Pasadena (Pasadena Tobacco Control Program)

Overall the Pasadena Tobacco Control Program will continue to address three main

priority areas to reduce youth access to tobacco and limit availability of tobacco products,

including one youth asset objective to increase youth participation and diversity in tobacco

control prevention work. This youth asset objective will also focus on youth leadership

skills and encourage young adults to consider tobacco control as public health career.

Additional objectives include pursuing menthol and flavored policies based on data from

the 2016 Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community campaign indicating a need to address

this problem. More importantly, in 2015-2016, staff and coalition members collected

sample products from tobacco retailers including hookah pens, menthol cigarettes,

e-cigarettes, and tobacco look-a-like candy products. It was a surprise to find tobacco

look-a-like candy at Big Lots next to traditional candy items. This matter was discussed

during the 2016 Communities of Excellence (CX) Needs Assessment process - and as a

result - both the youth and adult coalition members have expressed deep concern about

addressing the problem locally.