Goal: Reduce tobacco use and opioid prescription rates.

Why is this important?
Smoking and tobacco use are contributing factors for several adverse health conditions including: cancer, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cigarette
smoking is the leading cause of preventable and premature death in the U.S., resulting in more than 480,000 deaths annually. (CDC, n.d.b). Youth alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use is a significant
public health concern and is associated with a wide range of academic, social, and health problems. Smoking and tobacco use primarily begin during adolescence and may lead to additional substance
abuse; nearly nine out of ten adult cigarette smokers smoked their first cigarette before age 19. (CDC, n.d.c).

Tobacco and Substance Use in Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County residents report high rates of tobacco use; about one in six adults smoke cigarettes and one in three adults report engaging in binge drinking. From 2013 to 2017 there were 103 alcohol impaired driving deaths in Stanislaus County, accounting for 32% of all motor vehicle crash deaths. In 2017, there were 85 hospitalizations, 179 emergency department visits, and 18 deaths related to opioid overdose in Stanislaus County. One in five persons experiencing homelessness report drug and alcohol abuse as the cause of their homelessness.
(Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, 2020).

• Lack of policies restricting access to retail tobacco sources for adolescent youth
• Lack of coordinated access to existing substance use prevention and intervention
• services in the Stanislaus County
• Lack of early screening and intervention for at-risk youth
• Legislation or lack of legislation

Alignment

This priority area aligns with the following Healthy People 2020 goals:

• TU-1 Reduce tobacco use by adults
• TU-2 Reduce tobacco use by adolescents
• TU-3 Reduce the initiation of tobacco use among children, adolescents, and
• young adults
• TU-16 Eliminate state laws that preempt stronger local tobacco control laws
• SA-19 Reduce the past-year nonmedical use of prescription drugs
• SA-14 Reduce the proportion of persons engaging in binge drinking of alcoholic
• beverages
• Reduce adult tobacco use
• Reduce adolescent tobacco use
• Reduce substance use

This priority area also aligns with the California Wellness Plan:

• Reduce adult tobacco use
• Reduce adolescent tobacco use
• Reduce substance use