The 1964 Surgeon General's Report on Tobacco clearly described the adverse health risks of tobacco use. Tobacco use and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a major cause of heart disease, lung disease, and cancer in Jersey County residents.

The goals of Jersey County Health Department are:
     · To reduce tobacco use in the adult population, specifically, in women of childbearing age.
     · To prevent youth, under the age of 18, from starting to use tobacco.
     · To reduce exposure of all age groups to ETS.
     · To increase the communities awareness of tobacco control issues and the need for public policy and social change.

     The Illinois Tobacco Free Communities grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health is the main funding source for the smoking cessation programs, for the tobacco prevention education programs and for the programs to reduce exposure to ETS.