Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention Program
The Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention (TSUP) 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 to work and keep tobacco out of the hands of youth, help tobacco users quit, and ensure that all community members can live, work, play, and learn in smoke-free environments.
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.
Smoke-Free Environments
Learn how smoke-free outdoor air and smoke-free housing help protect community members from the harms of secondhand smoke.
Tobacco Retailer Education
Learn about the current Tobacco Retailer policies and how to stay in compliance.
Quitting Tobacco
Get support quitting tobacco to protect your health and reduce your risk of preventable diseases. Free quit support, counseling, and FDA-approved quit medications can significantly increase your chances of quitting successfully. Quitting at any age can improve your health and help create a healthier environment for your family and community.
Tobacco Use in SLO County
Tobacco use has been declining in recent years in SLO County, however, many people in our community currently smoke, vape, or use other tobacco or nicotine products. Rates of tobacco and nicotine use in San Luis Obispo County are slightly above statewide averages. An estimated 15% of adults living in SLO County use tobacco or nicotine products, compared to 12% of adults statewide. Despite decades of progress in reducing smoking rates, the rising prevalence of emerging tobacco and high-nicotine products (such as vapes and nicotine pouches) threatens to reverse these gains, highlighting the need for continued prevention and cessation efforts.
Disparities in tobacco use by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education, occupation, mental health, sexual orientation, and the neighborhood one lives in make some people in our community more at risk of addiction. These high-risk groups are also disproportionately affected by tobacco-related illnesses and chronic diseases. We work to prevent tobacco use, promote quit support, and healthy living.
Find more data on tobacco use in SLO County at SLO Health Counts.
Resources
- San Luis Obispo County Office of Education's Tobacco-Use Prevention Education Program (TUPE): Lead agency for a consortium of SLO County school districts committed to helping students make healthy tobacco-related choices.
- Stanford Tobacco Prevention Toolkit: Curriculums and modules for tobacco and nicotine education.
- Food and Drug Administration Exchange Lab: Print materials and web content aimed at communicating the dangers of tobacco use.
- YVAPE: YVAPE is a free educational program with phone coaching support for students who have been vaping at school. Students are enrolled in this program instead of alternative disciplinary action for vaping.
- E-Cigarette Use Among Youth: Quick facts about e-cigarettes, their health effects and the risk of youth using e-cigarettes.
- Protecting Youth from the Harms of Vaping: Individuals and organizations can play an important role in helping youth reject or quit vaping and all other tobacco products. Learn how to help ensure that all youth live healthy, tobacco-free lives.
- Parent Presentations: The Tobacco Control Program can provide tailored presentations for parent groups. Email us to schedule a presentation.
- California Tobacco Control Program: A program within the California Department of Public Health funded by tobacco taxes.
- California Youth Advocacy Network: Training and technical assistance to individuals, organizations, and coalitions advocating for tobacco-free communities.
- Come Clean Big Tobacco: Tobacco is a toxic waste. Learn of the major environmental and public health impacts from this waste.
- Flavors Hook Kids Campaign: Learn about flavored tobacco and how to take action to combat the youth vaping epidemic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please contact our office at (805) 781- 5540 or fill out the tip-line form with any concerns about illegal or suspicious tobacco sales.
Please visit San Luis Obispo County Waste Management Authority to learn how to safely dispose of e-cigarettes or vape products. Please note the best option is to not vape at all.
Vapes are NOT a risk-free product. They contain nicotine and various levels of toxins and chemicals. Vaping is especially dangerous for teens, whose brains are still developing.
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. For more information on resources for multi-unit housing, please visit our Supporting Smoke-Free Environments page.
Our Location
Contact Information:
The Tobacco Control Program
Phone: (805) 781- 5540
Email: [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