Notes from the field - Weld County Tobacco Control Program

From Melanie Cyphers, Casey Peirce, and Brooklyn Larimore of The Weld County Tobacco Control Program (WCTCP). We made significant progress toward our objectives by participating in community outreach opportunities such as back-to-school events. Activities were tailored specific to the events to gain community trust and develop a scaffolding for future policy and coalition work. At back-to-school events, the WCTCP raised awareness of tobacco products that appear similar to school supplies. We filled two clear backpacks with school supplies and vaping products and invited people to guess where the tobacco products were in each bag. This activity had a major shock factor for parents and teachers and not only raised awareness of tricky industry marketing, but also allowed authentic conversations to be had regarding marketing, price, school policies for possession and suspension, and even cessation resources available to teens. To address the price of products, we created an infographic comparing the price of smoking a pack a day for 18 years to the tuition for three Colorado colleges. Some strong new community contacts were made simply by having an authentic interaction with people, including parents, teachers, and community members, and the concerns they had about tobacco usage. And now we have a clearer direction about how to engage with Weld County communities and how to implement more effective policies that are community-supported.