Tag: tobacco

New Year, New You: Central Shenandoah Health District Encourages a New, Healthier You in 2026

December 30, 2025
Media Contact: Rachel Dumene, Rachel.dumene1@vdh.virginia.gov, 540-480-4998

New Year, New You: Central Shenandoah Health District Encourages a New, Healthier You in 2026

STAUNTON, Va. – Ring in the New Year and focus on becoming healthier. The Central Shenandoah Health District (CSHD) wants to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions by offering simple, sustainable habits for a year of health and wellness.

Here are some tips to help you be healthier in 2026:

  • Get Active: In Virginia, over 30% of adults are obese. Try to move more and sit less. Take the stairs when you can. Find fun ways to be active, like walking or doing yoga. Aim for about 150 minutes of exercise each week.
  • Eat Well: Eat more foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. Drink lots of water. Eliminate sugar and junk food/limit alcoholic drinks.
  • Manage Stress: Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Try mindfulness or meditation. Spend time with friends and family, manage your stress, and maybe write in a journal.
  • Schedule Screenings: Visit your doctor and dentist for regular checkups and screenings. Drink enough water and wash your hands often to stay healthy.
  • Quit Smoking: Now is a good time to quit bad habits. Smoking and vaping can hurt your body, so it’s best to stop. Quit Now Virginia is a free service that helps people quit smoking, using tobacco, or vaping.

The Central Shenandoah Health District offers a variety of programs to help residents achieve their health goals, including: STI testing, vaccine appointments, Quit Now Virginia, and free health screenings throughout the district.

CSHD wants you to keep working on your goals to build healthy habits this year. If things don’t always go as planned, be kind to yourself and keep trying. Do things that make you happy and take care of yourself.

Let’s make becoming healthier a priority in 2026! If you have questions, reach out to the Central Shenandoah Health District at cshdinfo@vdh.virginia.gov.

Let’s make health a shared goal!

RHHD Encourages Community to Call it Quits on Smoking

November 20, 2025
Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov

RHHD Encourages Community to Call it Quits on Smoking
The Great American Smokeout is November 20

RICHMOND, Va. – In support of The Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 20, Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage those who are interested in quitting smoking to seek local resources. Richmond residents can participate in the RHHD Free From Tobacco program.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. More people, both men and women, in the United States die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, responsible for approximately 85% of all cases.

According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Tobacco Control Program, smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans each year. More than 41,000 of these deaths are from exposure to secondhand smoke.

“Tobacco cessation is a journey,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Free From Tobacco Coach Richard Baker. “These products are often deeply embedded into a person’s lifestyle, and we want to encourage each client to think more about what they’re buying and using. Our goal is to support people in breaking free of addictive behaviors.”

Free From Tobacco

Free From Tobacco is a culturally competent one-on-one coaching program designed to remove barriers for Richmond residents who wish to quit smoking and remain abstinent from all tobacco products. Richmond residents interested in the Free From Tobacco program can call 804-482-8018 for more information or complete the intake form directly at rhhd.gov/tobaccofree. Benefits clients receive from their coach include:

  • Weekly in-person or virtual coaching sessions
  • Education on tobacco cessation health benefits and strategies
  • Background on the history of tobacco
  • Access to videos and useful surveys
  • Better management of potential chronic diseases for overall health and well being
  • Connection to valuable resources such as Quit Now Virginia

Quit Now Virginia

Quit Now Virginia is a statewide evidence-based cessation service for those who want to quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco, nicotine, e-cigarettes, or vapes. Clients can receive one-on-one coaching sessions by phone, chat, or text, as well as group coaching. Virginia tobacco and nicotine users interested in quitting their addiction can contact Quit Now Virginia at 1-800-Quit Now (1-800-784-8669) or at quitnowvirginia.org.

Virginia Smoking Data

In Virginia, about 10,300 adults die each year from smoking, 1,600 non-smokers die each year due to secondhand smoke, and 6,900 children have lost a parent to smoking-related death. Given current smoking levels, 152,000 children living today will ultimately die of smoking. Annual healthcare costs in Virginia directly caused by tobacco use are $3.61 billion.

CDC State Tobacco-Related Disparities Data from 2023 show that 20.7 percent of adult Virginians who had attained less than a high school education smoked cigarettes, compared to 4.1 percent of adult Virginians who had graduated from college. Nearly 20 percent of Virginia adults who were unemployed smoked cigarettes, compared to 10.2 percent of adult Virginians who were employed. Additionally, 28.2 percent of adults who were unable to work due to a physical, mental, or other condition smoked cigarettes.

Visit rhhd.gov for more health and safety information. Follow RHHD on Instagram (@richmondcity_hd) and Facebook.

