Priorities
About the Plan
The Florida Tobacco Strategic Plan is more than a document.
It's a statewide tool for action.
Designed for organizations, coalitions, and community leaders, the plan outlines strategies to reduce the burden of commercial tobacco use and promote health through tobacco free living. Aligned with national recommendations, it focuses on six priorities to drive lasting change especially in communities where tobacco use is widespread. The plan also complements broader statewide efforts to prevent tobacco-related illnesses like asthma, cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
Priorities
The Florida Tobacco Strategic Plan is more than a document.
It's a statewide tool for action.
Designed for organizations, coalitions, and community leaders, the plan outlines strategies to reduce the burden of commercial tobacco use and promote health through tobacco free living. Aligned with national recommendations, it focuses on six priorities to drive lasting change especially in communities where tobacco use is widespread. The plan also complements broader statewide efforts to prevent tobacco-related illnesses like asthma, cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
Florida Tobacco Strategic Plan Priority Areas
Hover over each number to learn more about the six priority areas that guide our collective efforts.
Each section includes a brief overview, key objectives, and highlights of ongoing initiatives.
1 Youth and Young Adult Tobacco Initiation
In Florida, tobacco advertising and easy access to products make tobacco use more appealing for youth and young adults. Young people who see tobacco ads or live in areas with many retailers are more likely to start smoking.
Priority Area 1 addresses these challenges by focusing on long-term strategies that prevent early tobacco use. Schools and colleges are key partners in creating tobacco free learning environments to support quitting and shift social norms. Education strengthens this work by equipping youth with knowledge about tobacco risks and giving them opportunities to lead prevention efforts. Community partners also track tobacco use and marketing trends to help reduce the number of tobacco messages seen in local communicates. These efforts work together to help Florida’s youth and young adults grow up healthier and tobacco free.
Prevent tobacco and nicotine use among Florida’s youth and young adults.
Key Strategies- Collaborate with schools, colleges, families, and communities to limit exposure to tobacco and nicotine products and prevent early use.
- Support schools and colleges in adopting tobacco free policies.
- Engage youth and young adults as partners in tobacco prevention and control efforts.
2 Secondhand Smoke and Electronic Vapor Product Aerosol
Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a serious health concern. There is no safe level of exposure, and even brief contact can be harmful. In Florida, many residents continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke and vapor aerosol in homes, workplaces, and public spaces. This happens because protections aren’t always consistent, smoke free laws aren’t always enforced, and some property owners and employers don’t yet see the benefits of tobacco free environments.
Priority Area 2 works to expand tobacco free policies and protections across Florida. This includes partnering with government agencies to create tobacco free outdoor spaces, supporting employers in adopting comprehensive tobacco free worksites, and helping housing providers implement smoke free policies in multi family housing. Partners, policymakers, and the public are educated about the risks of secondhand smoke and vaping emissions, while youth and community organizations are engaged to champion tobacco free environments. By building relationships with groups most affected and sharing evidence based quit resources, Priority Area 2 helps reduce exposure and create healthier spaces for all communities.
Eliminate Floridians’ exposure to secondhand smoke and electronic vapor product aerosol.
Key Strategies- Collaborate with government agencies to make outdoor public spaces, like beaches and parks, tobacco free.
- Work with employers to create tobacco free workplaces, including casinos, bars, and membership organizations.
- Partner with housing providers to set tobacco free policies in apartments and multi‑family housing.
3 Nicotine and Tobacco Cessation
Quitting tobacco remains one of the most effective ways to prevent disease and improve health. Yet many adults still struggle due to addiction, limited access to cessation services, and environments that make quitting harder.
Priority Area 3 expands access to proven quit services. It works to increase demand for evidence based treatments, remove barriers that prevent people from using them, and strengthen insurance coverage for nicotine replacement therapies and counseling. By building partnerships with community organizations, healthcare systems, and providers, Priority Area 3 ensures that cessation programs are integrated into everyday settings and reach the populations most impacted by tobacco. These efforts make quit resources more available, more effective, and more balanced in reaching all communities across Florida.
Promote quitting among Floridians.
Key Strategies- Improve health systems with policies that boost tobacco screenings and quit support.
- Broaden access to evidence based cessation treatments in community settings.
- Break down barriers so proven quit services are available and accessible to everyone.
4 Tobacco-Related Disparities
In Florida, some communities use tobacco and vaping products more than others. Industry marketing, new products, limited access to quit services, and the absence of strong tobacco control policies all contribute to these higher rates of use. Priority Area 4 helps close the gap by aligning efforts across all areas of the plan to ensure that prevention and cessation strategies are directed toward the populations most impacted by tobacco use.
This work includes reviewing activities to understand their impact on different groups, using tobacco use data to guide decisions, educating partners and policymakers about proven ways to reduce tobacco use, and sharing data to show how policies connect to broader health needs. Community organizations are also supported with training and resources to build local leadership. This gives those most burdened by tobacco the tools and support they need to create healthier communities across the state.
Identify and eliminate tobacco-related disparities.
Key Strategies- Review the plan’s activities to see how they impact groups with higher tobacco use and make changes to close those gaps.
- Help communities build the skills and resources they need to reduce tobacco’s impact.
- Provide greater support for proven strategies that help people in every community reduce tobacco and nicotine use.
5 Tobacco Control Infrastructure
Without unified leadership, tobacco control activities may lose focus, remain short-term, and become reactive to tobacco industry tactics. Priority Area 5 addresses the need for strong statewide leadership by building a tobacco prevention coalition that brings together national, state, and local partners under a shared vision.
This coalition will provide the structure needed to help partners work toward common tobacco control goals, follow proven strategies, and focus resources where they matter most. It will also drive statewide policy change by joining voices from across the state to advance evidence-based legislation, strengthen enforcement, and ensure that Florida’s tobacco prevention strategies are embedded in long-term public health priorities.
Establish and enhance statewide tobacco control leadership to identify, implement, and coordinate tobacco prevention and control activities that drive effective policy change.
Key Strategies- Design a coalition model that values shared leadership and decision-making.
- Strengthen coordination between state and local tobacco control advocates.
- Invest in skills and resources that grow coalition capacity.
6 Research and Surveillance
Tobacco products and marketing approaches change quickly, and it can be hard for communities to keep up. Priority Area 6 addresses the need to have the latest information about what products are out there, how they’re being promoted, and who is most at risk. By tracking tobacco data across Florida, partners can spot patterns and quickly respond with stronger prevention and treatment approaches. With this information communities, researchers, and decision makers can safeguard youth and those at greatest risk.
Increase research and monitoring of emerging tobacco products and industry tactics in order to initiate the adoption of effective tobacco control policies.
Key Strategies- Track tobacco use and new products through statewide systems so Florida has up to date information on trends.
- Work with Florida universities and research groups to learn more about tobacco use and new products.
- Share data and findings widely so communities, policymakers, and the public can guide tobacco prevention and treatment with the best evidence.
Meet the Partners Behind the Progress
The six priority areas of the Florida Tobacco Strategic Plan are activated through collaboration. Explore the organizations, coalitions, and partners currently working across these priorities and see where your expertise or mission may align.