JavaScript is required to use content on this page. Please enable JavaScript in your browser.
The Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control (CTPC) manages comprehensive tobacco control and prevention efforts through local health departments. This is achieved by providing grants and technical support to several key programs:
The Local Health Department Core Program is provided to all Local Health Departments, including a base amount for all local health departments, with additional award amounts determined by the population size and tobacco use rates of the jurisdiction based on a formula outlined in the CRF statute. Elements include: Community Initiatives, School-Based Initiatives, and Cessation Initiatives as described below:
Community InitiativesThe Community component strives to mobilize community actions through coalition participation, tobacco prevention education, marketing, grassroots and faith based campaigns to promote tobacco-free norms, eliminate disparities associated with tobacco use, and to encourage policy interventions. Local health departments with technical assistance from the state health department engage key stakeholders through local tobacco coalitions and community organizations. School-Based Initiatives The School-based component promotes tobacco use prevention education for students in kidergarten through twelfth grade within the school environment. Local health departments engage in partnership with school systems to enhance youth awareness of the dangers of tobacco and nicotine use through instruction, peer support programs, parent involvement, and policy promotions. Tobacco Treatment and Cessation Initiatives The Cessation component promotes quitting the use of tobacco products among adults and youth. Local health department programs offer behavior change cessation sessions individually or as a group, free tobacco cessation aids, and ongoing assistance to quit tobacco use through Maryland Quitline referrals.
The Community component strives to mobilize community actions through coalition participation, tobacco prevention education, marketing, grassroots and faith based campaigns to promote tobacco-free norms, eliminate disparities associated with tobacco use, and to encourage policy interventions. Local health departments with technical assistance from the state health department engage key stakeholders through local tobacco coalitions and community organizations.
School-Based Initiatives
The School-based component promotes tobacco use prevention education for students in kidergarten through twelfth grade within the school environment. Local health departments engage in partnership with school systems to enhance youth awareness of the dangers of tobacco and nicotine use through instruction, peer support programs, parent involvement, and policy promotions.
Tobacco Treatment and Cessation Initiatives
The Cessation component promotes quitting the use of tobacco products among adults and youth. Local health department programs offer behavior change cessation sessions individually or as a group, free tobacco cessation aids, and ongoing assistance to quit tobacco use through Maryland Quitline referrals.
The Tobacco Retailer Enforcement Initiative provides funding to all 24 Local Health Departments to ensure compliance with both the federal Synar Amendment and the 2024 Tobacco Retailer Modernization Act.
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is required to conduct annual, random, unannounced inspections and must keep the Retailer Violation Rate below 20% to comply with the Federal Synar Amendment. MDH supports local health departments in their efforts to reduce this violation rate and prevent youth access to tobacco products.
The 2024 Tobacco Retailer Modernization Act mandates specific requirements for retailers, including:
Tobacco and Chronic Disease Program An initiative promoting integration at the local level to collectively address the impact of tobacco use, chronic disease, and related factors in Maryland. This initiative reflects a comprehensive 'whole health' approach with tobacco, chronic disease, and related risk factors and encourages local health department staff to work collectively as a team. Local health departments utilize a health equity approach to address health disparities and inequities related to tobacco use and chronic disease. Pregnancy and Tobacco Cessation Help (PATCH) Program A program to address smoking during pregnancy in rural jurisdictions that historically had higher tobacco use during pregnancy rates than the state average including: Allegany, Calvert, Dorchester, Washington, and Garret Counties. Local PATCH programs incentivize community partners and create care portals in environments where pregnant women and women of childbearing age are already engaged. The goal is to build additional capacity within local jurisdictions to offer tobacco use screening, education, prevention, and cessation services specifically tailored for pregnant people and women of childbearing age.
An initiative promoting integration at the local level to collectively address the impact of tobacco use, chronic disease, and related factors in Maryland. This initiative reflects a comprehensive 'whole health' approach with tobacco, chronic disease, and related risk factors and encourages local health department staff to work collectively as a team. Local health departments utilize a health equity approach to address health disparities and inequities related to tobacco use and chronic disease.
Pregnancy and Tobacco Cessation Help (PATCH) Program
A program to address smoking during pregnancy in rural jurisdictions that historically had higher tobacco use during pregnancy rates than the state average including: Allegany, Calvert, Dorchester, Washington, and Garret Counties. Local PATCH programs incentivize community partners and create care portals in environments where pregnant women and women of childbearing age are already engaged. The goal is to build additional capacity within local jurisdictions to offer tobacco use screening, education, prevention, and cessation services specifically tailored for pregnant people and women of childbearing age.
Last Updated: April 2, 2026
