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Santa Cruz County Tobacco Education and Prevention Program: 831-454-4141
If you want to make a complaint about a smoking violation, call 831-454-4319 or fill out this electronic form.
The Santa Cruz County Tobacco Education Coalition is a community group that advocates for a tobacco-free lifestyle and environment. The Coalition was formed in 1985 and is staffed by the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency. The Coalition is open to all community members including parents, youth advocates, environmentalists, health professionals and others. Together, we are working to:
The Coalition has created lasting changes in Santa Cruz County. Between 2018 and 2022, the Coalition worked with local jurisdictions to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products including e-cigarettes. Since 2021, we have worked with all five local jurisdictions to pass resolutions recognizing tobacco waste as a public health and environmental threat. In 2024, the Coalition worked with the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors to pass a groundbreaking policy banning the sale of filtered cigarettes or butts! Previously, the Coalition worked with local elected officials to pass tobacco retail license ordinances in Santa Cruz County.
Make a difference in our community by joining the Coalition. Meet other people who are concerned about tobacco issues, want to share information and find resources.
The Coalition meets on the third Wednesday every other month from 9:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m. Call 831-454-4648 for more information.
Freedom from Smoking Class Dominican Hospital respiratory therapists run an 8-week smoking cessation class in a supportive group atmosphere. Call 831-457-7099 One-time $85 fee. No fee for Medi-Cal recipients.
Don Coolman, retired respiratory therapist
831-458-1273 (call only, no text option)
Call anytime, leave a message if no answer
Medication can help you quit smoking, vaping, or use of nicotine pouches. Quit medications, including nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), are covered by insurance when prescribed. Quit medications include:
Ask your doctor about the quit medication that’s right for you. The most effective treatment combines quit medicine with quit support.
These colorful cards remind patients and providers to talk about tobacco treatment during an office visit. Click on the thumbnail for self-printing versions or contact our office at (831) 454-4141 for delivery of up to a dozen copies.
English
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Best practice for primary care physicians is that they screen for tobacco and nicotine use in patients. It is required for medical staff to screen Medi-Cal patients and patients at substance use facilities for tobacco and nicotine use. Below are some resources for how to navigate the tobacco and nicotine-use conversation:
Youth-Specific Healthcare resources
For information on updated billing codes
Thriving Youth and Community is a vaping and cannabis prevention program for Santa Cruz City Schools middle and high school age students. It includes three service pathways depending on need: prevention, intervention and cessation. Find more information about the program here. This is a free program and all services are confidential.
Breathe California offers the Ash Kickers six-session smoking cessation program. The program helps smokers move through the stages of quitting, which include thinking about quitting, preparing to quit, quitting, and preventing relapse. The program incorporates tobacco education, group support, and ongoing tools to help smokers kick the habit for good.
Ash Kickers classes are led by trained facilitators who are available for support at any time. For more information, contact jason@lungsrus.org.
Servicios gratuitos y ayuda para las personas que intentan dejar de fuma o vapear
Isn’t it time we told tobacco companies that Santa Cruz County isn’t their ashtray?
Cigarette butts. Yuck! They can seem to be everywhere. They’re so common that some people don’t even notice anymore. Cigarette butts are the No. 1 item found on California beaches and roadways. Members of the Tobacco Education Coalition think it’s time for Big Tobacco to clean up their mess. You can help.
Not Just Litter, Toxic Waste
The billions of cigarette butts littering our streets, parks and waterways aren’t just litter—they’re toxic waste. Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that breaks down into microplastic particles over time. Those filters eventually leach toxic chemicals into the environment including lead, arsenic and nicotine. There are major environmental and public health impacts from this waste, not to mention the cost to local governments and taxpayers. And now, e-cigarettes have created a new source of pollution, with their battery-operated devices and single-use plastic flavor pods.