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Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Highlight Free From Tobacco Program in Honor of The Great American Smokeout

November 20, 2024
Media Contact:  Bryan Hooten, RHHDpr@vdh.virginia.gov, 804-807-1727

Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Highlight Free From Tobacco Program in Honor of The Great American Smokeout

RICHMOND, Va. – In support of The Great American Smokeout on Thursday, November 21, Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage Richmond residents who are interested in quitting tobacco to participate in the Free From Tobacco program. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

In Virginia, about 10,300 adults die each year from smoking, 1,600 non-smokers die each year due to secondhand smoke, and 6,900 children have lost a parent to smoking related death. Given current smoking levels, 152,000 children living today will ultimately die of smoking. Annual healthcare costs in Virginia directly caused by tobacco use are $3.61 billion.

“Statistics show that most people take multiple attempts to quit tobacco,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Free From Tobacco Coach Richard Baker. “We want clients to think more about what they’re buying and using. We’re helping people learn to feed another part of their brain to replace addictive behaviors.”

Free From Tobacco is a culturally competent one-on-one coaching program designed to remove barriers for Richmond residents who wish to quit smoking and remain abstinent from all tobacco products. Richmond residents interested in the Free From Tobacco program can call 804-482-8018 for more information or complete the intake form directly at rhhd.gov/tobaccofree. Benefits clients receive from their coach include:

  • Weekly in-person or virtual coaching sessions.
  • Education on tobacco cessation health benefits and strategies.
  • Background on the history of tobacco.
  • Access to videos and useful surveys.
  • Better management of potential chronic diseases for overall health and well-being.
  • Connection to valuable resources such as Quit Now Virginia.

Quit Now Virginia is a statewide evidence-based cessation service for those who want to quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco, nicotine, e-cigarettes, or vapes. Clients can receive one-on-one coaching sessions by phone, chat, or text, as well as group coaching. Virginia tobacco and nicotine users interested in quitting their addiction can contact Quit Now Virginia at 1-800-Quit Now (1-800-784-8669) or at quitnowvirginia.org.

According to the Virginia Department of Health Tobacco Control Program, smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans each year. More than 41,000 of these deaths are from exposure to secondhand smoke.

Virginia Department of Health and Eliminate Tobacco Use Virginia Release Higher Education Tobacco Policy Dashboard 

August 12, 2024
Media Contact:  Cheryle Rodriguez, cheryle.rodriguez@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Health and Eliminate Tobacco Use Virginia Release Higher Education Tobacco Policy Dashboard 

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Tobacco Control Program partnership with Eliminate Tobacco Use (ETU) Virginia, launched the Virginia Higher Education Tobacco Policy Dashboard to encourage colleges and universities to strengthen campus policies to reduce student and employee tobacco use and increase cessation efforts. The dashboard presents the current landscape of tobacco policies, via tobacco policy report cards, across 49 public and private college and university campuses in Virginia and will be updated on an annual basis.

“The Virginia Higher Education Tobacco Policy Dashboard is a vital tool for fostering healthier campuses across the Commonwealth,” said VDH Tobacco Control Program Epidemiologist Kyle Girone. “By providing a detailed overview of current tobacco policies and offering targeted recommendations for improvement, this initiative empowers institutions to take proactive steps in reducing tobacco use and supporting cessation efforts. This collaborative effort, backed by a coalition of dedicated partners, underscores our commitment to creating tobacco-free environments that benefit students, employees, and the broader community.”

The tobacco policy report cards for each college and university evaluate existing tobacco policies and identify key areas needing improvement based on standards established by the Americans for Non-Smokers Rights Foundation. These assessments consider various factors, such as the types of tobacco products covered by the policies, whether the campus has designated smoking locations, availability of cessation resources, and the effectiveness of school prevention efforts. The report cards offer valuable insights, highlighting both the strengths of current policies and the specific areas where enhancements are necessary.

According to a college campus analysis performed by the American for Non-Smokers Rights Foundation, Virginia currently ranks second to last in the United States for tobacco-free higher education. Executive Order 41 (2006) authorizes state agency heads, including those of higher education institutions, to set appropriate guidelines for smoking on state-owned property. A clarifying document released in 2021 confirmed that public institutions of higher education can ban smoking in all spaces deemed appropriate by the institution.

Research shows that nearly nine out of ten adults who smoke cigarettes daily, first tried smoking by age 18, and 99% by age 26. Since most college students fall within this age range, implementing policies that prevent tobacco use and support health is crucial. Tobacco-free campus policies have proven effective in reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, preventing tobacco use among students, and aiding individuals in overcoming nicotine dependence.

For more information, visit Eliminate Tobacco Use or the VDH Tobacco Control Program.

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