Breathe better, live better! The mission of the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP) is to address the public health crisis caused by the use of all forms of commercial tobacco and nicotine products.
MTUPP works to eliminate tobacco use, especially among young people. Through statewide programs and policies, it aims to:
- Save Montanans $511 million spent annually on health care costs and $87.2 million in Medicaid costs directly caused by tobacco
- Prevent 1,600 adults from dying each year from tobacco
- Prevent 1,800 kids from trying tobacco for the first time each year
E-cigarettes are the most commonly used nicotine product among Montana high school students—often known as “vaping. The rate of vaping among high schoolers in the state is four times higher than that of Montana adults aged 25+. Frequent and daily vaping among Montana high school students both increased by almost 200% from 2015-2023.
MTUPP health educators across the state work to increase awareness of the dangers of tobacco and nicotine use and help people quit. Cessation resources are provided through Quit Now Montana – it includes free counseling and coaching by phone or online live chat; help with making a quit plan; free nicotine replacement items for age 18+ (patches, gum, or lozenges); and free cessation medication with a doctor’s prescription. You can enroll in Quit Now by calling 1-800-Quit-Now or visiting https://quitnowmontana.com/.
MTUPP also has similar resources designed specifically for teens through My Life My Quit. Youth under 18 can call 1-855-891-9989 or text “START” to 36072 to connect with a coach specially trained in working with youth.
All MTUPP services are free and confidential.
In Cascade County, the MTUPP program is managed by Penny Paul, Tobacco Education Specialist at the Cascade City-County Health Department (CCHD). Penny has been with CCHD since 2009 as a Health Promotion Specialist focusing on workplace wellness and the prevention of chronic disease, and she took over the tobacco program in May 2025. Before CCHD, Penny spent her career in the private sector as a grants program manager for a large corporate charitable foundation.
“I have been involved in health promotion for sixteen years,” said Paul. “During that time, the research has continued to point to tobacco as a link to serious health issues. Now vape products containing nicotine, flavors and other chemicals are popular among our youth. We are just beginning to see the health effects of those products.”
“Tobacco and nicotine industries use carefully engineered products and tactics to hook a new generation of users and keep the existing ones. Everyone deserves a world free from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine.”
In the 2025 Montana legislative session, several tobacco-related bills were introduced. Senate Bill 390 was passed and then signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte in May. This bill strengthens the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act by expanding the definition of “smoking”—which is prohibited in indoor public spaces—to include using an electronic smoking device. Senate Bill 150, which sought to legalize cigar smoking in designated Montana barrooms, failed to pass the Montana House. Among those surveyed, 77% of Montana voters opposed legalizing cigar smoking in bars, according to state polling.
If you have questions about MTUPP or quitting, please contact Penny Paul at 406-454-5071.
Author: Staff
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