Health

Nicotine Awareness and Tobacco Prevention

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States with more than 480,000 Americans dying every year from tobacco-related diseases. On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers. Cancer, heart disease and chronic lung disease are just some of the diseases connected directly to tobacco use, and even people who don't use tobacco themselves are at risk of developing tobacco-related diseases through exposure to secondhand smoke.

Click Here to Report a Violation and Learn About Tobacco Data and Policy
Click Here to Access Tobacco & Nicotine Curriculum for Educators: Breathe Easy

Want to quit or know someone who does?

If you have struggled to quit using tobacco in the past, don’t be discouraged.  It usually takes several times before successfully quitting because nicotine is so addictive, but it can be done! Quitting not only protects your health, but the health of your family, community, and the environment. To learn more about nicotine and tobacco products, visit Tobacco Free Colorado. 

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  • Tobacco Free Colorado 
  • CO Quitline
  • Smokefree.gov
    • Support, tips, tools, and expert advice to help you or someone you love quit smoking
    • Free quitSTART and QuitGuide apps and text messaging programs available 
  • Breathe Easy Colorado: A Guide for Your Nicotine-Free Future: English / Español
    • Download this comprehensive guide which helps you build an individualized plan to live without nicotine, step by step.
  • Get Help From Your Healthcare Provider with Nicotine Replacement Therapy 
    • Talking with your doctor or dentist is a great place to start when you want to quit. They can help you make a plan and prescribe nicotine replacement products — such as nicotine gum, patches, inhalers or nasal sprays.
    • Medications combined with other supports have been shown to double your odds of successfully quitting tobacco.
       

Trusted adults, like parents, guardians, teachers, and coaches, can play a key role in helping teens quit tobacco or nicotine. Having open, supportive conversations and setting clear, positive expectations can make a big difference. It also helps when adults stay informed about nicotine products and youth trends, so they can recognize signs of use early. Schools and youth organizations can support these efforts by enforcing tobacco-free policies with a non-punitive approach and partnering with local organizations such as the LCDHE Tobacco Team for presentations or staff training. Creating a network of encouragement and accountability can help youth feel supported as they work to quit.

Quitting nicotine and tobacco products can be hard and stressful.  However, youth and young adults stand the best chance of being successful if they make a plan and seek support. The resources below were made for youth and young adults who want to end their relationship with nicotine products.

My Life, My Quit

  • Text "Start My Quit" to 36072 or call (855) 891-9989 to talk with a coach in Colorado who is ready to listen and cheer you on.
My Life My Quit Graphic

 

EX Program from the Truth Initiative 

  • Text “EXPROGRAM“ to 88709 to enroll
  • Offers customized content through text messages to give teens and young adults tailored quit tips and resources

Smokefree Teens Website

  • Offers tools and tips to support to teens in quitting smoking
  • Includes options for chat, text, and app

FAQs

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  1. What are the health effects of using tobacco products?

    Tobacco use harms nearly every part of the body and can lead to serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and several types of cancer including lung, throat, and mouth cancer. Different tobacco products have different risks. For example, smoking cigarettes affects the lungs and heart, while smokeless tobacco increases the risk of cancers in the mouth and throat. Even if you do not feel the effects right away, the damage builds up over time. The good news is that quitting at any age can improve your health and lower your risk of developing tobacco-related illnesses.

  2. What are the benefits of quitting tobacco/nicotine?

    Quitting tobacco and nicotine has both immediate and long-term health benefits. Your heart rate and blood pressure start to return to normal within hours. Over time, your risk of heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and cancer goes down. You may find it easier to breathe, have more energy, and get sick less often. Quitting also improves your sense of taste and smell, helps you heal faster, and saves money. No matter how long you have used tobacco or nicotine, quitting can make a big difference for your health and quality of life.

  3. Does LCDHE supply quit materials for business or community partners? Any other resources for youth?

    YES! We have brochures, rack cards, and business cards in both Spanish and English. We also have quit kits. Please reach out to us if you are interested in receiving printed copies of these resources. 

    We also offer educational presentations to schools and community-based organizations that serve youth.  

    Rack Cards:

    Vaping 101: English / Spanish

    Oral Nicotine Pouches: English / Spanish

    Also, check out our Larimer County Youth Resource Guide. You're welcome to download and print these, or reach out to us for copies for your school or youth-serving organization. 

    Youth Resource Guide (English)

    Youth Resource Guide (Spanish)

  4. What can I do as a community member to help prevent tobacco and nicotine use in the community?

    As a trusted or an informed adult/parent you can have a big influence on youth by encouraging healthy choices and setting clear standards, knowing the facts, and helping youth find resources to quit such as those on our website.

    If you’re a community organization interested in getting involved in tobacco policy or providing resources to the community, please reach out! 

