You can breathe easy, knowing that Lane County Public Health is always working to improve the health of our community, as well as the health of the people and places within it! The county’s Tobacco Prevention and Education Program’s mission is to improve lives by preventing and reducing tobacco and nicotine usage in our county.
Welcome to Breathe Easy Lane County
Breathe Easy Lane County is a health campaign intended to reach communities within Lane County that have been historically underserved or targeted by the commercial tobacco industry. Tobacco companies have exploited communities of color, youth, LGBTQIA2+, and other marginalized groups by promoting harmful tobacco products while exploiting the cultures of these communities to generate profit. It is no mistake that menthol-flavored tobacco products are popular among Black communities in the United States. This is a result of commercial tobacco companies promoting mentholated products for decades specifically advertising in Black neighborhoods, through Black cultural events, and even giving free samples in predominately Black neighborhoods. The percentage of Black smokers using menthol products increased from less than 10% in the 1950s to 85% today due to the tactics used by the commercial tobacco industry (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2023).
Breathe Easy Lane County focuses on the social determinants of health and the importance of promoting healthy behaviors to reduce the influence of commercial tobacco in our communities. Through education and outreach efforts, we are actively engaged with community-based organizations (CBOs) and leaders in our county who are inspired to take action in addressing health inequities caused by commercial tobacco. When we develop strong and trusting relationships with people and organizations in Lane County, ultimately programs like ours can create real sustainable change in improving our community's health.
Our Work