A Threat to Children, Pets and Wildlife
Cigarette butts in our parks, playgrounds and other open spaces can poison children, pets and wildlife. They also harm Santa Cruz County beaches and ocean habitats, including the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. In addition, tobacco waste is an environmental justice issue. Low-income communities and communities of color bear the highest burden from this toxic waste. These are the same communities that have the highest density of tobacco retailers and tobacco advertising.
What Can You Do?
There are lots of things individuals can do to keep tobacco waste out of our environment. Most importantly, don't smoke or vape. If you do, properly dispose of your tobacco waste. Educate your family and friends about the environmental impact of tobacco products. Take part in cleanups and awareness events. You can also let your local policymakers know that you care about this issue. Tell them that you want to see policies passed that hold Big Tobacco responsible for the damage their products do to both human and environmental health!
Use Your Voice to Make Change
The Coalition is working to educate local leaders about policy solutions to end tobacco waste. We have worked with all five local jurisdictions to pass resolutions recognizing tobacco waste as a public health and environmental threat. Since 2024, the Coalition has worked with community advocates and policy makers to pass groundbreaking policies banning the sale of filtered cigarettes and cigars in three local jurisdictions – the County Unincorporated Area, the City of Capitola, and the City of Santa Cruz. Come to Coalition meetings to help strategize about next steps and actions to take. You could help with activities such as:
Why does a deadly, addictive product that is supposed to be for adults look and smell like candy?
Chocolate, caramel, cinnamon apple are just a few of the many sweet and fruity flavors available in tobacco products. These products use kid-friendly flavors, colorful packaging and low prices to entice young people. The sweet flavors mask the harshness of the nicotine and keep kids coming back until they become addicted.
Santa Cruz County Policy Makers Support Anti-Tobacco Laws that Protect Our Kids
The good news is state and local policymakers understand that restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products is a critical step to prevent another generation of young people from living with a lifetime of addiction. In 2018, the City of Santa Cruz became the first jurisdiction in the County to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol. By 2022, four other local jurisdictions passed similar bans.
Following the lead of local jurisdictions, the entire state of California banned the sale of flavored products. Despite the ban, education programs and enforcement of the policy is still needed. New products, such as flavored nicotine pouches and “non menthol” cigarettes, have flooded the market confusing the public and retailers alike.
Tobacco staff and coalition members continue to educate the public and tobacco retailers, conduct retail store observations, and work with local enforcement agencies to ensure that flavored tobacco products are not being sold in Santa Cruz County. If you see these products in a local store, please contact us at 831-454-4141.
Looking for information about how to obtain a Tobacco Retailer’s License? Click here
In October of 2024, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors (BOS) amended County Code Chapter 5.60 on Tobacco Retail Licensing to ban the sale of filtered cigarettes and cigars. This ban will take effect on January 1, 2027, and apply to all tobacco retailers in the County Unincorporated Area.
To support retailer awareness and preparation, this website includes materials that summarize the new requirements:
For questions about the County ban, email the Sheriff’s Tobacco Enforcement Agent at Amanda.Ambrosino@santacruzcountyca.gov or call the County’s Tobacco Education and Prevention Program at (831) 454-4141.
As retailers adapt to changing customer needs and tobacco sales trends, there are opportunities to grow your business in new ways. This toolkit provides practical ideas and local resources to help retailers attract customers, offer new products and services, strengthen connections with the community, and succeed without relying on tobacco product sales.
Consider partnering with a third-party delivery or online ordering service to make your products more convenient for customers and reach new customers beyond your immediate location. Compare available services, fees, requirements, and features to determine which option is right for your business.
Reach families in your community and become a convenient part of their regular shopping routine by becoming a WIC-authorized vendor. WIC is a federal nutrition program that helps pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under age five access healthy foods. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) accepts WIC vendor applications year-round and does not charge retailers an application fee. CDPH also provides vendor education, cashier training tools, transaction tips, and other resources to help stores successfully participate.
