Division of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death for Iowans, taking the lives of more than 4,400 adults each year. Estimated annual health care costs in Iowa directly related to tobacco use now total $1 billion. The Division of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control works to reduce tobacco use and the toll of tobacco-caused disease and death by preventing youth from starting, helping adults to quit, and preventing exposure to secondhand smoke.

To achieve these goals, the Division follows Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) guidelines for comprehensive tobacco control programs. State-level initiatives include Quitline Iowa cessation services, the Just Eliminate Lies youth tobacco use prevention program, Priority Population Networks that serve Iowa's diverse communities, and enforcement of Iowa's Smokefree Air Act as well as laws prohibiting tobacco sales to minors. Local tobacco control programs, called Community Partnerships, support tobacco prevention and cessation initiatives at the county level. The Division also conducts ongoing surveillance of tobacco use by youth and adults in Iowa.