Tobacco-Free Communities

New California Law: Sale of flavored tobacco products ends in California

The California Flavored Tobacco Law (SB793) prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products. To learn more visit our page Prevent Youth Access and Exposure to Tobacco. 

New data shows decrease in tobacco use among Santa Clara County teens, but use of flavored tobacco products continue to rise

A report funded by the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department finds a decline in current tobacco use from 13.9 percent to 8.6 percent over the past two years; however, the use of flavored tobacco has increased from 82.3 percent to 93.1 percent. The California Student Tobacco Survey (CSTS) aims to understand the use of, knowledge of, and attitudes towards tobacco products. The survey asked about access to tobacco products and students’ use of and perceptions of those products.

Key findings from the 2019-2020 survey:

• Less than 1 in 10 (7.7 percent) Santa Clara County teens reported using e-cigarettes and vaping products in the past month [current tobacco users] – a decline from 13.2 percent two years ago (CSTS, 2017-18).
• More than 9 in 10 Santa Clara County teens currently using tobacco reported using a flavored product. Although 9 jurisdictions in Santa Clara County have policies restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products – 6 which restrict the sale of all flavored tobacco products; however, many of these policies were adopted and implemented after this survey was administered.
• 1 in 5 current tobacco users use two or more tobacco products.
• Over 1 in 8 (13.4 percent) Santa Clara County teens reported using marijuana in the past 30 days, with nearly half (47 percent) reporting co-use of marijuana with a tobacco product.
• More than half of teens who currently vape reported purchasing their own vaping product (52.9 percent), with over 1 in 5 of this group saying they buy them directly from a store. Among those who purchase their vaping products in a store, 71 percent purchased them at a tobacco shop, smoke shop, and vape shop.
• View the full 2019-2020 CSTS report.
• View the full 2017-2018 CSTS report.

*Data collection for the 2019-2020 survey ended in March 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

Take action and learn more:

• To learn more about the issue and how you can take action, visit: FlavorsHookKidsSantaClara.org 
• To get tips on how to talk with your kids about e-cigarettes, visit: FDA.gov.
• Quit vaping resources, visit: NoVapes.org
• To join the local Tobacco-Free Coalition, contact us at: [email protected]

Educational materials for tobacco stores

Learn more about laws relating to the sale of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices through new educational materials developed for tobacco stores. Laws are designed to promote public health, ensure responsible retailing and to discourage the sale and distribution to minors. To request copies of new materials, including free signage or city specific fact sheets, email your request (please include business name and address) to [email protected].

About TFC​

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking in the U.S. causes more than 480,000 deaths annually, including nearly 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke exposure. Additionally, more than 16 million Americans are living with a smoking-related disease. Santa Clara County ranks seventh highest for the total cost of smoking in California, second highest among the Bay Area Counties, totaling almost $690 million annually.

The mission of the TFC program is to improve the health of all residents and the workforce in Santa Clara County by reducing illness and premature death attributed to the use of tobacco products.  The TFC program implements activities to:

1. Prevent the initiation of tobacco use & reduce youth access to tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices
2. Reduce tobacco use, particularly among populations with the highest rates
3. Reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and third-hand smoke
4. Build community capacity to address the root causes of tobacco use, particularly among populations most impacted

TFC collaborates with community-based organizations and local, state, and federal health agencies to promote a healthy lifestyle and work towards the vision of a tobacco-free Santa Clara County. The goal of TFC is to increase community awareness of the impact of tobacco use by engaging residents, key community partners, and elected leaders in implementing strategies to reduce the appeal of tobacco in the community. 

Don't Take the Vape Campaign​
Learn about the dangers of vaping and resources available to you.

Strategic Plan for Advancing Health Equity in Tobacco Control​
View our 2018-2022 Strategic Plan for Advancing Health Equity in Tobacco Control in Santa Clara County.​

Secondhand Smoke
Resources on secondhand smoke and how to address exposure.​

Prevent Youth Tobacco Use
Initiatives to prevent youth access to tobacco products.

Promote Tobacco Quit Services
Learn about local programs that provide quit smoking services

Build Community​ Capacity - Join Our Coalitions!
Get involved in tobacco prevention activities 

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