Houston Health Department seeks neighborhood input on tobacco-cessation toolkit

Representatives from the Houston Health Department told the Super Neighborhood Alliance they are expanding community tobacco-cessation outreach through a program called Breathe with Pride and asked neighborhood leaders to identify areas and groups where tobacco use or vaping is prevalent.

Why it matters: Department staff said targeted outreach and a community toolkit can help reduce tobacco-related harms and free up enforcement resources. They asked super neighborhood councils for geographic and demographic feedback to shape communications and outreach strategies.

On the call Candice Lewis and colleague Shamekia Williams said the department is enforcing the city’s nonsmoking ordinance and wants super neighborhood input on where tobacco (including vaping and hookah usage) appears most prominent. They described a planned toolkit for organizations in target areas and requested contact information from participants so the Health Department can follow up.

During Q&A, attendees raised whether marijuana use was included; Health Department staff said marijuana use appears prevalent in some areas but the department’s focus is tobacco and products that contain tobacco or nicotine (they described classing vaping and hookah under a tobacco umbrella for outreach purposes). A resident questioned the department’s phrasing around vaping and tobacco content; the Health Department clarified it groups vaping and other nicotine delivery products under tobacco for public-health messaging while acknowledging differences in constituents.

What’s next: Health Department staff asked attendees to place contact information in the meeting chat and will share the toolkit when available.