The Lowell Tobacco Control Program was created for the purpose of reducing and ultimately eliminating youth smoking by limiting youth access to tobacco products, since it is proven that the majority of people who smoke start before the age of 18. This reduction is achieved by educating stores that sell tobacco about the importance of checking identification, by conducting youth access inspections and by fining those stores that sell to minors. Tobacco control also reaches out to the schools using educational materials about the dangers of smoking and information about how to quit smoking if you have already started.

Additionally Tobacco Control works to enforce the Massachusetts Smoke-Free Workplace law passed July 5, 2004 mandating that all workplaces that have one or more employees be smoke free. This is accomplished by educating employers, conducting random walk in inspections of establishments and through investigation of complaints received from the public.

We are unable at this time to provide smoking cessation support groups but we suggest visiting www.trytostop.org if you are trying to quit.

Lowell General Hospital - Saints Campus offers a smoking cessation program called BREATHE.  If classes are not being offered at the time you need the help, please contact Karen Gallagher at Karen.Gallagher@lowellgeneral.org

Click here for a list of Smoking Cessation Resources    

Cigarette Health Warnings

Beginning September 2012, FDA will require larger, more prominent cigarette health warnings on all cigarette packaging and advertisements in the United States.  These warnings mark the first change in cigarette warnings in more than 25 years and are a significant advancement in communicating the dangers of smoking. Click here for more information

Electronic Cigarettes

• What is an E-Cigarette or electronic cigarette?
• Health Effects of E-cigarettes
• Can E-Cigarettes Help Someone Quit Smoking?
• State Laws pertaining to E-Cigarettes

On April 25, 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that e-cigarettes will be regulated as tobacco products unless the products are marketed as therapeutic.  Learn more