Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Barnstable County health officials push youth outreach, urge towns to weigh 'nicotine-free generation' rules
Summary
County health director Jay Gardner and tobacco program manager Bob Collette told commissioners the county's state-funded tobacco program will expand from retail compliance to school and community education, highlighted a 12.3% adult smoking rate locally, and said some towns are being asked to consider ordinances that bar future cohorts from ever purchasing tobacco.
Jay Gardner, Barnstable County director of health and environment, and Bob Collette, the county tobacco control program manager, briefed commissioners on Dec. 3 on a state-funded tobacco-control grant and plans to expand work beyond retail compliance to proactive education in schools and communities.
Gardner said the program must reach youth and vulnerable communities, arguing that retailer compliance alone is not enough. “This fight has gone on public health battles since 1964,” he said, and the county’s effort now focuses on preventing initiation among young people and supporting retailers in compliance. Collette said the program serves the 15 Cape towns and extends to parts of Plymouth and Wareham but now operates at “fair bones minimum” staffing after budget cuts.
Collet…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
