CVS Health Extends its Commitment to Help People Live Tobacco Free Lives

CVS Health, the nation’s largest pharmacy company, announced Be The First, a five-year $50 million initiative to help deliver the nation's first tobacco-free generation on March 10, 2016. Recognizing that tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States and that youth use of some tobacco products is on the rise, Be The First comprises comprehensive education, advocacy, tobacco control and healthy behavior programming in partnership with organizations uniquely positioned to tackle this public health challenge.

In addition, in February of this year, CVS announced a $5 million five-year commitment to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to launch its new "Making the Next Generation Tobacco-Free" grant program. Through the program, the CVS Health Foundation will partner with Tobacco-Free Kids to provide grants to organizations committed to implementing public health strategies to reduce youth tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.

Jefferson County Public Health applauds CVS for its meaningful work protecting our communities from the dangers of tobacco and exposure to secondhand smoke. For information on the Jefferson County Public Health Tobacco Prevention Initiative and its work to support tobacco-free living, please visit www.tobaccofreejeffco.com.