Cristin McCarthy Vahey

Dear Neighbors,

As I shared last week, I will continue to share public health news and information that can help you, your families, and our community stay healthy and safe. This week, my focus is tobacco and nicotine. My Grandfather, Fred McCarthy, died of emphysema when I was 15. Watching my grandfather struggle to breathe and eventually die has fueled my work on tobacco prevention for decades.

This year, as we have in past years, the Public Health Committee passed a bill to require spending the Center for Disease Control’s recommended allocation for smoking prevention, cessation, and treatment. The $32 million CDC recommendation is $20 million more than what the Governor has proposed in his budget, and is supported by the Lung Association, Heart Association, and American Cancer Society, or what I call the “Big Three.”

The bill has been referred to the Appropriations Committee and will be debated there. If you support this bill, please reach out to committee members and let them know.

Our Tobacco and Health Trust fund has taken the most recently allocated funds and invested in media campaigns, prevention programming, and funding of the QUIT Line. If, like two-thirds of smokers, you would like to quit, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or read online for support and resources.

Connecticut’s high school tobacco use rate is 12.7% As the use of combustible cigarettes is on the decline, vaping has increased, with studies finding youth who vape at a higher risk to smoke cigarettes. Tobacco Free Kids says that over $57 million is spent on CT tobacco advertising annually. More and more smoke and vape shops are appearing in our communities. Tragically, 4,900 Connecticut adults die each year as a result of smoking. The American Heart Association says, “If young people don’t start using tobacco by age 26, they almost certainly will never start.”

What you can do to help:

• Maintain dialogue, letting children and teens know that the dangers go beyond cigarettes, to vaping, oral nicotine pouches (increasing in popularity), hookah, and smokeless tobacco.
• Share the Quit Line number with someone who is thinking about quitting. 1-800-QUIT-NOW
• Offer regular support to a friend or family member in the process of quitting
• Support proven prevention strategies and join local groups such as Fairfield CARES Community Coalition or Greater Bridgeport Area Prevention Program

Wishing you a wonderful weekend. As always, please feel free to reach out directly with your ideas, questions, or concerns. You can reach me by phone at (860) 240-8585 or (203) 522-3037.

Take care,

Cristin McCarthy Vahey