Changing for Good

Taking Down Tobacco in Louisiana

To be a healthier Louisiana, we need to be a tobacco-free Louisiana. Well-Ahead Louisiana supports communities and organizations as they make changes to help our residents geaux tobacco-free.

While Louisiana has made progress in the fight against tobacco use, the data shows more work is needed. We must continue to provide resources to all residents who are ready to quit tobacco for good, as well as promote tobacco-free policies. We must also elevate our efforts that encourage high school and middle school students to say “no” to vaping. By empowering organizations and leaders in our communities to play an active role in tobacco prevention and cessation, we can work toward a healthy, tobacco-free future for Louisiana.

Tobacco

is the nation’s leading cause of preventable disease¹

45%

of low-income adults use tobacco²

130000+

Louisiana youth currently use tobacco products. 3,4

1 in 4

Louisiana adults smoke tobacco²


A Comprehensive Approach

Best Practice Guidelines for a Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program

Our tobacco cessation and prevention program is built around best practices identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The components of a comprehensive tobacco control program include:

State and Community Interventions

Developing and supporting programs and policies that can be implemented at organizational, municipal and state levels to make policy, systems and environmental changes that support residents in geauxing tobacco-free

Mass-Reach Health Communications Interventions

Delivering strategic, culturally appropriate and high-impact messages to combat tobacco industry marketing strategies through media and health promotion activities

Cessation Interventions

Promoting health systems change, expanding health plan coverage of proven cessation treatments and supporting Quit With Us, Louisiana

Surveillance and Evaluation

Monitoring and documenting key short-term, intermediate and long-term outcomes within populations to inform program and policy directions, demonstrate program effectiveness and monitor progress on reducing health disparities.

In coordination with our statewide WellSpot Designation program, we work with organizations to implement evidence-based strategies and promote healthy choices in the spaces and places where we live, work, learn and play to promote tobacco use cessation, prevent tobacco use initiation and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke for Louisiana residents.


Citations

1 CDC National Health Report Highlights, 2013. https://www.cdc.gov/healthreport/publications/compendium.pdf

2 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2021.

3 Louisiana Youth Tobacco Survey, 2023. https://wellaheadla.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2023-YTS-Report.pdf.

4 US Census Bureau: 2021 5-Year ACS PUMS Microdata. https://data.census.gov/mdat/#/search?ds=ACSPUMS5Y2021&vv=AGEP(14:18)&rv=ucgid&wt=PWGTP&g=0400000US22.


Success Stories


By committing to geauxing tobacco-free, we are positively influencing the health our communities, one step at a time.

Better Health through Better Understanding

Better Health through Better Understanding

Chronic Disease Prevalence for Louisiana Minorities Louisiana is home to a melting pot of people, making up the rich culture of our state. Unfortunately, not all of our residents are afforded the same access to care.

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Quit With Us, Louisiana Launches a New Brand and Website

Quit With Us, Louisiana Launches a New Brand and Website

Well-Ahead Louisiana’s cessation brand, Quit With Us, Louisiana recently launched a refreshed brand look and new website at www.quitwithusla.org.  Approximately two years ago, the Communications Work Group of the Louisiana Tobacco Coalition began an audit of the Quit With Us, Louisiana brand. They determined that the use of cigarette imagery in the logo went against …

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