  5. How can I support youth and teens trying to quit?

    Trusted adults, like parents, guardians, teachers, and coaches, can play a key role in helping teens quit tobacco or nicotine. Having open, supportive conversations and setting clear, positive expectations can make a big difference. It also helps when adults stay informed about nicotine products and youth trends, so they can recognize signs of use early. Schools and youth organizations can support these efforts by enforcing tobacco-free policies with a non-punitive approach and partnering with local organizations such as the LCDHE Nicotine Awareness and Tobacco Prevention Team for presentations or staff training. Creating a network of encouragement and accountability can help youth feel supported as they work to quit. There are several quit resources for youth that can help support this journey as well

  6. What are common nicotine/tobacco products?

    Nicotine and tobacco products come in many highly addictive forms and novel products are constantly evolving. Here are some of the most common products:

    • Cigarettes – Burned and inhaled; contain thousands of harmful chemicals.
    • E-cigarettes (vapes) – Battery-powered devices that heat a liquid (usually with nicotine) into an aerosol. Includes brands like JUUL, Puff Bar, and disposable vapes.
    • Cigars and cigarillos – Rolled tobacco products that are often flavored. Even without inhaling, they can cause serious health risks.
    • Chewing tobacco and dip – Smokeless tobacco placed in the mouth. Linked to cancers of the mouth, gums, and throat.
    • Snus – A type of moist smokeless tobacco in a pouch, usually placed under the lip.
    • Nicotine pouches – Similar to snus but do not contain tobacco leaf—just nicotine. Popular brands include ZYN and On!.
    • Hookah – A pipe used to smoke flavored tobacco. One session can expose users to more smoke than a cigarette.

    These products may look different, but using any tobacco or nicotine product has health risks. Some are marketed to seem safer, especially to young people, but no tobacco or nicotine product is risk-free.

  7. What is in a vape?

    Vaping devices, also known as e-cigarettes, contain a variety of substances, including a liquid (nicotine, THC, or CBD), heavy metals (lead, nickel, or tin), and other chemicals. Not all vaping devices carry the same materials and some contain more harmful materials which can expose the user and people nearby to a variety of health-risks.

  8. What is a “Zyn”?

    Zyn is a brand of nicotine pouches—small, discrete pouches containing nicotine that are placed between the gum and lip to absorb nicotine without smoking or spitting. While marketed as a cleaner alternative to cigarettes or chewing tobacco, Zyn still contains addictive nicotine and can lead to health issues like gum irritation, increased heart rate, and high blood pressure. Using Zyns is NOT risk-free—especially for youth or new users.

  9. Who is the LCDHE Nicotine Awareness and Tobacco Prevention Team and what services and resources do they offer?

    LCDHE Nicotine Awareness and Tobacco Prevention Team works alongside the Colorado State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership team (STEPP) to reduce initiation of tobacco and nicotine use by children and youth, promote cessation of tobacco use among youth and adults, and reduce exposure to secondhand smoke. The Tobacco Prevention Team keeps the Larimer County community at the forefront of our work, and provides services such as tobacco and nicotine prevention education, quit resources and quit kits, policy reviews, and more. Currently, resources are available in English and Spanish. 

  10. How can I request services from the LCDHE Nicotine Awareness and Tobacco Prevention Team?

    To request services from the LCDHE Nicotine Awareness and Tobacco Prevention Team or to find out more about the resources we offer, please contact us at healthpartnerships@co.larimer.co.us. 

  11. What is a mini-grant and what is needed to apply?

    Mini-grants are limited funding opportunities provided by the LCDHE that can be used to support your events with a tobacco cessation or prevention educational component. A few examples of how funds have been used in the past include:

    • Buying gift cards for attendees willing to participate in a survey about their experience with tobacco and nicotine products and for attending
    • Reimbursing organizations for room rental costs
    • Providing food for event attendees 

    Funding is limited to $500 per event and organizations can apply once every 6 months. We will review applications on an on-going basis. Funds must be spent by May 31, 2026. Funds cannot be spent on insurance, personal transportation, and alcoholic beverages. This funding is provided on a reimbursement basis and your organization will need to submit receipts and other documentation before receiving the funds. 

    Funding is available on a first come, first serve basis and will only be available until funds are depleted. Please reach out to healthpartnerships@co.larimer.co.us for any questions about the mini-grant.

  12. What do I do if I find out a tobacco retailer is selling tobacco and nicotine products to youth?

    Selling tobacco and nicotine products to people under 21 years of age is illegal. You can report any instances of tobacco retailers selling to underage people to the Colorado Department of Revenue through this form. 

Contact us!

Interested in resources or a presentation about the risks of tobacco and nicotine products for your school or community based organization? We can help!

Email: healthpartnerships@co.larimer.co.us