Northern Kentucky communities and health leaders took center stage at a statewide tobacco control conference, earning recognition for recent efforts to expand smoke-free policies and reduce tobacco use.
At the annual Kentucky Tobacco Control Conference, hosted by the Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy and the Kentucky Tobacco Prevention & Cessation Program, two Northern Kentucky efforts stood out. One focused on passing local smoke-free laws, while the other centered on educating residents, especially young people, about the risks of vaping and secondhand smoke.
- The City of Ludlow, represented by Mayor Sarah Thompson, received the Everette Varney Smoke-free Indoor Air Excellence Award. The award recognizes communities that adopt comprehensive smoke-free workplace ordinances aimed at protecting residents from secondhand smoke.
- Casey Baker-Romans, a substance use prevention health educator with the Northern Kentucky Health Department, was named Smoke-free Advocate of the Year for her work promoting education around secondhand smoke and advancing smoke-free policies. Organizers highlighted her “Ditch Vapes” initiative, which has expanded since launching as a pilot program in 2024.
This year’s conference focused on emerging trends in tobacco use, new treatment approaches and the role of personal storytelling in helping people quit.
A growing push for a smoke-free NKY
Efforts to create a smoke-free Northern Kentucky are supported by Breathe Easy NKY, a regional coalition that brings together health, education, business and elected leaders to reduce tobacco use and vaping. The coalition works to advance smoke-free policies and expand education around the health risks of tobacco, with a focus on improving overall quality of life in the region.
Efforts to create a smoke-free Northern Kentucky are supported by Breathe Easy NKY, a regional coalition that brings together health, education, business and elected leaders to reduce tobacco use and vaping. The coalition works to advance smoke-free policies and expand education around the health risks of tobacco, with a focus on improving overall quality of life in the region…