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Seminole County Health Department's Tobacco Prevention and Control Program offers a comprehensive program with the following goals:

• Prevention of youth tobacco use initiation.
• Cessation support for youth and adults.
• Reduction in exposure to second-hand smoke.

The program includes objectives that establish and strengthen healthcare providers and community partnerships to provide resources and referrals to smokers who are ready to quit. Health education initiatives also include information about chronic diseases related to tobacco use, such as asthma, diabetes, and COPD.

The Health Department works with clients and refers them to the Florida Quitline hotline. The Florida Quitline (1-877-822-6669) is a free telephone-based cessation counseling service for those wanting to quit smoking.

Health care providers are encouraged to implement a tobacco cessation referral process. The 2A's and 1R system of cessation referral is a brief and effective intervention that can be a part of a patient's office visit.

The 2A's and 1R system:

• Ask the patient about tobacco use
• Advise him or her to quit
• Refer him or her to the Florida Quitline (877-822-6669)

Callers to the Florida Quitline (877-822-6669) will have access to bilingual counselors who are specially trained in tobacco cessation, are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to help those who need a helping hand in breaking the cycle of addiction.

To obtain Florida Quitline materials for your office, contact Venise Jackson at (407) 665-3184 for educational materials (brochures, posters, fax-to-quit referral forms and incentives). Staff is also available to provide cessation counseling training, fax referrals or an informational in-service for your staff. There is also an on-line tobacco education training available for professions requiring continuing education credits.

To prevent young people from using tobacco, Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) serves as an advocacy program to empower youth to stand up against the manipulative marketing tactics by the tobacco industry. SWAT advocates from local middle and high schools are available to host tobacco-prevention projects and presentations for your agency. Please contact Kimberly Williams at (407) 665-3450 for membership forms and more information.

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