OTEC (Otero County Tobacco Education Coalition) is a nonpartisan group of local citizens who have come together to promote public awareness about the health consequences of tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, and youth access to tobacco products along with youth tobacco use. OTEC is based in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Visit the OTEC Yahoo! Group for ongoing tobacco news. View photos of appearances by OTEC.

The Great American Smokeout (GASO) is November 20; it encourages giving up smoking for 24 hours just to prove to yourself that you can. More information on the national program is here. Watch this space for local events.

 

Next Meetings: To be announced. Meetings are at CHINS, 501 24th Street in Alamogordo. Call 575-491-3595 for information or to RSVP.

The Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air Act went into effect on June 15, 2007. This law prohibits smoking in most indoor public places and workplaces in New Mexico. Visit the Smoke Free New Mexico web site for a factsheet, business checklists, and other information. Information is also available at the statewide Smoke Free Hotline at 1-877-473-6624. Enforcement is handled by local police and fire departments. In Alamogordo call the Department of Public Safety main telephone number at 439-4300 for questions or to report violations.

 

Quitting smoking, dipping, chewing. The statewide quit smoking line is 1-800-QUIT-NOW. CHINS offers free cessation classes, including nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), for residents of Otero County, call 491-3595 or 434-3011 for information. There are separate classes for smokers and for spit tobacco users.