Smoke-Free San Mateo County
Smoke-Free San Mateo County
Help quitting smoking and more information about work to create tobacco-free homes, pharmacies, and more.
Rx Opioid Safe
While opioid use in San Mateo County is currently not as big a problem as that of many other communities, it’s important that everyone understand the risks and benefits related to prescription pain medications (opioids).
Download our factsheet here.
What are opioids?
Opioid pain relievers are prescription pain medications that can be dangerous and highly addictive, even for people who have no history of substance use disorders.
Flavored Tobacco Ordinance
On June 19, 2018, the San Mateo County Board Supervisors approved an ordinance to restrict the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies and flavored tobacco products in unincorporated areas. The purpose of this ordinance is to help address the recent increase in use of flavored tobacco products (i.e. e-cigarettes, vapes, etc.) among youth and young adults. This increase was considered to be an “epidemic” by the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Surgeon General in the fall of 2018. More information about the ordinance can be found below.
Help Quitting Tobacco
Congratulations on taking the first step to quitting smoking!
This might be the most important step you ever take to care for yourself. You can quit, and we can help.
See the bottom of this page for a list of programs that can support you as you work toward a smoke-free life.
Tobacco Education Coalition
Advocating policy change to support a tobacco-free San Mateo County
In 1988, California voters passed Proposition 99, which imposed a 25-cent tax on every pack of cigarettes sold in the state. A portion of those funds are dedicated for tobacco prevention and education services in every California County. San Mateo County has a strong history of advancing campaigns that help smokers quit and protect the health and well-being of all non-smoking youth and adults.
Smoke-Free Housing
Drifting smoke in multi-unit housing (such as apartments and condos) is a danger to children and families. While the number of current smokers in our community continues to decrease, many residents are still exposed to secondhand smoke every day. This is why the San Mateo County Tobacco Education Coalition (TEC) educates tenants about what steps they can take if smoke is drifting into their unit. At the same time, TEC works with landlords to educate them about the benefits of developing smoke-free policies for the apartment or condo buildings they own.
- California tenant and landlord opinions on smoke-free housing
- Americans for Non-Smokers Rights - steps for tenants to resolve drifting smoke issues
- Pediatrics - drifting smoke and children in apartments 2011
- Scientific evidence of smoke flowing between apartments - 2010
- Smoke-free housing as social justice - 2010
- TIME magazine article on thirdhand smoke - 2010
- Fair Housing Act - secondhand smoke and people with disabilities
- ChangeLab Solutions - Legal Options for Tenants Suffering from Drifting Tobacco Smoke
- San Mateo County Property Owner Smoke-Free Housing Fact Sheet
- Links to Other Multi-unit Housing Smoking Ordinances
- Read more
Ending Youth Access to Tobacco
For the last decade, the Tobacco Education Coalition (TEC) has mounted a tremendously successful effort to limit the number of illegal sales of tobacco products to youth under age 18.
Despite being underage, in the early 2000s, youth who attempted to purchase cigarettes in the community were able to do so more than 50% of the time.
Through the establishment of partnerships with youth, schools, parents, law enforcement, and retailers, the number of documented youth sales has dropped dramatically.
- Vapes - Myths and Realities
- Presentation on E-Cigarettes and Local Regulation
- Informational Flyer for E-Cigarette Retailers in Daly City
- Protect your family from e-cigarettes: The facts you need to know
- Tobacco enforcement operation in Pacifica
- View Communities in San Mateo County that have adopted a local Tobacco Retailer License
- Read more
Cigarette Butt Litter Reduction Program
Thousands of cigarette butts get picked up in San Mateo County every Coastal Cleanup Day.
When butts are littered onto streets and sidewalks, they are easily washed, blown, or flicked down storm drains that lead straight into local creeks, the Bay, and the Pacific Ocean without any treatment. In addition to being unsightly, cigarette butts never disappear because they are made of plastic and do not biodegrade. They are toxic to marine and freshwater fish.