Tobacco Use Prevention Program
2021 Social Media Advertisement Contest
Lewis and Clark Public Health was awarded a reACT grant for a Tobacco Product Prevention Campaign focused on Cessation Promotion and e-cigarettes. reACT is Montana’s teen-led movement taking action to become the first-ever tobacco-free generation. reACT teens are Active, Dedicated, and Empowered!
reACT works to:
- Create a tobacco-free generation!
- Encourage teens to live a tobacco-free life!
- Empower teens to stand up against the Tobacco Industry, which targets their generation!
With this grant LCPH held a contest for all local high school students in Lewis and Clark, and Broadwater Counties. Our goal was to hold a social media advertisement contest, designed to create an ad campaign to prevent the use of e-cigarettes among teens. We wanted a campaign created by teens for teens. These ads will run through the summer of 2022, ads will be placed on Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat to reach teens where they are at.
We had 187 total participants from Helena High and Capital High. We selected winners for 1st through 4th place, winners received Visa gift cards ranging from $25-100. Congratulations to all of the winners!
Here are the winners:
1st: Molly, Elsie, and Rebecca - CHS
2nd: Joanna - HHS
Tie for 3rd: Natlie (candy) and Vesperia (rise above) - HHS
Tie for 4th: Anna(runner) and Vienna(Dinosaur) - CHS
Program Goals
Prevent Tobacco Use Among Youth People
- Help us create Montana’s first Tobacco Free generation! Learn more at reACT !
- Most tobacco products are bought in gas stations and grocery stores where the industry focuses the majority of its marketing efforts, and targets youth. Point-of-sale strategies can reduce exposure to tobacco products and advertising in stores. Learn more at Montana Tobacco Retailer Mapper.
- E-cigarettes are now the MOST commonly used tobacco product among Montana's teens. More than HALF of Montana high school students have tried e-cigarettes. ONE in THREE Montana high school students currently use e-cigarettes. Learn more at Youth E-cigarette Use: A Montana Epidemic.
- Big Tobacco targets kids with; flavors, marketing, and new gimmicks. Learn more at Big Tobacco Targets Kids!
- E-cigarettes come in over 15,500 different flavors, like cotton candy, skittles, O.M.G. and unicorn puke. Most (96%) youth e-cigarette users started with a flavored product. 70% of youth e-cigarette users report flavors as the reason they use e-cigarettes.
- The tobacco industry spends $27.7 million each year in Montana promoting their products. E-cigarettes are advertised using celebrity endorsements, cartoon characters, sport and event sponsorships and social media influencers. In 2019, 70% of U.S. middle and high school students had been exposed to e-cigarette marketing.
- The new generation of e-cigarette products, like JUUL, have a sleek, high-tech design and are easy to conceal. Some e-cigarettes can be dressed up and customized with colorful sleeves and accessories. E-cigarette companies have come out with products that are disguised as sweatshirts and watches.
Eliminate Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
The Montana legislature passed the Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA), one of the most important public health policies in state history, in 2005. The law requires all enclosed public places and workplaces, including work vehicles, or vehicles that serve as a place of work, and vehicles accessible to the public, such as taxis and buses to be smokefree; and it requires businesses to prominently place smokefree signs on all public entrances. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has adopted these rules.
The health benefits of the Clean Indoor Air Act are three-fold:
- Patrons and workers alike are protected from the deadly health effects of secondhand smoke exposure.
- More people who smoke will try to quit.
- Fewer Montana youth will begin smoking.
You Can Report CIAA Complaints Here
Smokefree Housing
The Montana Clean Indoor Air Act (MCIAA) does not regulate smoking in individual apartments; however, landlords have the right to implement smokefree policies. The Housing and Urban Development Department implemented a smokefree rule, requiring all HUD funded units go smokefree by 2018. Also, many private landlords implement smokefree policies in their multi-unit housing facilities to protect their tenants from the dangers associated with smoking. Check out the Five Reasons to go Smokefree.
Tobacco-Free Events
Tobacco-free events foster a healthy environment and model healthy behaviors for the youth who attend. The Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program offers a model tobacco-free event policy and assistance to any organization that wishes to implement a tobacco-free policy.
Tobacco-Free Parks
Tobacco-free parks promote positive community role modeling and protect the health, safety, and welfare of community members. Secondhand smoke levels in outdoor public places can reach levels as high as those found in indoor facilities where smoking is permitted. Helena currently has Tobacco Free City Parks. "Why You Want Tobacco-Free Parks in Your Community" Infographic.
Tobacco-Free Worksites
Worksite wellness programs and policies have a substantial impact on health care costs, absenteeism, workers compensation costs, and productivity. If you are interested in finding out more on how to build or strengthen the worksite wellness program, including implementing a tobacco-free workplace policy at your worksite please visit Montana's Worksite Wellness webpage.
Program Mission Statement
The mission of the Lewis and Clark Tobacco Use Prevention Program is to address the public health crisis caused by the use of all forms of tobacco.
Program Goals
- Prevent tobacco use among young people.
- Eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Promote quitting among adults and youth.
- Build community support and capacity for tobacco use prevention.
Who We Serve
Residents of Lewis and Clark and Broadwater Counties.
Sarah Sandau
Prevention Program Manager
406-457-8960
Health Educator (currently vacant, please call Sarah Sandau)
406-457-8924
QUIT YOUR WAY with the Montana Tobacco Quit Line. Staffed 7 days a week: 5 AM to 11 PM, with 24-hour voicemail.
Please leave them a message and we will call you back!
Montana Tobacco Quit Line: NEW online chat feature
- *NEW* Chat with a coach through the Quit Line webpage
- A FREE personalized quit plan
- 5 FREE pro-active cessation coaching sessions
- 8 weeks of FREE nicotine replacement therapy available for callers engaged in the program
- Reduced cost cessation medication
- For more information, view the Montana Tobacco Quit Line Frequently Asked Questions.
*New* Young Adult (18-24) Quit Line Program
In addition to the Montana Tobacco Quit Line services, the Young Adult Program offers:
- FREE coaching session by live text, online chat, or phone
- Unique five-digit code for texting, 36072
- Coaches specially trained in working with young adults
Quit Now Montana Pregnancy Program: NEW Increased Cash Incentives
In addition to the Montana Tobacco Quit Line services, the Quit Now Montana Pregnancy Program offers:
- FREE personal female coach
- FREE NRT during pregnancy and additional weeks postpartum
- CASH INCENTIVES- $20 for completed coaching calls while pregnant (up to 5 calls), $30 for completed coaching calls post-partum (up to 4 calls)
- 9 FREE coaching calls
Be sure to identify yourself as pregnant when calling the Montana Tobacco Quit Line!


My Life, My Quit
- 5 FREE coaching sessions either by text, chat, or phone to help youth under 18 quit all forms of tobacco including vaping
- Dedicated toll-free number (1-855-891-9989)
- Five-digit code for live texting, 36072
- Online enrollment through mylifemyquit.com
- RESPECTS privacy through confidential enrollment and coaching. No one will know someone enrolls unless they want them to know
American Indian Commercial Tobacco Quit Line
In addition to the Montana Tobacco Quit Line services, the American Indian Commercial Tobacco Quit Line offers:
- FREE culturally sensitive coaching with American Indian coaches
- 10 FREE coaching sessions
- Dedicated toll-free number (1-855-5AI-QUIT)
- Staffed Monday-Friday 6:00am to 7:30pm, MST.
