Tobacco Free Siouxland is a coalition organized by community agencies and partners to provide tobacco education, prevention and cessation resources to residents of Siouxland.

 Since 2004, Tobacco Free Siouxland has assisted several businesses and health care organizations in their efforts to create a healthy environment for their employees and visitors. 

Goals: 

• Educate the community about the dangers of tobacco use.
• Recruit interested individuals and organizations.
• Support local businesses with their efforts to maintain a tobacco free environment.
• Educate business and community leaders about the benefits of tobacco free workplaces.
• Promote the national toll-free tobacco Quitline and other cessation services. 

Who is involved: Tobacco Free Siouxland is organized by health care professionals, business professionals and community volunteers who live and work in the Siouxland area. Some of the organizations represented include: 

• Briar Cliff University
• Morningside University
• MercyOne
• Rosecrance Jackson
• Siouxland Cares
• Siouxland Community Health
• Siouxland Mental Health
• Sioux City Parks and Rec. 
• Sioux City PD
• Siouxland Rental Association
• Unity Point St. Luke's 

Meetings: Tobacco Free Siouxland meets quarterly on the third Thursday of the month. For more information about meeting times and meeting minutes please contact Anais Mares at amares@siouxlanddistricthealth.org or at (712)279-6119.

Iowa’s Smoke Free Air Act prohibits smoking in places like restaurants, movie theaters, shopping malls, and other places of employment. However, this Act does not extend to smokeless tobacco, making these products legal to use unless a business implements a tobacco and nicotine free policy. 

Worksites are encouraged to evaluate their tobacco policies. Many worksites are enacting policies that restrict tobacco and nicotine use on the grounds, in parking lots and even during the employees shift. View sample policies and see what is best for your worksite or email Anais Mares, Health Educator at Siouxland District Health Department, or call 712-279-6119 for more information.

Reasons to Implement a Tobacco and Nicotine Free Business Policy

Reduced cost

• Tobacco related health care costs and lost productivity equal $289 billion in the United States.

• Direct health care costs to the company likely to be reduced.

• Decreased maintenance costs, specifically from litter on grounds and maintaining “smoking huts”.

Reduced absenteeism

• Smokers miss approximately 2.6 more days of work than nonsmokers per year.

Improve employee health

• Tobacco users who want to quit have more of a reason to do so in a supportive environment.

• A tobacco and nicotine free policy creates a healthier work environment and portrays the company’s dedication to employee health.

Boost morale

• Employee engagement and morale is shown to be greatly influenced by a healthy workforce.

Smoke Free Homes is a program of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. It provides smoke free rental property listings on the Smoke Free Homes Registry free as a public service. The program works to eliminate second and thirdhand smoke exposure for renters, to help create a safer and healthier living environment.

There are a variety of smoke free housing options in Woodbury County. View a list of all smoke free housing properties or for more information on becoming a smoke free rental property, visit the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Smoke Free Homes website. 

Siouxland District Health Department offers a variety of presentation options on tobacco, vaping, and nicotine addiction for people of all ages. If you are interested in any of the presentations listed below or have additional questions, please complete the presentation request form or contact Anais Mares- amares@sioulxanddistricthealth.org ; (712)279-6119.

You, Me, Together Vape-Free- For youth ages 5-18. This curriculum is 6 lessons for middle and high school aged youth and 2 lessons for elementary aged youth. It was developed by Sanford University and is aimed at addressing key factors associated with youth e-cigarette use, including changing adolescents’ attitudes towards and misperceptions about e-cigarettes; increasing their refusal skills to pulls of flavors, marketing, and social media; reducing stress and depression which have been linked to e-cigarette initiation and use; improving coping; and decreasing intentions and actual use of all e-cigarette products.

Let's Make Healthy Choices- For youth ages 8-12. Let's Make Healthy Choices is a one time presentation created by Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and covers how tobacco/nicotine are harmful to kids, how the tobacco industry targets youth, and ways to stay tobacco/nicotine free. 

 CDC: Know the Risks: A Youth Guide to E-Cigarettes- For youth ages 11-18.  CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) developed a presentation called, “Know the Risks: Youth and E-cigarettes,” to educate youth on e-cigarettes, including the health risks, the factors that lead to e-cigarette use, and what youth can do to avoid all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. 

 CDC: Know the Risks: A Parents Guide to E-Cigarettes and Youth- For parents of all ages. CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) developed a presentation called, “Know the Risks: A Parent’s Guide to E-cigarettes,” to educate parents on youth e-cigarette use, including the health risks, the factors that lead to e-cigarette use, and what parents can do to help youth avoid all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.  

Addiction is Addiction: Nicotine- For adults of all ages in addiction recovery. This is a one time presentation developed by Siouxland District Health Department that focuses on the harmful affects of nicotine addiction, tobacco's harmful effects on the body, and cessation resources. 

Need help with quitting your tobacco/nicotine addiction? Check out the cessation resources below:

Quitline Iowa-  Free adult tobacco/nicotine cessation program. Trained counselors assist you with helping to quit your addiction. Quitline is available 7 days a week, and offers a variety of languages and programs to meet individual needs. For additional information visit quitlineiowa.org, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or text "START" to 300500 to enroll. 

My Life My Quit- Free and confidential teen tobacco/nicotine cessation program. Teens work with coaches to develop a personal quit plan, identify triggers, practice refusal skills, and receive ongoing support. For additional information visit ia.mylifemyquit.org, call (855)891-9989, or text "Start my quit" to 36072 to enroll.

In 2008, Iowa lawmakers passed legislation to protect most Iowans from secondhand smoke. The Smokefree Air Act prohibits smoking in almost all public places and enclosed areas within places of employment, as well as some outdoor areas. For more information or to register a complaint: 1-888-944-2247 or visit smokefreeair.iowa.gov

The Woodbury County Tobacco Prevention and Control grant has No Smoking and Tobacco & Nicotine Free Smoke Free Air Act signs available to businesses for free. Email Anais Mares or call 712-279-6119 for more information.

• Maternal Health and Substance Use Brochure
• IHHS Division of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control
• Surgeon General Reports on Tobacco
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Your Life Iowa