Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Control
Tobacco Topics
- Behavioral Health
- E-cigarettes and Vapes
- E-cigarette School Toolkit
- Flavored Tobacco
- Menthol Tobacco
- Nicotine
- Quitting Tobacco
- JUUL Settlement
- Helping People Quit
- Secondhand Smoke
- Tobacco and COVID-19
- Tobacco 21
- Tobacco Taxes
- Traditional Tobacco
Related Topics
Contact Info
Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Control
Commercial tobacco use is still a problem. It kills over 6,300 Minnesotans every year and costs Minnesota $3.2 billion annually in medical costs. Investing in commercial tobacco use prevention and control saves lives and taxpayer dollars. We're working to reduce commercial tobacco's harm by:
- Reducing youth access to commercial tobacco.
- Reducing secondhand smoke exposure.
- Increasing access to cessation resources.
- Addressing commercial tobacco-related disparities.
Recent news
Escape the Vape Video Challenge Returns for 2023
The Escape the Vape Video Challenge, a youth vaping prevention video contest, is back for 2023. Minnesota middle and high school students are invited to create and submit a 30-second public service announcement (PSA) video to educate their peers on the dangers of e-cigarette use, also known as vaping. Submissions will be entered into a competition for cash prizes for both students and their schools.
Key Contest Dates
- February 1, 2023 – Video Submission Opens
Students will have the month of February to finalize and submit their videos - February 28, 2023 – Video Submission Deadline
- March 24, 2023 – Finalists Announced
- March 24 - April 6, 2023 – Public Voting
- April 7, 2023 – Winners Announced
Minnesota Youth can learn more about the Escape the Vape Video Challenge and submit their video at mnescapethevape.org.
For more information on sponsorships or how to promote the contest with youth in your community visit Escape the Vape Video Challenge.
New Data Brief: SHIP supports local Tobacco 21 policies, helping to reduce youth commercial tobacco use
National data indicate that about 90% of adults who smoke start before age 18, and 99% start before age 26. Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) partners across the state have worked to support the implementation of local Tobacco 21 (T21) policies that raise the tobacco purchase age from 18 to 21. Between July 2017 and January 2019, 17 Minnesota communities implemented a T21 policy, and 14 of these received SHIP support. By December 2019, 60 Minnesota communities had implemented local T21 policies prior to the federal version of the law taking effect.
Data from the Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) indicate that these policies have been successful at reducing youth commercial tobacco use. Minnesota 8th and 9th graders who were protected by T21 policies reported less commercial tobacco use than those living in communities without T21 policies.
Read more: SHIP supports local Tobacco 21 policies, helping to reduce youth commercial tobacco use
Winners announced for 2022 Escape the Vape youth video contest
More than 250 entries submitted from students across the state
Mohamed Mustafa, a senior at Moorhead High School, and Princess Hart, an eighth grader at Buffalo Community Middle School, are this year’s Escape the Vape video contest winners for their videos Don’t Let Vaping Take that Away from You and Vaping Is Stressing You Out!, respectively. Each student will receive a $500 cash prize. Their schools will also each receive $500.
Read more: Winners announced for 2022 Escape the Vape youth video contest
The Minnesota Department of Health requests proposals to create community-driven changes to policies, practices, systems, and environments to reduce commercial tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure among populations experiencing commercial tobacco-related disparities.
The purpose of this Request for Proposals is to fund projects that create community-driven and culturally responsive strategies that work to change community norms related to harmful commercial tobacco, and that result in sustainable changes.
Learn More: 2022: Request for Proposals for Commercial Tobacco-Free Communities Grant Program (PDF)
Minnesota has made historic progress
Thanks to effective, evidence-based policies that ensure clean indoor air and keep commercial tobacco prices high, Minnesota’s smoking rates are the lowest ever recorded.
Among 11th graders, smoking fell from 12.2 percent in 2013 to 8.4 percent in 2016. Among adults, smoking fell from 16.1 percent in 2010 to 14.4 percent in 2014.
Learn more about youth commercial tobacco use.
We have more work to do
More kids are using new and flavored products, like e-cigarettes. E-cigarette use is twice as high as conventional cigarettes. Nicotine, found in these products, is highly addictive and harmful to the adolescent brain.
Learn more about e-cigarettes and other vaping products.
Many communities also still use commercial tobacco at significantly higher rates. Culturally appropriate and community-led efforts are needed to close these gaps.
Trying to Quit Smoking, Vaping, or Chewing?
Quit Partner is Minnesota’s family of programs to help people who want to quit smoking, vaping, chewing, or using other commercial tobacco products. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) or visit Quit Partner.
For more help, visit Quitting Commercial Tobacco.