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State tobacco program outlines options for using JUUL settlement funds in Greene County
Summary
The New York State Tobacco Control Program presented options for allocating roughly $300,000 in settlement money across policy, health services and education strategies to address vaping and tobacco among youth in Greene and Columbia counties.
Representatives of the New York State Tobacco Control Program spoke to the Greene County Legislature's health services committee about strategies for using funds from a national vaping-company settlement to support local anti-tobacco and vaping work.
"Greene County is receiving almost $300,000 from the JEWEL settlement, which spans across, 3 years," said Jen Ryan Maluma, lead community engagement coordinator for the New York State Tobacco Control Program in Columbia and Greene Counties. She said both county health departments have requested portions of those funds and that local planning is focused on sustainable, multi-pronged efforts across policy, health services and education.
Program staff recommended several approaches under discussion: retail marketing and density studies near schools; vaping education and restorative school-based approaches (including a vaping curriculum called "Catch My Breath"); support to medical providers for vaping counseling; locally targeted public messaging; and community engagement via roundtables involving youth, parents and educators. Maluma said the program itself would not receive the settlement funds directly but was acting as a local technical resource.
Maluma told legislators the program has met with Greene County Public Health, Columbia County DOH, the Columbia-Greene Addiction Coalition, Twin County Recovery Services, and other partners. Committee members asked about product varieties and outreach tools; a legislator requested shareable social-media materials to post locally.
No binding county commitments were recorded; the presentation was described as an informational briefing and an offer of technical assistance. Both county departments are still discussing how to allocate the settlement funds and whether to prioritize policy work, community education, or health-service investments.
