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Adams County health department expands tobacco-prevention programs and eyes retail licensing in unincorporated areas
Summary
Public Health staff reported $586,000 in state STEP funding for Adams County this year (projected $671,000 next year), growing community outreach and support for Aurora's tobacco retail license ordinance, and new competitive grants to expand cessation support in affordable housing and justice-involved populations.
County public-health staff briefed commissioners on recent trends in adult and youth tobacco use and described how the county's State Tobacco Education & Prevention (STEP) grant supports community interventions.
Key points: Staff said adult tobacco/nicotine use in Adams County tracked near statewide averages in recent years, while youth vaping rates remain a concern. Adams County received approximately $586,000 this fiscal year under the STEP formula and expects roughly $671,000 in the new three-year cycle beginning July 1. Staff highlighted existing work: supporting Aurora's new tobacco retail licensing ordinance, helping local school districts craft tobacco- and vape-free policies and vape-waste collection programs, and a new FDA-funded local enforcement contract for underage sales compliance checks.
New awards and next steps: The department said it won two competitive three-year grants (about $200,000 per year each) to expand tobacco cessation navigators in multi-unit affordable housing and to connect justice-involved individuals with cessation supports and nicotine-replacement therapies. Staff proposed a future study session to advise the board on potential adoption of a county tobacco retail license for unincorporated Adams County and to show options, model ordinances and stakeholder outreach strategies.
Why it matters: Staff framed retail licensing, school policies and targeted cessation support as evidence-based measures to reduce youth initiation and to expand access to treatment for adults, particularly among priority populations disproportionately affected by tobacco and nicotine use.
What's next: Public Health will return with an assessment of county retail policy gaps, an implementation plan for expanding cessation outreach in housing and corrections settings, and a requested study-session on the feasibility and structure of a county tobacco-retailer licensing ordinance.