Questions? E-mail: WICVendorInfo@cdph.ca.gov or call 855-942-7867.
Accepting CalFresh/EBT can help your business reach more customers and increase sales of eligible food products. SNAP, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, helps eligible households purchase nutritious food essential to health and well-being. CalFresh is California’s SNAP program. Customers use an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to purchase SNAP-eligible items at participating retailers.
Becoming a SNAP retailer is a simple, online process with no application fee.
Questions? Call the SNAP Retailer Service Center at 1-877-823-4369 or visit the Retailer Service Center webpage.
Avoid state and local tobacco retail licensing fees by replacing tobacco products with products that your customers use regularly and that can help make up for lost sales.
The Santa Cruz Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is part of the Northern California SBDC program. Services include advising, workshops, and regional training programs. Small business owners can also use financial advising services via the Santa Cruz SBDC Finance Center. Visit www.santacruzsbdc.org or call 831-479-6136.
The Santa Cruz County Business Council is a membership and advocacy organization that represents interests of Santa Cruz County businesses such as workforce housing, local governance, infrastructure and transportation, and local economic development. Visit https://www.sccbusinesscouncil.com/ or call 831-588-6173.
The Chamber of Commerce hosts workshops and events that offer networking opportunities and support prospective and current small- or medium-sized businesses. Retailers can also utilize the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce’s marketing services such as referrals and press releases. Visit www.santacruzchamber.org/small-business.html or call 831-457-3713.
The Santa Cruz County Office of Economic Development (OED) provides a variety of services for businesses or projects such as connections to business help and financing. Such services are intended to help businesses with loans, workforce development, and general business-related questions. Visit sccvitality.org or call 831-454-2100.
Pacific Northwest Regional VBOC’s mission is to support veterans, transitioning service members, and their spouses with end-to-end support for long-term success. They serve Northern California (including Santa Cruz County), Oregon and Washington. With the help of partners like the U.S. Small Business Administration, VBOC provides mentorship, business training, and strategic resources to help clients successfully navigate entrepreneurship. Visit norcalvboc.org or call 916-527-8400.
The Regional Women’s Business Center (RWBC) is a program of El Pájaro Community Development Corporation that serves Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties. RWBC provides multilingual business tools, coaching, education, and resources. Visit www.elpajarocdc.org/the-regional-womens-business-center or call 831-722-3128.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers resources for planning, launching, managing, and growing your business or securing federal government contracts. Additional services include business counseling and loans as well as home and business disaster loans. Visit www.sba.gov to learn more.
The Simplified Savings Program supports small business customers that operate within disadvantaged and hard-to-reach communities through information and activities that may provide immediate savings on their energy bill. Find out more about eligibility requirements at www.simplifiedsavingsprogram.com.
Score (Service Corps of Retired Executives) offers a library of marketing resources such as step-by-step planning tools, downloadable templates, and expert how-to guides. New or aspiring business owners can also qualify for free small business assistance. Visit the website for a catalog of on-demand webinars, courses, and upcoming virtual events at www.score.org/centralcoast or call 831-621-3735.
The Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program provides retailer guidance on energy-efficient refrigeration, equipment maintenance, healthy food displays, and strategies for selling fresh fruits and vegetables. The site also provides information about CDFA's Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program and other funding opportunities. Retailers can sign up to receive notifications on future grant opportunities.
Creating a safe, welcoming business environment benefits both retailers and the community. Simple steps—such as keeping the store and surrounding property clean, maintaining adequate lighting, securing dumpsters, and addressing safety concerns—can help discourage crime and illegal activity, build customer trust, and create a stronger sense of community around your business.
Call 911 if any of these situations are happening on your business property:
Call your community’s non-emergency dispatch if these situations occur:
Local non-emergency dispatch numbers:
Include the exact street location, nearby cross streets, and a photo if possible, to help crews locate and repair the hazard quickly. Note: Potholes in a parking lot of a business are the responsibility of the property owner.