What We Do

The Napa Tobacco Education and Quit Smoking Program has an important mission to educate the public about tobacco issues. We promote education to counter pro-tobacco influences. We strive to reduce community secondhand smoke exposure with emphasis on public areas that include parks and multiunit housing. One of our major goals is to reduce teen access to tobacco and encourage smoke-free, healthy environments. We offer quit smoking classes that double a person’s chance for a successful quit. We have expanded our service to include all of Napa County.

Teen Education

Since teens are at the greatest risk to start smoking, the Tobacco Education Program offers a prevention curriculum to high-risk students on juvenile probation at all four Napa County Office of Education Court Community Schools. Classes include Quitting Techniques, Resisting Peer Pressure to Smoke, Long-term Effects of Smoking, and The Tobacco Industry’s Manipulative Advertising Techniques.

Smoking Prevention

No one thinks about becoming addicted to nicotine when they have their first puff on a cigarette, but tobacco kills more people than AIDS, alcohol, homicides, and car accidents combined. Cigarette smoking is a devastating and preventable cause of death in Napa County. About 15% of the population in Napa County uses tobacco.

Working with all 104 Napa County stores who carry tobacco, the Tobacco Education Program reduced the tobacco sales rate to minors to less than 6% in 2007 (down from 60% in 2002). This is particularly important, since more than one-fifth of all junior-high and high-school students said they would smoke within the next year.

Secondhand Smoke Reduction

n an effort to decrease the exposure to secondhand smoke for Napa County residents, the Tobacco Education Program worked with restaurant owners to make their outdoor patio areas smoke free. So far, 25 restaurants have agreed to prevent smoking on their patios.

Quit Smoking Programs

The Community Quit Smoking Program is comprehensive and free to all Napa County residents. Structured classes, nicotine replacement products and therapies, and support make it easier to quit smoking and stay smoke free. The Quit Smoking Program is based on the American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking curriculum and taught by certified facilitators. You may enroll in one of our classes at Queen of the Valley Hospital or at Clinic Ole. Classes are held evenings 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. and run for seven weeks.

Our Support Group

What do you do after you quit? Our program offers an on-going support group for anyone in the community who is tobacco free and would like to become part of a group that focuses on continuing positive lifestyle changes. The discussions are based on individual participant’s needs and on recognizing dangerous triggers. The theme of the support group is to celebrate wellness and your new independence from tobacco.

Tobacco Education Presentations Available

We provide free tobacco education presentations on request to bring awareness of the many dangers of tobacco use on personal health and the environment. We offer these presentations to civic groups, college health classes, schools, and other organizations throughout Napa County.

Facts You Should Know

Tobacco takes a terrible toll in Napa County. We expect to see 105 new cases of lung cancer, resulting in 80 deaths yearly. Since other tobacco related deaths are about three times as frequent as lung cancer, this brings the conservative estimate of tobacco related deaths to almost one a day.

Today, tobacco kills more people than AIDS, alcohol, homicide, and car accidents combined. It kills more than half of the people who smoke, and almost 60% of Napa Valley smokers. Yet it’s easy to prevent.

Quick Facts

  • Napa’s only homeless shelters
  • Addresses core issues of homelessness
  • Focus on personal responsibility
  • Treats individuals with dignity & respect
  • Provides safe and secure environment
  • Promotes self-sufficiency
  • Fosters self esteem
  • Full continuum of services
  • Cost effective
  • Caring and supportive
  • Clean and sober environment
  • On-site medical care
  • Residents contribute over 500 volunteer hours per month to Napa

 

Contact

Program Director:
Charlene Horton
707.253.6103

Samaritan Family Center
2521 Old Sonoma Road
Napa, CA 94558

South Napa Shelter
100 Hartle Court
Napa, CA 94559

Hope Resource Center
1301 Fourth Street
Napa, CA 94559