Tobacco-Free Living

The Tobacco-Free Living  Work Group develops and expands public support for system changes that transform community values around tobacco. 

Tobacco is a leading cause of death in Douglas County. We provide oversight to, and collaborate with, the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department to support tobacco control and prevention efforts through the Chronic Disease Risk Reduction program funded through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The Work Group supports efforts to:

  • Prevent initiation of tobacco use among youth and young adults
  • Identify and eliminate tobacco-related disparities among population groups
  • Eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke
  • Promote quitting among adults and youth
  • To develop and expand public support for system changes that transform community values around tobacco 

Training

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment offers a free online training for health care providers on ways to help their patients quit tobacco. The course follows best practice guidelines for health care providers to help patients quit tobacco and can be used by a wide range of health care providers, including doctors, nurses, front office staff, dentists and dental hygienists.

Recent Workgroup Accomplishments

The Tobacco Free Living Work Group celebrated passage of two ordinances in Lawrence, one which amended the Clean Indoor Air Ordinance to including vaping, and the other which established a tobacco retail licensing program. This program will educate retailers and enable the health department to enforce age restrictions on tobacco sales.

LiveWell Annual Celebration Breakfast Awards

As part of its annual celebration, on Friday, November 19, 2022 the LiveWell Douglas County coalition awarded Culture of Health Action Awards to both coalition members and community partners whose efforts have helped improve the health and well-being of Douglas County residents.

The American Heart Association (AHA) and the Lawrence City Commission were both recognized for their role in the development and implementation of new ordinances to prevent tobacco use.

The AHA worked with LiveWell coalition members to provide support to city staff as they developed draft ordinances. These ordinances were unanimously approved by the City Commission in November. Kari Rinker of AHA was on hand to accept the award.

Resources

For more information about joining, go to Get Involved.

Work Group Leadership

  1. Play With Your Food: Engaging Families and Youth at the Lawrence Farmers’ Market

    A walk through the Lawrence Farmers’ Market in late summer provides a feast for the senses – but this season you might have also noticed a new opportunity for younger visitors . . . Read on...

  2. LiveWell Douglas County Executive Director Announced

    LiveWell Douglas County is pleased to announce that Virginia (Ginny) Barnard has accepted the position of Executive Director. Read on...

  3. Pathways to a Healthy Kansas

    Representatives of LiveWell Douglas County met with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas’ Pathways to a Healthy Kansas to plan initiatives for 2023. The coalition will be looking to distribute as much as $250,000 to community partners to support key projects. Read on...

  4. Lawrence City Commission Approves Retail Tobacco Ordinance

    The Lawrence City Commission approved a new ordinance requiring any business selling tobacco to have a tobacco retail license. The ordinance is aimed at reducing underage smoking. Read on...
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