Tobacco Prevention and Cessation

The Health Department receives money from the Maryland State Cigarette Restitution Fund Program (CRFP) to provide tobacco prevention and cessation programs in Allegany County.

Cessation Community  School-basedSchool-based

CESSATION

The Substance Abuse Prevention Program offers FREE tobacco cessation that gives people who want to quit using tobacco products a support system along with Nicotine Replacement Therapy (the patch) when applicable.  On-site Group Cessation services are also available for groups of 5 or more.  If you are interested in the program call 301-777-5040 for an appointment. If would like to try "the patch" you will need a doctor's order from you physician.  

COMMUNITY

Services are provided by our Community Outreach Coordinator

Education presentations - to schools, businesses, organizations, etc.
Tobacco campaigns - World No Tobacco Day, The Great American Smoke-out
Policy development & support- provide research and technical support for establishments that want to develop tobacco use policies.

The community component of the program incorporates an assortment of outreach strategies to reach the public on various topics about tobacco, such as the dangers of secondhand smoke. Through a competitive RFP (Request For Proposal) process, faith-based organizations and community groups have an opportunity to request funds to do tobacco initiatives in the communities that they serve and/or live.

SCHOOL-BASED

Public Pre-schools and the Head Start Program receive funds for tobacco resources and to provide parents with information on the dangers of secondhand smoke.  Public and Private K-12 schools in the county are given the opportunity to receive funds to purchase tobacco programs and materials to instruct their students on the dangers of tobacco.  Allegany College of Maryland and Frostburg State University receive CRFP funds to provide prevention & cessation services to the students. Students in the Respiratory Therapist Program at Allegany College are trained to do cessation and prevention on campus. Every student at FSU that is seen at their Brady Health Center is screened for tobacco use, and offered cessation support is they choose to quit.

ENFORCEMENT

The Sheriff's Office and the Department of Natural Resource Police receive CRFP funds for tobacco vendor education and compliance checks. Deputies also give out underage tobacco citations to minors caught with tobacco products.  Law enforcement's role is to deter establishments from selling tobacco products to youth under the age of 18 years, and to discourage underage tobacco use.

For more information please call 301-759-5050.