Fremont County Department of Public Health & Environment sponsors programs for health promotion and disease prevention that offer proven ways to encourage and support a healthy community for all ages. Preventive health is growing in popularity as people seek to improve their overall health and wellness by making better choices.

Health promotion means the development of behaviors that improve bodily functioning and enhance an individual's ability to adjust to a changing environment. Disease prevention involves efforts to reduce or eliminate vulnerability to risks that might enhance the possibilities that an individual or group will incur disease, disability, or premature death.

A major purpose of the health promotion and disease prevention approach, both for individuals and our community in Fremont County, is to recognize the local health problems for which preventive efforts can result in the more appropriate utilization of health services and improvements in health status. This approach to health highlights the importance of lifestyle and personal behavior in improving personal health status and in maintaining health and functioning, both physical and mental. 

Tobacco Education, Prevention and Cessation

Tobacco is still a problem. More than 480,000 people die each year from tobacco. Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of death in this country and in the world. Tobacco use is a major factor in four out of the five leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung disease and stroke.

It causes about a third of heart disease and cancer, and most emphysema. Click to learn more about tobacco’s toll on America. Steps are being taken to fight back against the dangers of tobacco in Fremont County.

At the Fremont County Department of Public Health & Environment, the Tobacco Education, Prevention and Cessation program is funded by Amendment 35 grants. FCDPHE is dedicated to:

• Serving as a community partner in tobacco cessation, prevention and education for all ages and populations served in Fremont County.
• Utilizing evidence-based programs and practices to assist those who wish to quit using tobacco products
• Preventing youth from initiating use of tobacco, vape, ECIG, or other nicotine containing products
• Provide education and resources to policy makers, employers, early childhood educators and health care providers in the community
• Protecting the overall health of the community burdened by tobacco use.

Tobacco use is not a habit. It is an addiction. Nicotine is what keeps people addicted. It is in all tobacco products. It makes quitting hard. The average person tries to quit about seven times before they succeed! Quitting can be difficult, but not impossible.

For Adults

• Colorado QuitLine – Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or sign-up online. Get one-on-one support from an expert quit coach. There is a chance to get free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), such as patches or gum.
  SmokeFree – This website is loaded with information from how to quit, navigating challenges many face when quitting, how to stay smoke free, and helping others quit. With tools from online coaching, text message programs for 24/7 support, and mobile applications, consider using this resource to help make the next quit attempt your last!

For Teens and Young Adults

• Colorado Youth QuitLine – Available to anyone over the age of 12. Completely free, enrolling online can be done in five minutes. With a text message program to help deal with cravings, chat function to talk to a coach online, and complete confidentiality, this resource is fantastic to help all teens in quitting tobacco or vaping.
• SmokeFree Teen – this resource is teen focused and expands services to include DipfreeTXT, how to quit vaping, and incorporates social media, like Instagram, to help support teens.
• This Is Quitting – By texting DITCHJUUL to 88709, or visiting https://truthinitiative.org/thisisquitting teens and young adults will receive tailored messages and appropriate recommendations about quitting. Parents and other trusted adults can text QUIT to (202) 899-7550 to receive tips on how to support teens and young adults in quitting.

For Moms/Expecting Moms

• Baby and Me Tobacco Free – This is a smoking cessation program that helps pregnant women quit smoking and not begin again after the delivery of their baby. Participants receive smoking cessation information at four prenatal education sessions and take a carbon monoxide breath test to verify smoking status. If a woman quits smoking before delivery, she is eligible to take a breath test monthly and receive $25 worth of diapers or wipes each month for up to one year as long as she doesn't start smoking again. Participants have the option of enrolling one partner as a support person who is also eligible for $25 worth of diapers or wipes each month as long as they stay tobacco free. Click here to sign up for the program.
• SmokeFree Women – Aside from getting involved with Baby and Me, Tobacco Free, this is an additional support to help moms and women for the start of a stronger, healthier, and more confident you.
• Colorado QuitLine – Offers a program specifically for pregnant women, allowing you to have the same quit coach for each of your coaching calls. They also offer a financial incentive to pregnant women for completing coaching calls.

For Seniors

• SmokeFree 60+ – It’s never too late to quit. There are numerous benefits of quitting at all ages. Seniors can learn how to quit, living a healthier life to support their quit, and find best ways to gain immediate support to ease stresses of quitting.

For Veterans

• SmokeFree Vet – You’ve served our country, now it’s time for the country to serve you. By accessing this resource, veterans have access to online coaching, and text coaching by texting VET to 47848, as well as countless articles and tools that are specific to veteran experiences and how to claim victory in tobacco free lives!

For LGBTQ+

• This Free Life – This campaign, designed to prevent and reduce tobacco use, provides authentic, credible messages from tobacco-free members of the LGBTQ+ community. The campaign encourages young adults in the community to draw inspiration from their peers. Use text programs, mobile applications, social media, and other tools to help LGBTQ+ young adults achieve their best through tobacco-free living.

For Smokeless Tobacco Users

• My Last Dip – This website offers many resources for people trying to quit smokeless tobacco, or chew.

Vaping Information

While more is being learned about vaping each day, it can be agreed, vaping is not healthy for teens or children. The following links can be used for teens, young adults, and adults to learn more about the products and why it is important to never start vaping.

Already vaping? Visit our visit one of the many links under the “how to Quit” section of this page to find the best way to fight back against nicotine addiction.

Visit the links below for more information.

Tobacco Free Colorado

Enough with the Puff

Tobacco is Nasty

Protecting Children, Pets, Friends, and You!
Where you smoke matters. Smoke fills the air. It also lingers, binding to carpet, furniture, blankets, and even toys. Learn how to stop secondhand and thirdhand smoke in their tracks. Click on the links below for more information.

Secondhand-Smoke
Thirdhand-Smoke
For more information or any questions with regard to cessation, please contact our Tobacco Cessation Specialist at (719) 276-7450