Tobacco Control
Guidelines for retailers and more
Tobacco Control Resources
Smoking leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ of the body.
More than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking. For every person who dies because of smoking, at least 30 people live with a serious smoking-related illness. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also increases risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis.
Secondhand smoke exposure contributes to approximately 41,000 deaths among nonsmoking adults and 400 deaths in infants each year. Secondhand smoke causes stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults. Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, middle ear disease, more severe asthma, respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth.
District Partnerships
The Pioneer Valley Tobacco Coalition (PVTC) is a MDPH grant funded regional collaborative whose mission, through policy, compliance and enforcement; is to address youth access and exposure to tobacco products and to protect the public from secondhand smoke in public places.
PVTC will use evidence-based strategies, best available science and MDPH Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program guidance to guide policy work to help reduce the illegal sales and exposure of tobacco and/or electronic nicotine delivery products to minors. Some evidence-based strategies include; looking at outlet density and having a permit cap, reducing the number of permits through attrition, setting minimum pricing & packaging, prohibiting blunt wraps.
South Hadley has been the fiduciary agent of the MTCP grant for the past 16 years which included communities from Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin County
Pioneer Valley Tobacco Coalition currently has 31 Member communities
Agawam, Amherst, Belchertown, Buckland, Charlemont, East Longmeadow, Easthampton, Gill, Granby, Greenfield, Hadley, Hatfield, Leverette, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Montague, Northampton, Palmer, Pelham, Shelbourne, South Hadley, Southampton, Southwick, Wendell, West Springfield, Ware, Whately, Wilbraham, Williamsburg
Staff
Merridith O’leary, Program Coordinator
Donna Bowman & Alix Roncarti and Melissa Roberts Cote, Tobacco Compliance Officers
Kelly Constantine, Program Assistant
Statement of Purpose
Throughout the years there have been endless warnings of the health hazards of smoking, yet it remains the leading preventable cause of premature disease and death in the United States. To address rising rates of youth initiation to tobacco use, PVTC will; work with all member communities Boards of Health and/or municipal leaders to strengthen existing tobacco sales policy and have a presence in all of our permitted tobacco stores, providing education and ensuring compliance with existing local, state and federal regulation.
Resources
Belchertown Health Department
Town of Pelham
Ware Health Department
About Us
The Quabbin Health District is a comprehensive regional health department serving the communities of Belchertown, Ware, and Pelham. The district was established in 1980 by a Town meeting vote and was formed under the Section 27A of Chapter 111 of the MGL.
Contact Us
Quabbin Health District
Ware Town Hall
126 Main Street
Ware MA 01082
(413) 967-9615
Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30am - 4:30pm
