Policy Initiative

CEASE has been instrumental in developing public health policies that encourage the permanent adoption of healthier lifestyles. For example, CEASE partners and other policy activists advocated for policies that banned tobacco use in public parks, created a five-block buffer zone around schools for the sale of flavored tobacco, and included e-cigarettes in clean indoor air laws. CEASE helped pass a comprehensive tobacco-free campus policy at Morgan State University and provided cessation services to faculty, staff, and students. Change is more likely to occur when activism is persistent, inclusive, and accessible to a wide variety of constituents. CEASE leadership believes that one of the best ways to engage diverse groups of stakeholders are to bring them together to share ideas and discuss applicable research results. In that spirit, CEASE sponsored three annual conferences open to community residents, scientists, activists, elected officials, organizations, and students. Hundreds of participants attended scientific presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and guest lectures where comprehensive prevention initiatives and tobacco-related health disparities were discussed.