Populations of Focus

What the Research Shows:

More than one in five (21%) Vermont adults with poor mental health smoke cigarettes and 12% of Vermont adults with poor mental health use e-cigarettes (VT Adult Tobacco Disparity Charts, 2024 BRFSS). Individuals with mental health or substance misuse disorders are often overlooked for quit support, in part because smoking is accepted as a crutch or coping tool.

Smoking and tobacco use actually acts as a trigger for continuing or relapsing in use of other substances. Studies show that there are considerable benefits to treating tobacco addiction at the same time as mental health and substance misuse disorders.

What We’re Doing:

To promote wellness and reduce tobacco-related illness in behavioral health and substance misuse disorder facilities, we are working with many groups to increase screening, treatment and cessation of tobacco use by clients.

Current efforts include:

1. Convening a workgroup of granted partners and others that will meet quarterly to discuss updates, progress and shared goals
2. Communicating on the need to reduce tobacco-associated health inequities experienced by Vermonters with mental health and substance misuse disorders
3. Collecting and using data to monitor progress and share results
4. Collaborating with the Health Department Division of Substance Use offering alcohol and drug support services through VT Helplink. 

What the research shows:

In Vermont, cigarette smoking rates among Indigenous adults are high at 32% (State Health Improvement Plan - Tobacco Measure Closeout Goal Tracker, 2025). Additionally, data in the Vermont State Health Assessment show that chronic disease rates are consistently higher among Indigenous Peoples compared to Vermont overall.

What we’re doing:

The Health Department is committed to building and maintaining partnerships and policies that support the health and wellness of Vermont’s Abenaki and Wabanaki people, and all other Indigenous Peoples who are a part of our state.

This is done through the following efforts:

• Providing culturally sensitive, tailored commercial tobacco cessation support through the American Indian Commercial Tobacco Program
• Awarding grant funding to the Abenaki Circle of Courage to support education and treatment of commercial tobacco
• Collaboration with the Agency of Human Services and Abenaki Equity Workgroup
• Participation in education and training to adopt the knowledge and tools needed to maintain an equitable relationship with all Indigenous People in Vermont
• Ensuring this group receives equitable access to (and education about) health services
• Promoting community events and resources that celebrate and acknowledge the struggles of Indigenous People
• Honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day each October 

The Tobacco Burden of LGBTQ+ Vermonters:

While cigarette smoking rates have decreased among the LGBTQ+ community, use of e-cigarettes has been on the rise in recent years, with LGBTQ+ adults using e-cigarettes at twice the rate of non-LGBTQ adults (10% vs. 5%) (Adult Tobacco Use, 2024 BRFSS Updates).

What We’re Doing:

To help Vermonters who identify as LGBTQ+ reduce and quit using tobacco, we have partnered with Outright Vermont and the LGBTQ HealthLink to raise awareness through the following efforts:

• Walking in the Pride Parade to show support for this population of Vermonters
• Working with Outright Vermont to provide trainings to peers, allies and communities 

What the Research Shows:

Adult Vermonters insured by Medicaid smoke cigarettes at more than three times the rate of those with private health insurance (26% vs. 8%) and use e-cigarettes at more than twice the rate of those with private health insurance (13% vs. 5%) (Adult Tobacco Use, 2024 BRFSS Updates). Evidence shows that the desire to quit smoking among those of lower income is strong; help is needed to succeed.

What We’re Doing:

802Quits offers cash-value gift card rewards—up to $150—to encourage quit attempts among Vermont Medicaid members. And, in partnership with the Department of Vermont Health Access, we are working to connect Medicaid-insured adults with health care professionals who can increase the quit support they receive. This is done through the Medicaid Tobacco Benefit and Promotion Initiative, goaled to:

1. Identify and address barriers to using quit services, like 802Quits and professional counseling
2. Promote the state’s quit services to community and clinical providers working with this population

What the Research Shows:

Although smoking rates among pregnant Vermonters has decreased significantly in the past decade, 6% of Vermonters smoke cigarettes during pregnancy, twice the U.S. rate of 2% (2024 Vital Statistics).

During pregnancy, Vermonters are more likely to quit tobacco when they are 1) educated on the dangers of smoking or vaping and secondhand exposure to chemicals while pregnant and 2) receive personalized coaching and rewards to quit.

What We’re Doing:

Vermont’s Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW) offers special support and rewards to pregnant Vermonters via:

1. A special non-judgmental phone-based program to support new and expecting mothers through quitting cigarettes, e-cigarettes or other tobacco products
2. Text messaging support
3. A customized quit plan
4. Free medication with a doctor’s prescription
5. A $20 or $30 gift card for each completed call with a trained coach (up to $250 in rewards)

What the research shows:

Vermonters with disabilities use tobacco at a higher rate than other groups and are less likely to be successful at quitting. About one in six (17%) adults with a disability currently smoke cigarettes, double the rate of those who do not have a disability (8%). Adults with a disability are also more likely to use e-cigarettes (9%) than adults who report no disabilities (5%) (Adult Tobacco Use, 2024 BRFSS Updates).

What We’re Doing:

Current efforts include:

1. We are collaborating with Vermont’s Department of Aging, Disabilities and Independent Living, (DAIL), to promote tobacco-related policies that reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and triggers to smoke.
2. A member of our program also sits on a national workgroup, run by the North American Quitline Consortium, to discuss and improve the accessibility of quitlines.

What the research shows:

Vermont youth and young adults are particularly at risk for using tobacco and nicotine, especially electronic vapor products (e.g. e-cigarettes, vapes). Eighty-two percent of high school students who currently smoke cigarettes also vape (VT Youth Tobacco Disparity Charts, 2025 YRBS). Young adults also continue to move toward e-cigarette use. Significantly fewer young adults (ages 18-24) in Vermont currently use cigarettes than a decade ago (7% in 2024 vs. 18% in 2015). However, 17% of young adults in Vermont currently use e-cigarettes, nearly three times the rate among young adults in 2017 (6%). 

What We’re Doing:

Unhyped: Our Unhyped campaign educates youth on the dangers of vaping any substance and the potential for nicotine addiction.

Our Voices Xposed: Join the tobacco and nicotine youth prevention movement with OVX student leaders in middle and high school chapters across Vermont. 

My Life, My Quit: We offer youth cessation support through My Life, My Quit. This free and confidential texting program, developed by a leading respiratory hospital, helps Vermonters ages 12-17 quit all forms of tobacco use, particularly smoking or vaping. Text Start My Quit to 36072 or visit the website to chat with a trained coach.

802Quits: Young adults can access an evidence-based interactive online program with online chat to develop a quit plan by visiting 802Quits. Text START to 36072 or enroll online to connect with the quit support you want.