Welcome to Smoke-Free San Diego

Smoke-Free San Diego is a project of the Tobacco-Free Coalition of San Diego County, a group of local agencies and community members who fight for smoke-free air and mobilize communities to bring out policy change.

Over the past 20 years much progress has been made to protect San Diego residents and our region’s environment from the dangers associated with secondhand smoke, tobacco litter, and illegal tobacco sales.

This website charts the course of San Diego’s smoke-free movement and offers resources that promote understanding of state and local policies that keep our community healthy.

Join us in the fight for smoke-free air!

Events and Trainings

The Power of Incentives: Leveraging a Contingency Management Approach to Address Tobacco Use for Individuals with Mental Health and Substance Use Challenges

March 20, 2025 from 11-12pm.

Join the National Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Recovery (CoE-TFR) on Thursday, March 20th from 11am -12pm (PT) to review the evidence base for contingency management (CM) as a cost-effective intervention for improving mental health and substance use outcomes and consider how states and organizations might apply CM to address tobacco use in behavioral health and substance use treatment settings.

This webinar will:

  1. Describe the efficacy of Contingency Management (CM) in behavioral health and substance use treatment settings
  2. Review how CM can be used to address tobacco use among individuals with behavioral health conditions
  3. Review potential funding mechanisms and treatment considerations for implementing CM to address tobacco use among people with behavioral health conditions in inpatient, outpatient, and residential settings

Register here.

It’s About a Billion Lives Annual Symposium 2025

Join UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education with leading experts like Robert Proctor, PhD, Professor of History and Medicine at Stanford University, Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO at Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and Valerie Yerger, ND, Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at UCSF on Friday, April 11th 2025 between 8am -5pm (PT) at UCSF’s Robertson Auditorium or remote for this full day event packed with research, presentations, and posters.

This year It’s About a Billion Lives sets the stage for meaningful discussion through diverse programming. The morning session features invited speakers on menthol, exploring its disproportionate harm on the African American community and why the FDA must take action. The afternoon session will discuss the power of archival research, new research methods including AI tools, and invited guests to discuss community archives and the importance of storytelling.

Register here.

Get Involved

SDSU’s New Project; Help Keep Toxic Tobacco Waste Out of Mission Bay

The Policy Research Center for Tobacco and the Environment are conducting a new research project to examine how tobacco product waste littered on streets and sidewalks pollutes Mission Bay with toxic tobacco chemicals and microplastics. 

They are on the lookout for passionate volunteers across San Diego County who will:

  • Commit to collecting tobacco product waste at least once within an area of your choice.
  • Record the waste you find using a smartphone app.
  • Dispose of the waste in a trash receptacle.

Sign up

Learn more.

420 Remix: Promoting a Drug-Free Lifestyle Contest – Ends March 21, 2025 at 11:59pm.

The annual 420 Remix Public Service Announcement (PSA) is live!

420 Remix is an annual event that raises awareness about the risks of marijuana use among teens (ages 12–18). By redefining April 20th—a date often linked to cannabis culture—420 Remix empowers youth to make healthy, drug-free choices.

Held in schools, parks, and community venues, the event features carnival games, live music, and interactive activities. Parents can also access resources on the effects of marijuana use.

A key highlight is the 420 Remix PSA Contest, where San Diego County students create videos or images promoting positive social norms and marijuana prevention. Contest winners will be announced at the event.

If you or someone you know works with youth who attend school in San Diego County, they are eligible to enter into the PSA contest. 

Learn more.

ARCHES Lab: Puff Break Research Study

The ARCHES Lab is excited to announce the official launch of their research study: Puff Break! They are actively recruiting LGBTQIA+ youth ages 14-19 years old who smoke to participate in a 2-week-long pilot of their tool. The purpose is to gather feedback on the tool and help refine its utility in order to successfully assess the social dynamics that inform LGBTQIA+ youth’s smoking behaviors.

Participants must also identify as LGBTQIA+ and reside in San Diego County. Participants can earn up to $175 for participating in this study.

Download the Puff Break Fliers or register below to assess eligibility to participate.

Register here.

Find The Right Resource For You

Quit Nicotine Pouches with Kick It California

Free Nicotine Patches from the Asian Smokers’ Qutline

Quit Vaping with Truth Initiative’s EX Program

Ask, Advice, Refer Resources for Health Professionals

Sign Up For A Newsletter Below

SAY San Diego’s Collective Coalition just launched their Podcast, ‘Queering Up Harm Reduction’ check it out on Spotify!

Also, subscribe to their Newsletter here and stay up to date on the Collective Coalition’s journey to preventing tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs from doing harm to the LGBTQ+ community!

The Vista Community Clinic Tobacco Program also just launched their first electronic newsletter, “Stay Informed”. Sign up here to receive the latest tobacco prevention news, local policy updates, upcoming events, training opportunities, and more!

Latest News, Studies, and Policy Updates