The New Mexico Department of Health’s Nicotine Use Prevention and Control Program (NUPAC) aims to reduce the harmful effects of commercial nicotine and tobacco use across the state. This program focuses on preventing youth initiation of nicotine products, promoting cessation among users, and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke. It uses a comprehensive approach involving education, policy advising, and community outreach. NUPAC supports initiatives such as Quit Now/Dejelo YA, a free resource offering counseling in English and Spanish along with nicotine replacement therapies to help residents quit smoking or vaping. Additionally, the program partners with schools, healthcare providers, and local governments to create smoke-free environments and promote healthier lifestyles.
The Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (WYSAC) supports NUPAC by using guidelines provided by the CDC to help establish and track the progress toward the program’s goals. WYSAC provides comprehensive evaluation of New Mexico’s Nicotine Use Prevention and Control Program and plays a critical role in supporting NUPAC leadership by providing technical assistance and updates on the Tobacco Program Evaluation Framework and helping guide workplan development and implementation. WYSAC also provides broad technical assistance and professional development support. Our contributions include analyzing quitline follow-up survey and administrative data, producing reports on the ever-changing landscape of nicotine use in New Mexico, delivering presentations to stakeholders, and developing surveys and reports for contractor organizations to ensure continuous quality improvement.