Tobacco Control Program
What is this service?
The Tobacco Control Program provides community education, prevention services, and technical assistance to government agencies, community-based organizations, law enforcement, businesses, and residents of San Luis Obispo County. Our goal is working to keep tobacco out of the hands of youth, helping tobacco users quit, and ensuring that all community members can live, work, play, and learn in tobacco-free environments.
Tobacco Use in SLO County
Despite years of decline in tobacco use throughout the County, tobacco use continues to negatively impact many of our residents. In fact, the County as a whole, has a higher rate of tobacco use than the rest of the state. However, large differences in tobacco use persist by race/ethnicity and among population groups by socioeconomic status, educational attainment, occupation, mental health status, sexual orientation, and geography. These high-risk groups suffer disproportionately from tobacco-related illnesses. For current adult and youth tobacco use rates in SLO County, visit SLO Health Counts.
Tobacco includes products such as: cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, snuff and any electronic device that delivers nicotine or other vaporized liquids to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette, vape), cigar, pipe, or hookah. E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product by youth. According to the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey, over 19% of high school students and over 4% of middle school students were using e-cigarettes.
Tobacco Control Program Priorities
Get Involved in Local Efforts
Join the SLO County Tobacco Control Coalition (TCC) to get involved in local efforts to prevent tobacco use. Sign up for their monthly newsletter to stay up to date on local, state, and federal tobacco issues. For more information, visit the TCC website.
Resources for Schools
Resources for Parents
Resources for the Community
Frequently Asked Questions
Email us if you have any questions or would like more information [email protected]
The Tobacco Control Program is located in the Annex building of the Health Agency:
2180 Johnson Ave, Annex
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Vapes are NOT a risk-free product. They contain nicotine and low levels of toxins and chemicals. Vapes are especially dangerous for teens, whose brains are still developing.
Vaping is the act of inhaling aerosolized liquid from a device, sometimes called a vape pen or an e-cigarette. The device is filled with vape liquid and when it heats up, the liquid is aerosolized into millions of tiny, oily droplets and then inhaled. Under California State law, vaping and smoking are the same thing, in terms of where they are prohibited. If you see a No Smoking sign, this also means no vaping is allowed. Vaping is NOT allowed indoors.
Visit call2recycle.org to find a list of locations near you that collect lithium-ion batteries.
Landlords may prohibit smoking in the units they manage, however, this varies across our County. Morro Bay is the only city in our County that has banned smoking in all apartments and condominiums.