Tobacco Prevention Coalition

What does the Coalition do?

The Tobacco Prevention Coalition (TPC) in Contra Costa County is dedicated to:

• Minimizing youth access to tobacco products through community initiatives. 
• Advocating for policies that protect residents from the harms of tobacco and nicotine use in both residential and retail settings. 
• Promoting health equity by addressing tobacco-related disparities in underserved communities throughout the county.
• Strengthening partnerships to support sustainable, long-term tobacco prevention strategies. 

Why do we need the Coalition?

Smoking kills 440,000 Americans and 6,569 Contra Costans each year, more than alcohol, crack cocaine, heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fires, and AIDS combined.

More children under the age of five die each year from second-hand smoke exposure than from poisoning, falls, choking, fire, drowning, car accidents, and other injuries combined.

Tobacco costs Contra Costa County an estimated $228.1 million a year in healthcare expenses.

The tobacco industry spends $1.2 billion a year in California to market and promote its products -- mostly to youth.

Over 35% of stores in Contra Costa's unincorporated areas sold tobacco illegally to minors in 2002.

Take back your community from the tobacco industry, join the Contra Costa Tobacco Prevention Coalition!