Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene - Cheshire Coalition for Tobacco-Free Communities

What is it?

For 20 years, the Cheshire Coalition for Tobacco-Free Communities has worked to comprehensively address the burden of tobacco through youth prevention, cessation treatment, environmental change and policy advocacy. The coalition, composed of school officials, students, law enforcement, health care providers, school nurses and concerned local citizens, collaborates with local substance abuse coalitions and organizations to work on youth prevention initiatives. The coalition leads tobacco-cessation programs at worksites and in the greater community, works with area employers to implement tobacco-free policies, and partners with property managers to increase the numbers of smoke-free homes throughout the region.

Who is it for?

All Cheshire County residents.

Why do they do it?

New Hampshire had the third highest rate of teen smokers in the nation at 36 percent when the coalition was formed. Local school-based risk appraisals confirmed that smoking among youth was a significant issue in local communities.

Impact

The teen smoking rate in 2011 had decreased to 18.1 percent.

Contact: Kate McNally
Program Manager
Telephone: 603-354-6513
Email: kmcnally@cheshire-med.com