Adapting to Protect a Smoke-Free Paso del Norte
June 4, 2026
Healthy outcomes rarely happen by chance. They are shaped by the policy landscape and the guidance, support, and example of trusted adults during a young person’s formative years.
The role for trusted adults has become more challenging in recent years with the rise of e-cigarettes. Many vaping devices are now designed to resemble everyday items – such as school supplies, makeup, clothing, or snacks – making them harder for parents, educators, and others to recognize and address early.
Since 1995, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation (PdNHF) has worked to improve health outcomes across the region. In 2001, the PdNHF supported a successful indoor smoking ban in El Paso to curb the leading cause of preventable death. The first city in Texas to adopt a smoking ban, smoking rates dropped in El Paso from a high of 24% to under 10%. The community has witnessed a correlating decrease in lung disease.
As the tobacco and nicotine industry has evolved, so have PdNHF’s strategies to protect community health, reduce exposure to emerging products, and address concerns related to youth vaping, nicotine use, and THC.
The PdNHF Board of Directors recently reaffirmed its commitment to a healthier region by adopting the 2026-2030 strategic plan for the Smoke Free initiative. The plan supports a regional approach to prevent tobacco and nicotine use, support cessation, reduce related harms, and strengthen coordinated prevention efforts.
Key priorities include: - Let’s Talk Youth Vaping, a bilingual campaign with resources at smokefreepdn.org to help adults identify vaping devices and talk with young people about the consequences of vaping. - Evidence-based cessation resources for youth and adults. - Supporting the Smoke Free Network and Advocacy Workgroup - Partnerships with school districts and community organizations to provide professional development on tobacco, nicotine, and THC products. - Nonpartisan policy research to inform planning and decision-making.
As PdNHF looks ahead to the next five years of work outlined in this strategic plan, the vision remains clear: a healthy region where smoking reduction supports healthier lives, young people are empowered to make healthy choices, and individuals at every stage of their quit journey have access to the support they need.
Reaching that vision will take a collective effort from families, schools, community organizations, health professionals, and policymakers across the Paso del Norte region.
Resources for individuals interested in quitting smoking or vaping are available at smokefreepdn.org or by calling 877-YES-QUIT (877-937-7848).
