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Tobacco Program

Reducing Tobacco Initiation and Use in the City and County of Denver

Tobacco use remains the number one preventable cause of death and disease in the nation and in the City and County of Denver. Every year, more than 480,000 people in the United States die from tobacco-related diseases, including over 5,000 lives in the state of Colorado. Tobacco use starts in adolescence (90%) and contributes to many long-term and adverse health outcomes, such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Disparities in tobacco use exist across groups defined by race, ethnicity, education level and socioeconomic status. For example, although African Americans smoke at lower or similar rates compared with other racial and ethnic groups, they have higher death rates from tobacco-related causes. It is estimated that 45,000 African Americans die every year from tobacco-related diseases.

Tobacco Program and Structure

The Community and Behavioral Health (CBH) Tobacco Program is structured in three pillars:

illustration of the 3 pillars of the tobacco program

Together these pillars advance equity and address tobacco control and prevention from a comprehensive lens. The following sections will provide more information on each pillar and program.

Report a Smoking Violation Here

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Help to Quit

Colorado QuitLine (website available in English and Spanish – sitio de web disponible en Inglés y Español)
- A free service is available to Colorado residents 12 and older. Enroll Now.
- The QuitLine provides special tools, a support team of coaches and nicotine replacement therapy.
- The expert coaches can talk to you about overcoming common barriers, such as dealing with stress, fighting cravings, coping with irritability and controlling weight gain.
- Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to learn how to quit tobacco today.
Denver Health Cessation Clinics Denver Health offers a tobacco cessation clinic designed to assist patients and employees to be 100% tobacco-free. The clinic offers many cessation options and resources to help you quit in a healthy and effective way.

For more tailored resources to help you quit, including age-based, behavioral health, and American Indian/Alaska Native, please see the Prevention, Education, and Cessation page.

Secondhand Smoke Resources

If you are a housing provider and looking into how to transition to smoke-free housing, please use this tool kit for Owners/Management.

Here is signage for the main entryway to your building:

English Español
Are a resident looking for smoke-free housing?

Use this tool to search

Retail Tobacco License Information

Are you a new Retail Tobacco Store in the City and County of Denver?
Are you an existing Retail Tobacco Store in the City and County of Denver?
Please subscribe to our bulletin for updated information regarding tobacco legislation and implementation. Your email address will not be shared with any third parties.
Looking for signage? Please feel free to print out the signage below or email us at CBHTobaccoProgram@denvergov.org and we will mail you signage to your Retail Tobacco Store location.
- Tobacco 21 Signage (Counter Card)(PDF, 806KB)
- Tobacco 21 Signage (Window Cling)(PDF, 800KB)
- Tobacco 21 Signage (Spanish Counter Card)(PDF, 135KB)
- Tobacco 21 Signage (Spanish Window Cling)(PDF, 248KB)
- Tobacco warning sign(PDF, 135KB) - required by CO law for all Retail Tobacco Stores
- Tobacco warning sign (Spanish)(PDF, 134KB) - required by CO law for all Retail Tobacco Stores
- Smoking allowed sign - required by CO law for all Retail Tobacco Stores that are exempt from the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act
Need help with training? Learn to be a responsible tobacco retailer and help prevent kids from substance misuse, dependence, disease, and avoidable, premature death. Responsible Tobacco Sales is a 20-minute program that discusses healthy youth habits, federal and state tobacco laws and regulations, and ways to verify and recognize forms of valid identification. This program and its presentation opportunities are open to retail tobacco store owners, operators, staff, and management.