The BHS Torrance Tobacco Control and Prevention Program is funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The BHS Tobacco team worked in the cities of Redondo Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, and Rolling Hills Estates to provide resources on secondhand smoke to residents and helped to pass Redondo Beach’s smoke-free outdoor areas ordinance in 2019. The team organized community support by gathering surveys, letters and city council testimonials from local residents regarding the harms of tobacco smoke through its coalition, the Beach Cities Prevention Community Council.
The ordinance prohibits smoking or vaping in public outdoor areas to protect the public from non-consensual exposure to secondhand smoke.
In 2021, the BHS team organized a Palos Verdes Peninsula High School based youth coalition, Kick Ash, that was instrumental in the passing of a smoke-free outdoor areas ordinance in Rolling Hills Estates. This ordinance prohibits smoking on any city property.
Currently, the team is working in the cities of Torrance and West Covina to provide educational resources to residents regarding the harms of secondhand smoke from cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products. We have conducted over 450 public opinion surveys with residents from each city, where 85% of residents surveyed believe that secondhand smoke encountered in outdoor areas is harmful to one’s health. The team worked with community members in each city to establish coalitions to promote the health benefits of smoke-free outdoor areas. The Tobacco-Free Torrance Coalition and Smoke-Free West Covina Coalitions are open to the public and meet every other month on Zoom. If you are interested in attending a meeting, email Alix Politanoff, BHS Project Coordinator at apolitanoff@bhs-inc.org
Tobacco Cessation The Tobacco Cessation team, which is subcontracted under LA County’s Department of Public Health, has been working in SPA 8 since 2021. The team has been working to develop and implement strategies and resources to improve the reach, availability, and quality of tobacco cessation services for the priority populations of American Indians/Alaskan Natives and Pacific Islanders/Native Hawaiians. BHS staff have conducted surveys and key informant interviews with members of these communities to better understand how to build culturally competent cessation services. The Cessation team holds monthly learning collaborative meetings with agencies and providers that work with these populations to raise awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use and the benefits of quitting. The team has also conducted several trainings and workshops on tobacco cessation techniques and interventions to support individuals in quitting tobacco. Follow us on Instagram @ lbsb_quits to learn more about the services we provide.
South Bay PreventionThe BHS South Bay Prevention Team actively works with the Gardena Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Task Force (GDAAP) and South Bay Communities Creating Change Coalition (SBC3) to organize community activities to educate youth and community members about the harms of underage drinking and drug use and to support policies which reduce youth access to alcohol and drugs. The South Bay Prevention Team serves youth and other community members in the Torrance and Lomita areas by participating in health fairs and facilitating virtual and live presentations to teach coping skills and promote alternative healthy activities for you to use in high-risk environments where alcohol and drugs may be present. The team also collaborates with local elected officials, school administrators, law enforcement, and concerned residents to develop viable, sustainable strategies to create an environment free from the harms associated with the use of alcohol and marijuana. Prevention Services are funded by the Los Angeles County Substance Abuse and Prevention Services Department of Public Social Services Office of AIDS Programs and Policy. Contact Prevention Coordinator Erica Winston at ewinston@bhs-inc.org for more information.
Hollywood Prevention
Hollywood Prevention Services is dedicated to fostering a safer community within the designated zip codes of 90028 and 90038 in the City of Los Angeles, which includes the world-famous Hollywood Blvd. In the fiscal year 2023/24, our primary focus is on combatting youth drug and alcohol misuse and abuse through comprehensive prevention services, which includes teaching new coping skills and providing ongoing resources for the community. We aim to collaborate extensively with various city agencies to implement effective policies and environmental strategies aimed at restricting youth access to prevalent substances such as alcohol and marijuana. Our approach involves close partnerships with key stakeholders, including school authorities, local policymakers, and concerned residents. Our most recent initiative was the Sticker Shock, where we visited local liquor stores and posted red stickers to remind adult customers that it is illegal to purchase alcohol for underage individuals. Through this project, we promoted legal compliance and shared community responsibility between the public and local alcohol vendors to reduce underage drinking. Through these partnerships, we aim to develop and sustain practical strategies that will not only meet our objectives but also cultivate an environment free from the detrimental impacts associated with substance abuse. Contact Prevention Coordinator, Alan Keo at akeo@bhs-inc.org for more information.
