment to advancing tobacco control goals
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Build valuable networking opportunities with like-minded professionals
Join the Missouri Tobacco Prevention and Control Strategic Plan Statewide Workgroup!
Help improve the health of Missourians by promoting and supporting tobacco-free environments and lifestyles. Contact motobaccoprogram@health.mo.gov or
(573) 522-2820 for more information.
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