Tobacco Control Program

My Life, My Quit

My Life, My Quit is a free and confidential service for teens who want to quit smoking or vaping. The My Life, My Quit online program is self guided, meaning you can go through it at your own pace. The program provides activities to support quitting and stress relief, as well as access to coaches who are on demand via text or live chat for additional support and tips. Get started by texting "Start" to 36072.

This is Quitting

This is Quitting is a free, anonymous text messaging program from Truth Initiative designed to help young people (13-24 years old) quit vaping. The program uses messages from real young people who have attempted to or successfully quit e-cigarettes to show the reality—good and bad—of quitting. Based on support, motivation, inspiration, and evidence-based tips, This is Quitting sends one text message per day for at least four weeks, and participants can receive instant support by texting COPE, STRESS, SLIP, or MORE. To enroll, text DITCHVAPE to 88709.

If a parent of a young person who vapes wants support, they can text QUIT to (202) 899-7550. 

Colorado Quitline

The Colorado Quitline is a free and online quit service for Colorado residents aged 18 or older, available in several different languages. Nearly 450 people everyday contact the quitline for proven methods to help them quit using tobacco. The quitline will help you: prepare a quit plan and set a quit date, understand tobacco triggers and manage cravings, and navigate relapses and barriers. Eligible participants can receive a free supply of nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges to aid in their journey. Contact 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit the Colorado Quitline to enroll.

Tobacco Treatment Specialists

Please note that Weld County Tobacco Control Program will no longer offer Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) sessions. However, we are working on getting certified with another program called Freedom from Smoking. This program is group-based and follows a workbook. We won’t be certified until May, so stay tuned for more information. Until then, please utilize the resources from the Colorado Quitline.

BABY & ME – Tobacco Free Program™

The BABY & ME – Tobacco Free Program™ is an evidence-based, smoking cessation program created to reduce the burden of tobacco on the pregnant and postpartum population. Pregnant women at 36 weeks gestation or less who currently use tobacco, have quit since becoming pregnant, or quit within three months of becoming pregnant are eligible to enroll. Participants receive four prenatal counseling cessation sessions and, if they test tobacco free using a carbon monoxide monitor breath test on the third and fourth sessions, participants receive vouchers for free baby diapers/wipes. Participants can receive monthly vouchers for up to 12 months postpartum if they remain tobacco free. To enroll, contact your physician or the Weld County Tobacco Control Program at (970) 400-2383.

If a pregnant woman lives with someone who smokes, they can also enroll and, if successfully quits, can also get diaper vouchers.

Vape, Juul, e-hookah, e-cig, mods, ENDS. These are all names for e-cigarettes, which are battery-powered devices that deliver nicotine and other substances (such as metals, flavor additives, propylene glycol, volatile organic compounds, and other toxic chemicals). According to the CDC, 1 in every 4 Colorado high school students — over double the national average — used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days. That is a lot, but the good news is that the majority (75%) of youth aren’t vaping. Why is it that 25% are though? One major reason for this is flavors.

There are over 15,500 e-liquid flavors available, including sweet tart, unicorn poop, and fruit loops, to name a few. E-liquid production is not well regulated, so it is hard to know what it is exactly made of (again, like metals, flavor additives, propylene glycol, volatile organic compounds, and other toxic chemicals). Flavorings used in e-liquids are not FDA approved for inhalation either, which is exactly what is happening when vaping.

According to the Truth Initiative, the majority of youth (nearly 86%) who use e-cigarettes say they do because of the available flavors, and that if there weren’t so many flavors available, they would most likely quit, use less, or never have started. Research also shows that kids who vape sweet flavors are more likely to keep vaping or vape more compared to those who don’t vape sweet flavors.

Flavored cigarettes were banned in 2009 because they were found to have a role in tobacco use among youth, but one flavor — menthol — is still available. Today, there is a national push to ban menthol cigarettes (as well as all flavors in all tobacco products). Why does menthol matter?

One reason is because menthol is easier to smoke. Menthol numbs the throat, which means smoking it is easier and less irritating. For this reason, menthol can be more appealing for young people or those just starting to smoke. Young people who start smoking menthols (which the majority do) are more likely to become long-term smokers, and adults who smoke menthols are less likely to quit.

Menthol smoking rates are higher in certain populations that are targeted by the tobacco industry, such as Black communities, LGBT communities, low-income persons, youth, pregnant women, and those with mental or behavioral health disorders.

• 51% of lesbian/gay and 46% of bisexual smokers use menthols cigarettes compared to 39% of heterosexual smokers
• 45% of smokers with severe psychological distress use menthols cigarettes compared to 39% of smokers with no past month serious psychological distress
• 47% of smokers living in poverty use menthols cigarettes, compared to 36% of smokers above the poverty line
• 60% of pregnant smokers use menthol cigarettes
• 85% of Black smokers use menthol cigarettes

One tobacco industry executive actually stated: “We don’t smoke this ****, we just sell it. We reserve the right to smoke for the young, the poor, the Black, and the stupid.”

Facts above were sourced from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids’ fact sheet on the Impact of Menthol Cigarettes on Youth Smoking Initiation and Health Disparities. Please note, however, that the Weld County Tobacco Control Program does not take a stance on the current legislation addressing flavor bans. We are an education entity only.