The mission of Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center (NCPC), which is part of the Health Sciences Research Institute (HSRI) is to gather, understand and promote the thoughts and feelings of rural California residents on current tobacco and cannabis policy. This will be done via large scale surveys across 11 counties of the San Joaquin Valley and adjoining mountains. The results will then be used to develop achievable policy recommendations that work towards reducing tobacco-related diseases and deaths in this overlooked and underserved region of California.
To achieve this mission, the NCPC is comprised of four key cores that represent an extensive range of collaborations spanning different Californian universities, research disciplines, and community organizations at the national, state and local level. For more info visit About or click the icons below.
Please review the attachments below for information in both English and Spanish, summarizing the emerging literature on COVID-19 and the effects of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. The literature is evolving as research on COVID-19 is rapidly emerging and disseminating; these reports and fact sheets will be updated regularly. Click the Images for the full PDF and Watch the Retro Report documentary featuring Dr. Anna Song:
The NCPC will primarily be working with Public Health Departments of the 11 counties within the study area. We are also partnering with the American Heart Association and Healthy House. Click the logos for links.
The NCPC will work closely with CDPH members and local Public Health Departments to identify crucial policy issues within the 11 counties and help with research recruitment and diseminating our findings.
The AHA is our community organization partner with senior policy advocate experience, policy analysis & support for data collection - including focus groups & survey recruitment.
Healthy House is our Central Valley community partner, with deep & extensive connections in numerous communities and cultural groups. They're essential in disseminating our key messages & survey recruitment.
What concerns me the most about smoking and vaping now, is the vaping - the E-cigarettes. Those are flavored and they makes kids think that its OK, because it's flavored. A lot of people don't see danger in things that look and tastes good. They don't know how deadly or addictive it could be.
- Necola Adams, Merced Resident.
NCPC MERCED OFFICE, SOCIAL SCIENCE & MANAGEMENT BUILDING, ROOM 362
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