Underage Nicotine & Cannabis Prevention Workgroup
The workgroup meets the first Thursday each month, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in our office:
27 Siemon Company Drive Suite 304W, Watertown, CT with a virtual Zoom option.
​Join us!
Contact:
Kathy Hanley khanley@wctcoalition.org
Chelsea Kapitancek ckapitancek@wctcoalition.org​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Vaping Prevention, Awareness and Cessation Supports:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
2024 - 2025 Goals
​Conduct a region wide assessment of impact of vaping, access to e-cigarettes, and available resources surveys, focus groups, key informant interviews
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WCTC staff devoted to this focus professional development opportunities including Tobacco Treatment Specialist certification
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Disseminate materials at community and campus events, utilize social media and our webpage and through engagement with community partners
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Provide education for staff, community partners, youth, and parents
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Build relationships with retailers advocate for increased compliance checks​​​​​
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Create a Vaping Prevention and Awareness Coalition consisting of a diverse group of community stakeholders
Cannabis Prevention and Awareness:
2024 - 2025 Goals
Conduct a region wide assessment of current statistics, impact of cannabis use, access to cannabis, regional risk factors that contribute to youth cannabis use, and available resources
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Build capacity among staff, community members, and stakeholders, including professional development opportunities, data walks, and the latest information on the impact of cannabis use within Region 5
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Disseminate materials and share information, including the Be In The Know campaign, at community and campus events, through social media presence, and by engaging with community partners
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Provide education for various sectors, including educators, cannabis retailers, community partners, youth, and parents
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Build relationships with retailers to promote best practices and the importance of preventing youth access
Western Connecticut Coalition is dedicated to decreasing e-cigarette and nicotine use. ​
Click here to review our 2023 epidemiological profile of Tobacco and ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems)
Tobacco 21 & Retailer Compliance
It is now a federal law- you must be 21 to purchase any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. Tobacco 21 materials can be ordered for free from the CT Clearinghouse. For a retailer visit checklist, click here.
DMHAS Prevention and Health Promotion Division Tobacco Prevention and Enforcement Program (TPEP)
HOT LINE: 1-877-331-1999
Tobacco.prevention@ct.gov
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​To look up registered ENDS dealers in CT, click here, choose "drug control-pharmacy, pharmacisits" from the roster menu, click "dealers of ENDS, vapor products", scroll to the bottom to continue, then download.