Cocke County to Receive $33,800 in Funding to Reduce Tobacco Use

NASHVILLE  – Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, will join other state and local officials on Friday, June 13, at the Cocke County Health Department in Newport to present $33,800 in funding as part of the Tennessee Tobacco Settlement Program.

Each county in Tennessee will receive funding during this three-year program to reduce the burden of tobacco use in the state. All counties are challenged to set goals and select one or more projects that address three topics:  eliminating smoking during pregnancy; reducing infants’ and children’s exposure to second-hand smoke; and preventing child and adolescent tobacco use. Cocke County is planning a number of first-year projects designed to address all three topic areas.

Funding from the Tobacco Settlement was provided to the Tennessee Department of Health for fiscal years 2014-16 to address the state’s high rate of tobacco use and prevent expensive related medical costs. The plan to distribute $15 million over three years has been generated with input from all 95 counties. This plan includes a variety of projects to target behaviors designed to protect the health of Tennessee’s most vulnerable populations:  unborn babies, pregnant women and children.  

Who:  John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Health

           Janet Ridley, RN, BSN, MSN, East Regional Health Director, Tennessee Department of Health

           Jana Chambers, Cocke County Health Director, Tennessee Department of Health

           Vaughn Moore, Cocke County Mayor

           Rep. Jeremy Faison, District 11

What:  Presentation of Tennessee Tobacco Settlement Program funding

When:  Friday, June 13, 1:30 p.m. EDT

Where:  Cocke County Health Department

              430 College Street

              Newport, Tennessee  37821

MEDIA CONTACTS:  Shelley Walker, 615.253.5184 or Shelley.Walker@tn.gov or Gail Harmon, 865.549.5252 or Gail.Harmon@tn.gov.