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Who We Are
The Tobacco Prevention and Control Coalition is a program of BHHST currently working in Cameron & Willacy Counties.
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Our Mission
Our mission is to promote and advocate for a tobacco-free environment by empowering communities to affect individual and social change and promote compliance and support for enforcement of all tobacco laws.
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Our Vision
Our vision is to prevent tobacco use among adolescents; increase tobacco cessation and eliminate exposure to second hand smoke.
THE TOBACCO PREVENTION & CONTROL COALITION IS A PROGRAM OF
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS OF SOUTH TEXAS
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WHY DO WE FOCUS ON YOUTH PREVENTION?
Because Big Tobacco likes to start them young to build life-long customers. Every potential youth smoker we can prevent saves someone a lifetime of suffering from tobacco-related disease.
Adults in the U.S. are smoking at the lowest rates EVER! Experts attribute the decline to public health campaigns, rising cigarette taxes, and local ordinances & policies. Now our work shifts to improving the quality of life for all Cameron and Willacy County residents and visitors, 20 out of the 22 cities now have comprehensive smoke-free ordinances.
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9 out of 10 adult smokers started smoking before the age of 18.
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Smoking is the leading cause of preventable
death in the U.S., causing over 438,000 deaths per year.
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