{"id":1250,"date":"2024-09-06T10:42:18","date_gmt":"2024-09-06T14:42:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/tobacco-free-living\/?page_id=1250"},"modified":"2026-03-26T16:50:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T20:50:54","slug":"tobacco-free-living","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/tobacco-free-living\/","title":{"rendered":"Tobacco Free Living"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-1250\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-1250-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1250-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1250-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-1250\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/quitnowvirginia.org\/\"\n\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" \t\t>\n\t\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2023\/05\/QNV_logo_tagline.jpg\" width=\"910\" height=\"414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2023\/05\/QNV_logo_tagline.jpg 910w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2023\/05\/QNV_logo_tagline-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2023\/05\/QNV_logo_tagline-768x349.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 910px) 100vw, 910px\" title=\"Quit Now Virginia\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-1250-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1250-0-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-1250\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/quitnowvirginia.org\/VapeFreeVA\/\"\n\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" \t\t>\n\t\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/09\/VF_logo_url.png\" width=\"640\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/09\/VF_logo_url.png 640w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/09\/VF_logo_url-300x113.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" title=\"Vape Free VA\" alt=\"Vape Free VA logo\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-1250-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1250-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1250-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-1250-1-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>Leading the charge against the dangers and risks of tobacco and nicotine in Virginia is the <strong>Tobacco Control Program (TCP)<\/strong> at the Virginia Department of Health. The goal of the program is to reduce premature death, disease, disability and the economic burden related to tobacco use and\/or exposure to second-hand smoke by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People<a class=\"CID8576e8e3-014b-45fb-8431-4d1d46f59a58\" data-sessionid=\"18507a03-4f49-fa1f-431b-3f2ff5096e2a\" data-shapeids=\"5\" data-slideid=\"\">\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Eliminating Nonsmokers' Exposure to Secondhand Smoke<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Promoting Quitting Among Adults and Young People<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Identifying and Eliminating Tobacco Related Disparities<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Each component of the TCP is developed and implemented based on evidence-based strategies outlined in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s Best Practices and Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-1250-1-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1250-1-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div class=\"icon-remove panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-1250-1-1-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-78465571af8c-1250\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/09\/TCP_Overview2024Final.pdf\"\n\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" \t\t>\n\t\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/09\/TCP_Overview2024Final_Page_1-232x300.jpg\" width=\"232\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/09\/TCP_Overview2024Final_Page_1-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/09\/TCP_Overview2024Final_Page_1-791x1024.jpg 791w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/09\/TCP_Overview2024Final_Page_1-768x994.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/09\/TCP_Overview2024Final_Page_1-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/09\/TCP_Overview2024Final_Page_1-1583x2048.jpg 1583w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/09\/TCP_Overview2024Final_Page_1.jpg 1700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" title=\"Learn More About the VDH TCP\" alt=\"Opens Tobacco Control Program Overview Document in new window\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"widget-title\">\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2024\/09\/TCP_Overview2024Final.pdf\"\n\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" \t\t>\n\t\tLearn More About the VDH TCP<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-1250-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1250-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1250-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"4\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-1250-2-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>Smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans each year. More than 41,000 of these deaths are from exposure to secondhand smoke.<\/p>\n<p>In Virginia, the cost of tobacco use is substantial. About 10,300 adults die each year from smoking, 1,600 non-smokers die each year due to second hand smoke, and 6,900 children have lost a parent to smoking related death. Given current smoking levels, 152,000 kids living today will ultimately die of smoking.<\/p>\n<p>The financial burden is also staggering. In Virginia, annual healthcare costs directly caused by tobacco use are $3.61 billion. Our state and federal taxes allocated to cover smoking related cost is $861 per household.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-1250-2-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-last-child\" data-index=\"5\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-1250\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Leading the charge against the dangers and risks of tobacco and nicotine in Virginia is the Tobacco Control Program (TCP) at the Virginia Department of Health. The goal of the program is to reduce premature death, disease, disability and the economic burden related to tobacco use and\/or exposure to second-hand smoke by: Preventing Tobacco Use [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":303,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1250","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tobacco Free Living<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Leading the charge against the dangers and risks of tobacco and nicotine in Virginia is the Tobacco Control Program.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/tobacco-free-living\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tobacco Free Living\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Leading the charge against the dangers and risks of tobacco and nicotine in Virginia is the Tobacco Control Program.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/tobacco-free-living\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Tobacco Free Living\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-26T20:50:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/tobacco-free-living\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/tobacco-free-living\\\/\",\"name\":\"Tobacco Free Living\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/tobacco-free-living\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-06T14:42:18+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-26T20:50:54+00:00\",\"description\":\"Leading the charge against the dangers and risks of tobacco and nicotine in Virginia is the Tobacco Control Program.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/tobacco-free-living\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/tobacco-free-living\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/tobacco-free-living\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/tobacco-free-living\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Tobacco Free Living\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/tobacco-free-living\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/tobacco-free-living\\\/\",\"name\":\"Tobacco Free Living\",\"description\":\"Virginia Department of Health - 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