Grant Targets Prevention of Tobacco Use, Cessation

Tri-County Mental Health Services has been awarded a $150,000, two-year Tobacco Prevention grant from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City. 

Under the program, Tri-County will work with the Clay and Platte County health departments to implement tobacco prevention programs focused on young people residing in Kansas City, North. The work will also promote an existing cessation program in Clay County and develop one in Platte County.

“We see a definite need,” explained Tri-County Prevention/Wellness Manager Vicky Ward. “And we know these programs work.”

A recent Missouri student survey found that 32 percent of Clay County high school students reported using tobacco in their lifetime, with 16 percent reporting use of cigarettes within the previous 30 days.  In addition, 58 percent of the high school students reported that tobacco was easy to get and almost 25 percent did not think it was wrong to smoke cigarettes. Other studies have shown similar levels throughout Missouri.

Ward said these perceptions were especially alarming. “Core risk factors that determine substance use are the perceptions of availability, acceptability and social norms favorable to the behavior,” Ward explained. “But we know that focusing on these three risk factors will help reduce tobacco use among our youth.”

Tri-County’s prevention program includes award-winning community coalitions to fight substance abuse and promote wellness, especially among young people. Along with founding organizations such as the Northland Coalition and Youth With Vision, the prevention efforts include widespread collaboration with area law enforcement, schools and other organizations. Tri-County was recently named as one of only eight agencies in Missouri to participate in the Community of Hope Grant.

For more information on Tri-County prevention programs, contact Vicky Ward at Tri-County Mental Health Services, Inc. (816) 877-0411 or visit www.tri-countymhs.org on the Internet.

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