References to tobacco on this webpage refer to commercial tobacco, not the sacred and traditional tobacco used by American Indian communities.
Help to Quit
The Maine QuitLink offers free, confidential support to quit smoking, vaping, or other tobacco use. Get help from the Maine QuitLink online or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
They can also share tobacco information related to:
My Life, My Quit offers free, confidential support for youth 13-17 to quit tobacco, including vaping. A tobacco treatment specialists offers quit coaching through phone, chat, and text sessions. The program is here to help at any point in a quit journey. To enroll text "Start My Quit" to 36072, call 1-855-891-9989, or visit me.mylifemyquit.org.
Trusted adults, including health care providers, school personnel, youth-serving entities, and other community organizations, can refer a teen online.
Coordination between the Maine QuitLink and My Life, My Quit service ensure Maine youth and adults who want to quit tobacco are connected to an age-appropriate, evidence-based service.
Retailer Resources
Tobacco products may not be sold to anyone under 21 years of age in Maine. Tobacco retailers play an important role in limiting youth access. The Maine CDC Tobacco Prevention and Control Program provides the NO BUTS! online retailer training, materials, and other resources to help retailers be sure they follow tobacco laws. Retailers who sell tobacco products are required to have a retail tobacco sales license.
Provider Resources
Health care/clinical staff and behavioral health providers can get training and resources to support their patients quit tobacco.
Smoking and Tobacco Use Prevention
Most adults who smoke daily started before age 18.
Local partners work with schools, youth serving entities, municipalities, and other community groups to prevent youth tobacco use. They provide education and support to develop, maintain, and enforce policies that create social norms around tobacco-free spaces. Youth empowerment and engagement efforts include education for youth and adult advisors around restorative practices and alternatives to suspension; and support for youth groups that work on a tobacco prevention/youth engagement/empowerment project in their school.
E-Cigarettes/Vapes
E-cigarettes have been the most used tobacco product among youth in Maine and the U.S. since 2014. Given their flavors, marketing, and often high nicotine content, e-cigarette products have a high potential to attract and addict young people. This e-cigarette toolkit has details about the products, regulation, and how you can support tobacco prevention efforts.
E-cigarette education presentations are available by request, just email: tsup.dhhs@maine.gov.
Smoking and Tobacco Laws and Rules
State Laws
Smoking, which includes e-cigarette use, is prohibited in all enclosed public areas, outdoor eating areas, and all rest rooms made available to the public. Smoking is also not allowed in, on, or within 20 feet of a state-owned beach, playground, snack bar, group picnic shelter, business facility, enclosed area, public place, or restroom in a state park or state historic site.
Local Laws and Policies
There is free education and technical assistance for local policy development to prevent secondhand smoke exposure. This includes support for multi-unit housing, behavioral health facilities, hospitals, other health care organizations, workplaces, and institutes of higher education.
E-Cigarette Flavor Bans
Flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, increase the risk of youth starting to smoke or vape, undermine treatment efforts, and contribute to health disparities. The majority of youth e-cigarette users report using flavored products, "because they come in flavors I like." Several states and hundreds of communities across the U.S., including multiple Maine communities, have restricted the sale of flavored tobacco products to address these concerns.
Secondhand Smoke
Secondhand smoke can be harmful in any amount. It contains more than 7,000 chemicals, and about 70 of them can cause cancer. Eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke protects those who don't smoke from its harms, which include heart disease, cancer, stroke, and worsened asthma.
Good Health for All
It is important to ensure tobacco prevention and treatment efforts focus on those most impacted. In Maine, this includes those diagnosed with behavioral health conditions, people living in rural areas, new immigrants, veterans, people who are homeless, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with low income. Misconceptions, bias, tobacco marketing, and unequal tobacco policies and supports are some of the contributing factors. Contact us to learn more or if you want to get involved in efforts to reach any those most impacted by tobacco use.
Data & Reports
The SEOW tobacco dashboard provides easy to access Maine tobacco related data.
Maine Tobacco Comprehensive Strategic and Sustainability Plan 2020 - 2025
Campaigns & Resources
Tobacco campaigns are an evidence-based strategy to reduce tobacco use, increase quit rates, and reduce youth initiation. Recent campaigns include:
- Vaping: Don't Get Side Effected -- Educates youth about the dangers and misconceptions of e-cigarettes and vaping; urges youth to stop vaping or never start
- Quit Your Way -- Resources for those who want to quit or help a loved one
- Alzheimer's and Tobacco -- Educates on the connection between tobacco use and Alzheimer's
- Behavioral Health Provider -- Education and trainings on how behavioral health providers can support their clients
- Substance Exposed Infant -- Educates on resources for pregnant and postpartum people
- Secondhand Smoke -- Educates around there being no safe level of secondhand smoke
To learn more contact tsup.dhhs@maine.gov.
Tobacco Prevention and Control Advisory Council
According to Maine law, "The Tobacco Prevention and Control Advisory Council is established to review the program. The advisory council shall provide advice to the bureau in carrying out its duties under this section and ensure coordination of the program with relevant nonprofit and community agencies, other relevant state agencies, and the Department of Education."
Maine CDC Tobacco Prevention and Control Program Contact
- Phone: (207) 287-4627
- Email: tsup.dhhs@maine.gov
TTY: Maine Relay 711
*References to tobacco on this webpage refer solely to commercial tobacco use, not the sacred and traditional tobacco used by American Indian communities.