Marion County Public Health is offering programs to help with tobacco prevention and cessation. 

Marion County Public Health has a goal of preventing youth and adults from starting smoking, reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, promoting cessation across all ages, and increasing tobacco coalition membership. 

Among the programs being offered is ISTEP, which is led by students and run by adults who want to step up and take action against tobacco use. Another program is Quitline Iowa, which provides free coaching, a customized quit plan, and a phone helpline available 24/7. The other program offered by Marion County Public Health is  My Life My Quit, which is a youth tobacco cessation program aimed to help teens, especially when it comes to vaping prevention. Public Health Tobacco Cessation Coordinator Del Bennett says vaping has been a major concern.

“At first vaping was marketed as a way to help stop you using cigarettes but the nicotine in one vape pod is the nicotine in 20 cigarettes. If you use one pod or two pods you’re still smoking or vaping 20 cigarettes a day.”

To get connected with any of these programs or learn more information about tobacco prevention in Marion County, contact Bennett at Marion County Public Health by calling 641-828-2238 or by visiting their tobacco prevention page on their website here.