Addiction, anxiety, and the attention economy
Conversations about youth mental health and addiction are often treated as separate issues, however, these challenges are deeply intertwined. The same forces driving stress are also shaping substance use behaviors, and research from Truth Initiative shows that youth nicotine use is strongly intertwined with stress, anxiety, and broader mental health challenges.
New Podcast: Integrity Alone Will Get You Outplayed
Designing Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social Impact
Listen to the Designing Tomorrow podcast featuring Public Health Law Center Executive Director Joelle Lester as she discusses how modern industries mirror Big Tobacco’s tactics of manufacturing doubt and the strategic challenges of advancing commercial tobacco today.
Tobacco Prevention Lotería
Looking for a culturally relevant, interactive way to engage your community in health conversations?
The Latino Coordinating Center for a Tobacco-Free California has developed a special, health-focused edition of the classic game Lotería.
This free resource puts a tobacco prevention twist on the traditional game, designed to spark meaningful dialogue about commercial tobacco risks, community health, and wellness.
Capacity: Perfect for groups up to 30 players
Protecting LGBTQ+ Communities from the Tobacco Industry in San Diego
The Collective Coalition developed this fact sheet to raise awareness about how the tobacco industry disproportionately targets LGBTQ+ communities through retailer density, advertising, and product marketing.
The resource highlights health disparities, explains the importance of strengthening Tobacco Retail Licensing (TRL) policies in the City of San Diego, and outlines community-driven solutions such as retailer density restrictions, compliance checks, and smoke shop regulations.
The fact sheet also encourages community advocacy and engagement to help create healthier, more equitable neighborhoods.
New Study Finds That Cleanups Do Not Stop Cigarette Butt Pollution
A new study from San Diego State University’s Center for Tobacco and the Environment found that cigarette butt pollution comes back quickly, even after thorough cleanups.
Researchers looked at areas near storm drains in Pacific Beach and found about 80 cigarette butts were left behind each day—adding up to nearly 29,000 per year. Even after all the litter was removed, the trash returned within weeks. This shows that cleanups alone aren’t enough to control tobacco waste.
The study suggests focusing more on prevention, like creating more smoke-free outdoor spaces, educating the public, and reducing cigarette filter waste at the source.
Read full study – ACS Publications
“Nicotine Pouches: Addictive, Widely Available, and Cheap” Fact Sheet Now Available
The California Tobacco Prevention Program is sharing a new one-page fact sheet created by the Stanford Prevention Research Center. It highlights key findings about nicotine pouches from the 2024 California Tobacco Retail Surveillance Study, including how they are sold, priced, and marketed in communities.
Key findings:
- Nicotine pouches were found in more stores than vapes, showing up in 67% of tobacco retailers compared to 51% for vapes
- The average price of Zyn Chill 6mg ($7.70) was lower than the cheapest pack of cigarettes ($8.37)
- Ads for nicotine pouches were almost as common as cigarette ads, appearing in about 63% of stores compared to nearly 69% for cigarettes
The fact sheet helps explain how nicotine pouches are being promoted and made available across California.
Nicotine Pouches factsheet – CDPH
The Results of the California Teens Nicotine and Tobacco Project Online Survey, 2024
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has released results from the fourth annual Teens Nicotine and Tobacco Online Survey.
This project tracks how Californians ages 12–20 use and think about tobacco, nicotine, and cannabis. The information helps CDPH monitor trends and support prevention efforts.
The survey was done twice in 2024—once in the spring (May–June) and again in the fall (November–December). The new report combines key findings from both survey periods.
The Environmental Impact of E-Cigarettes
A new report from Truth Initiative shows that disposable e-cigarettes are creating a growing environmental problem.
Most of these products end up in landfills or as litter, adding to toxic electronic waste. They can also be a fire risk because they contain lithium batteries that can’t be removed. Research shows that many young people don’t have safe ways to throw them away, and most disposable vapes are being sold illegally.
The report makes it clear that quitting vaping helps both your health and the environment—and that stronger enforcement of the law and better retailer accountability are needed.