Background

Policy changes and other public health efforts in California have successfully changed social norms around tobacco use, reducing the prevalence of use and tobacco-related disease faster here than in the rest of the US. However, our health care systems and plans have been slow to prioritize tobacco cessation. A 2021 cessation summit identified key areas to advance cessation in California, a critical component in California’s tobacco “endgame” strategy to achieve historically low (<5%) tobacco use prevalence. The Tobacco Cessation Policy Research Center (TCPRC) is a multidisciplinary collaborative effort bringing together academic researchers, community and advocacy organizations, and policy stakeholders. Based in Sacramento at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, TCPRC primarily serves Northern California but disseminates findings throughout California and beyond.  

Mission

To enhance health care access, promote excellence in health care delivery, facilitate community engagement, and achieve equity in health plan coverage by building capacity for tobacco cessation. 

Goals

Generate evidence to inform tobacco cessation policy, collaborate with stakeholders to optimize policy impact, and develop a pipeline of researchers to sustain the mission.