LOCAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF
TOBACCO IN TEHAMA
COUNTY
Presented by
Minnie Sagar
TCHSA Director of Public Health
PURPOSE OF TODAY’S
PRESENTATION
DEMOGRAPHICS*
Source: United States Census https://data.census.gov/profile/Tehama_County,_California?g=050XX00US06103
TEHAMA COUNTY POPULATION HEALTH
• Tehama County has a significantly lower life expectancy (76.5 years) and higher premature death rate (9,917 per 100,000) than the state (81 years and 5,998 per 100,000, respectively)
• In addition, Tehama county ranks among the highest in the state for cancer, heart disease and chronic lower respiratory disease *Of which smoking is a significant risk factor
Reference: Tehama County Community Health Assessment
TOBACCO DISEASE BURDEN
References: Surgeon General Report 2024, Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death: Addressing Disparities Cancer Cardiovascular Respiratory Other Health
Effects
12+ types of
cancer
Heart disease COPD Diabetes
Lung • Liver •
Pancreas • Colon
• Stroke & more
Pneumonia Eye & oral disease
Impaired lung
function
Reproductive &
immune health
Tobacco Use Impacts Nearly Every System of the Body
TEHAMA COUNTY
YOUTH TOBACCO
PRODUCT USE
Reference: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DCDIC/CTCB/CDPH%20Document%20Library/ResearchandEvaluation/FactsandFigures/Rural_Factsheet.pdf Current Any YouthTobacco Use
TEHAMA COUNTY SMOKING
Tehama County has some of the
highest rates of current tobacco
use in the county, 19.1%
(compared to a state
average of 9%)
Reference: California Tobacco Facts and Figures 2025
TEHAMA COUNTY YOUTH TOBACCO
PRODUCT USE
Current Youth Any Tobacco Use:
16.4%
-vs 7.3% state average
Current Youth Vape Use:13.3%
- Vs 5.9% state average
Current Youth Cigarette Use: 2.7%
-vs 1.2% state average
Reference: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DCDIC/CTCB/CDPH%20Document%20Library/ResearchandEvaluation/FactsandFigures/Rural_Factsheet.pdf
NICOTINE ADDICTION & THE POTENTIAL
GATEWAY EFFECT
Nicotine is highly addictive and can cause dependence quickly, particularly among adolescents whose brains are still developing.
Early nicotine exposure may alter the developing brain’s reward pathways, potentially increasing vulnerability to other addictive substances. Youth nicotine use is associated with later substance use, including cannabis; however, this association does not mean that nicotine use inevitably leads to other drug use.
HOW FLAVORS CAN MAKE TOBACCO SEEM LESS
HARMFUL
• Masks the harshness: Menthol creates a cooling
sensation and can make tobacco smoke or aerosol
feel smoother and easier to inhale.
• Increases appeal: Fruit, candy, mint and menthol
flavors can make tobacco products more appealing to
youth and new users.
• Can lower the barrier to trying tobacco: By
making the product taste and feel more pleasant,
flavors may facilitate initiation and continued use—
despite the presence of addictive nicotine.
MENTHOL & FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS
TARGET
• Flavors make tobacco products more appealing to youth and can mask the harshness of tobacco
• Fruit, candy, mint and menthol flavors are commonly used by youth who vape
• Menthol creates a cooling sensation that makes tobacco smoke feel less harsh and easier to inhale
• Evidence indicates that flavored tobacco products can contribute to youth initiation and continued use
Rural Tobacco Retail License Matrix
Jurisdiction Enacted Policy Update TRL Fee
Restrict Sales
Near Youth
Populated Areas
Reducing
Retailers by
Location
Flavor
Restrictions
Minimum Pack
Size for Cigars
Butte County:
Chico
Oroville
Jan 2008
Mar 2013
No
2020, flavor
restriction.
No
$36
No
Separate 2013
zoning ordinance
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Shasta County:
Redding
August 2025 No $1,176.63 Yes. 600 ft from K-12 schools No Yes No Plumas County:
Unincorporated
Sept 2016 No $0-400 No No No No
Placer County Sept 2019 No $850 No No Yes No
Tehama County: Tobacco Use & Health Burden
Adult smoking rates are higher than the California average Youth vaping/tobacco use exceeds statewide rates and rates in comparable urban communities
Tobacco-related disease burden is substantial, reflected in high mortality from:
Heart disease
Cancer
Lower respiratory disease
Tobacco and nicotine use contributes to addiction, cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, pregnancy complications, oral disease, and premature death