WV Division of Tobacco Prevention
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WV Division of Tobacco Prevention

About Us


The West Virginia Division of Tobacco Prevention (WVDTP) is the lead state agency for comprehensive tobacco prevention, cessation, and control. The WVDTP saves lives and money by preventing and reducing tobacco use in West Virginia - the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States.

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STATE BEST PRACTICES IN TOBACCO AND CANCER CONTROL ASSESSMENT

LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT- APRIL 2024


The Division of Tobacco Prevention (DTP) works with local coalitions, community agencies, and state and national partners to implement and evaluate effective tobacco prevention and cessation activities that strive to:

  • eliminate secondhand tobacco smoke
  • promote quitting among adults and youth,
  • prevent youth tobacco use initiation, including vaping and other electronic delivery devices
  • identify and eliminate disparities among populations.
Tips From Former Smokers - Meet the Participants

For more information on the TIPS campaign click here
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Youth Vaping is an epidemic in West Virginia and across the US.   Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are also known as “e-cigarettes,” “e-cigs,” “vapes,” or “vape pens.” They use a nicotine liquid, also called e-liquid or e-juice, or fluid-filled pods. Many are fruit or candy flavored. E-cigarettes were developed as a safer alternative to combustible cigarettes, but they have quickly become an on-ramp for nicotine addiction for young people. The CDC has warned that e-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or non-smoking adults.

The American Lung Association in collaboration with the Division of Tobacco Prevention offers information on West Virginia’s Comprehensive Approach to Ending the Youth Vaping Epidemic.  To view please click here.

Catch My Breath  is a peer-led teaching approach that empowers students with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about e-cigarettes and resist social pressures to vape. Informed by tobacco prevention researchers and practitioners, years of real world implementation, and a youth advisory board, it is the only school-based vaping prevention program proven to reduce the likelihood of vaping among youth.

Tobacco Treatment Training Program

​The Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program (CTTTP) fills a need in West Virginia, which has one of the highest tobacco use rates in the nation. The goal is to train healthcare providers to treat tobacco use disorder with evidence-based tobacco cessation strategies.

Tobacco Treatment Specialists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, community health centers, medical and dental practices, educational settings, social service agencies, treatment centers, quit lines, mental health centers. In addition to providing treatment, specialists educate others about tobacco dependence treatments.

​West Virginia University School of Dentistry’s Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program is an online, self-paced course for professionals in the fields of education, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and social work. 

For more information about the WVU, School of Dentistry's Certified Tobacco Treatment Program please click here



Did You Know?

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. An estimated 28.3 million U.S. adults smoke cigarettes, and about 2.80 million U.S. middle and high school students use at least one tobacco product, including e-cigarettes.

 

West Virginia (WV) continually ranks among the top three states in the US, (WV, Kentucky, Louisiana) with the highest tobacco use prevalence rate. According to the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), smoking prevalence in WV was 21 percent, which is higher than the national prevalence of 14.0 percent. According to the 20 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), 14.4 percent of WV’s youth are current smokers. This figure is higher than the national average of 6.0 percent.

Pregnant smokers- ​​West Virginia has the highest proportion of pregnant smokers in the nation. According to America's Health Rankings, 18.2% of West Virginia (WV) mothers smoke during their pregnancy. .  For more information choose the Pregnancy and Smoking tab under Cessation.​

Governor's Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Task Force

The Task Force was created by House Bill 4494 during the WV Legislature's 2020 regular session.

The West Virginia Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Task Force is created for the purpose of recommending and monitoring the establishment and management of programs  that are found to be effective in the reduction of tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, and vapor products use by all state citizens, with a strong focus on the prevention of  children and young adults use of tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, and  vapor products. Review HB4494 here.


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Events

SEP
01
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer ...read more

OCT
01
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In 2024, more than 360,000 people will be diagnose...read more

OCT
11
WV African American Tobacco Prevention Network Annual Training
Annual training focusing on health in the African ...read more

See All Events

Tobacco Policies by County

Use the county search below to find tobacco policies in your county.



WV Tobacco Quitline

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WV Tobacco Quitline is a free or low cost process for tobacco users who want to stop. Participants have four calls with a coach to assist the quitting process, and unlimited reactive coaching calls. Participants also receive an eight-week supply of nicotine patches, lozenges, or gum...click here to read more

 

Get in Touch

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Follow Our Partners on Facebook
  • Coalition for a Tobacco Free West Virginia
  • CDC Tobacco Free
  • WV Tobacco Cessation Quitline
  • Raze Youth Tobacco Prevention Program
Contact Us
350 Capitol Street
Room 514
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: 304-352-6007
350 Capitol Street | Room 514 | Charleston, WV 25301 | Phone: 304-352-6007
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