Health Fairs
Staff members are available to participate in community and business health fairs. Free health information and description of Health Department services can be provided. Come see us at the:
Free Adult Stop Smoking/Tobacco Use Classes
Program components:
Pre-Quitting Class
A free, two-hour, one-time only, program informs smokers and tobacco users about the various techniques used to quit and also explores why he/she is hooked on cigarettes/tobacco. Through this class, participants can assess their readiness to quit smoking or chewing. The Pre-quitting class is mandatory in order to attend the stop smoking classes and to receive the nicotine patches (if qualified).
Stop Smoking/Tobacco Use Classes
Participants must attend the Pre-quitting class in order to attend the free Tobacco Cessation Classes. Class topics include information about nicotine addiction, stress management, diet and exercise, how to quit, managing as an ex-smoker/chewer, dealing with obstacles and relapse situations and how to remain an ex-smoker/ex-chewer.
Classes are offered throughout the year in the county. See the list of class dates from October to December 2008 or call 410-612-1781 for a current schedule. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. PROGRAMS CAN ALSO BE OFFERED ON SITE AT BUSINESSES, AND CAN BE TAILORED TO FIT AGENCY NEEDS.
Nicotine Patches
Interested persons must call 410-612-1781 to
- Qualify for Patches
- Request a Referral Form to Give to Physician
Nicotine Patches, lozenges and gum are FREE to those County residents who qualify and attend the Tobacco Cessation Classes!
Youth Smoking Cessation Program
For more information call (410) 588-5365.
Youth Tobacco Education Program
As part of the Maryland Youth Access Law and Zero Tolerance policy, youth under age 18, found to be in possession of a tobacco product will receive a citation from Law Enforcement.
On their first tobacco offense, youth must complete a one-time two hours Youth Tobacco Education Program. The cost of the class is $10. Some of the topics covered in the class include the Maryland Youth Access Law, reasons why people smoke, chemicals in cigarette smoke, short and long-term health effects, the cycle of addiction, benefits of quitting, and quitting strategies. Visuals, such as lung tissue, will allow teens to visually compare a healthy lung to an unhealthy lung damaged from years of smoking.
Youth that have not received citations but would like to attend the program may register but will NOT pay the program fee. To register, call the Enforcement Case Manager at (410) 638-8424.
Maryland Tobacco Law
Tobacco Vendor Education
A wide array of resources, education, and training materials are available to tobacco vendors throughout the Health Department. The Health Department also offers trainings to county vendors.
You may contact the Enforcement Case Manager for any of the following materials:
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Vendor Compliance Kit includes: Window Cling, "Not 18 Don't Even Try It" Sign, "Tobacco Sales: Check That ID!" Sign, "Maryland's Youth Access Law" Sign, "Born After Today's Date" Calendar, and "Training Information For Employees" Sign
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Employee Training Manual/Vendor Compliance (New): Comprehensive educational training tool for use by vendors to educate their employees on the Maryland Youth Access Law, consequences for violating the law, techniques for refusing a sale, special sale situations, tobacco facts, age restricted products, tips for spotting fake identification, and acceptable forms of identification. It also includes a review quiz and employee agreement.
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Management and Employee Agreements
Information and Referrals (Links)
Smoke Free Maryland Coalition
American Lung Association
American Cancer Society
Cancer and Tobacco Community Coalition of Harford County
The Harford County Health Departments Cancer Coalition is comprised of representatives from community agencies, minority organizations, hospitals, local government, and private citizens. These representatives are working together with the staff of the Health Departments Colorectal Cancer Program to promote the services of the Cancer Prevention Program to Harford County residents. Our cancer coalition membership is open to any person or organization interested in cancer prevention, education, screening, and treatment. Our meetings are held quarterly in Harford County and our current membership includes:
American Cancer Society
Franklin Square Hospital
Harford County Department of Recreation and Parks
Harford County Government Department of Law
Inner County Outreach
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Upper Chesapeake Medical Center
For more information about our coalition or to apply for cancer coalition membership, please see our brochure.
Why Quit Smoking?
Within 24 hours
Carbon monoxide level in your blood returns to normal
Heart rate slow and skin temperature increases
Chance of heart attack decreases
Within two to five days
Detectable levels of nicotine disappear
Respiratory symptoms (colds, coughing, etc.) gradually disappear
2 to 9 Months after quitting
Headaches and stomachaches caused by smoking disappear
Your body is better able to fight infection
Energy increases
Cilia in your lungs begin to come to life and attempt to clear the accumulated mucus out of your air passages
After you first year smoke-free
Heart returns to nearly normal conditions
Experience a 90% drop in risk of heart disease
10 years after quitting
Risk of dying from lung cancer similar to that of nonsmokers
15 years after quitting
Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker
U.S. Surgeon General's Family History Initiative
The U.S. Surgeon General encourages everyone to take time to collect important health history information that can benefit all family members. The U.S. Surgeon General's developed a web-based family history tool called "My Family Health Portrait". Click on the links below to obtain information on developing your own family health history portrait.
https://familyhistory.hhs.gov/ (English)
https://familyhistory.hhs.gov/spanish (Spanish)
To learn more about the U.S. Surgeon General's Family History Initiative visit www.hhs.gov/familyhistory.
