Tobacco Use Prevention

Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Prevention

Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues.

About Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco use prevention programs.

Teenage Smoking The Licking County Health Department provides education for children, parents, and the community, about the dangers of underage consumption of Alcohol, Tobacco, and other drugs and the health risks associated with tobacco use and exposure at any age.

LCHD representatives either lead, or participate in a variety of community coalitions working toward reducing the impact of Alcohol, Tobacco, and illicit drug use in Licking County. These include the Licking County Wellness Coalition, Our Futures in Licking County, and the Safe Communities Coalition.

Tobacco use prevention is included in the Partners in Wellness school health curriculum.

Parents Who Host Lose the Most

Parent Who Host Lose the Most Logo Parents play a major role in their children’s choices about alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. A recent national survey of parents and teens by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found one-third of teen partygoers have been to parties where teens were drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, or using cocaine, ecstasy or prescription drugs while a parent was present. By age 17, nearly half (46 percent) of teens have been at such parties where parents were present.

Drug-Free Action Alliance has developed the Parents Who Host, Lose The Most: Don't be a party to teenage drinking public awareness campaign to provide you with information about the health risks of underage drinking and the legal consequences of providing alcohol to youth. Drug Free Action Alliance

As a parent, you cannot give alcohol to your teen’s friends under the age of 21 under any circumstance, even in your own home, even with their parent’s permission. You also cannot knowingly allow a person under 21, other than your own child, to remain in your home or on your property while consuming or possessing alcohol. There are legal consequences if you do. According to Ohio law, you can be prosecuted and face up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine and loss of property.

You can protect your children by following these guidelines when hosting teen parties:

Host safe, alcohol-free activities and events for youth during prom and graduation season
Refuse to supply alcohol to children or allow drinking in your home or on your property
Be at home when your teenager has a party Make sure your teenager’s friends do not bring alcohol into your home
Talk to other parents about not providing alcohol at youth events
Report underage drinking

Tobacco Free Schools

Smoking on school property is unhealthy and it sends the wrong message to children. You can encourage your schools to adopt and enforce smoke-free policies that prohibit tobacco use on all school property by students, teachers, spectators, and visitors. Contact your school board members to express your concern and ask them to take action to protect children from exposure to secondhand smoke and set a healthy example for students to follow.

Kickin' Ash Splash Pool Party

Kickin Ash Splash Annual tobacco, drug, and alcohol free event for the whole family hosted at the Heath City Water Park. If you are interested in sponsoring/volunteering please contact Mary at mrichardson@lickingcohealth.org.