Tobacco Prevention and Control Unit

Facts About Tobacco

  • Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, resulting in approximately 440,000 deaths each year.
  • Tobacco is the leading cause of death in Illinois.
  • Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Suburban Cook County – responsible for over 12000 deaths each year.
  • Each year 19500 kids (under 18) in Illinois become daily smokers.
  • Over 25% of young adults (ages 18-24) are already current smokers in Suburban Cook County (figure 1)
  • In 2004, smoking-caused health costs were more than 4.1 billion dollars in Illinois alone.
  • Smoking caused a loss in productivity of around 4.29 billion dollars.

Mission

The mission of the Cook County Department of Public Health Tobacco Prevention and Control Unit is to coordinate, assure, and provide quality tobacco prevention, cessation programs, and policies to the residents of suburban Cook County.

Goals

TPCU’s overall goals are:

  • Prevent tobacco use among youth
  • Promote cessation from tobacco among youth and adults
  • Eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke

View our Programs, Presentations, and Services section for more free information, or call 708-492-2000.

To request a presentation, please download and complete the Presentation Request Form in PDF format and fax it to the CCDPH Tobacco and Substance Abuse Prevention Unit at (708) 492-2940.

*Please complete a separate form for each presentation you request

All services are provided free of charge by Cook County Department of Public Health Tobacco Prevention and Control Unit with a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health from the Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement.

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Tobacco Programs, Presentations, and Services

Cessation and Prevention Programs

Cessation Programs

  • Freedom from Smoking (FFS) - A free and effective program, developed by the American Lung Association, to help adults quit smoking. The classes are taught by health educators in various locations around suburban Cook County.
  • Quitnet - An online resource for people trying to give up smoking.
  • Illinois Tobacco Quitline - 1.866.Quit.Yes or 1.866.784.8937 - A toll-free, statewide smoking cessation telephone counseling hotline, available Monday through Friday, 7AM to 6PM.

Youth Prevention Programs

  • Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU) – County Health Educators teach and empower local teenagers about the dangers of tobacco use. Then, they are able to advocate for tobacco control and teach younger children how to stay smoke free.
  • Tar Wars – A free, concise, tobacco education program for 4th and 5th grade students. The program includes a one hour-classroom presentation by health educators and a poster contest.

Tobacco Presentation

Introduction to Tobacco

Informs people of all ages about current tobacco facts and initiates discussion about smoking. The presentation can be tailored to suit an audience of any age group

Secondhand Smoke

Part of our “TAKE IT OUTSIDE” public awareness campaign to educate community residents and businesses about the dangers of tobacco smoke. The presentation addresses the serious health effects associated with nonsmokers’ exposure to tobacco smoke, and the benefits of 100% smoke-free environments.

Quit Smoking

Emphasizes the benefits of being tobacco free, provides quit tips and informs residents about resources within their communities such as cessation support groups, free online cessation program and free telephone cessation service.

Youth Prevention and Advocacy

Teaches youth about the dangers associated with tobacco use, exposure to tobacco smoke and how the tobacco industry continues to manipulate and target youth through advertising and marketing.

Youth Coalitions

Provide technical assistance to youth coalitions on a variety of issues including; clean indoor-air, youth access to tobacco, self-service displays and school policy.

Tobacco Prevention (Health Care Providers Only)

Teaches providers how to use a brief standard intervention for clients that use tobacco products. This system is designed to be easily implemented by the provider with, possibly, one assistant willing to provide follow-up telephone calls to support and encourage the cessation process. Created with the help of the American College of Chest Physicians, to be used by physicians or other health-care providers.

Advocacy and Public Awareness Services

Community Coalitions

Provides technical assistance to community coalitions on a variety of issues including clean indoor-air, prevention of drug use among youth, and cessation.

School Policy

Provides schools with a tool kit describing evidence-based practices for implementing tobacco-free school policies that includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) seven recommendations (policy, instruction, curriculum, family involvement, tobacco cessation efforts, evaluation) for ensuring a quality tobacco-free school program.

Take It Outside! Smoke–Free Pledge Program

A public awareness campaign, first started in 1999, educates residents about the health dangers of secondhand smoke and encourages smokers to smoke outside, away from friends, family and co-workers.

Community Awareness Campaign

Conduct in-person community visits to bring prevention, cessation, and secondhand smoke messages to community organizations such as day care centers, nursing homes and schools. Offer materials, presentations and technical assistance.

For more resources and, please visit our resource section for links to our partners and other pages.

To request a presentation, please download and complete the Presentation Request Form in PDF format and fax it to the CCDPH Tobacco and Substance Abuse Prevention Unit at (708) 492-2940.

*Please complete a separate form for each presentation you request

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Tobacco Prevention and Control Resources

Cessation Links

General Information

Second Hand Smoke Links

Youth Links