LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Efforts to improve Lake County’s health by reducing smoking and vaping took another step forward recently.

Hope Rising Lake County organized and hosted a commercial tobacco smoking and vaping cessation facilitator training that resulted in 28 newly trained facilitators across Lake and Mendocino counties.

The class, led by Lou Moerner — a nationally recognized expert in commercial tobacco cessation — is a major milestone in the ongoing work to improve community health.

The training was a direct outcome of the Lake County Innovation Summit, held in the fall of 2024, where addressing commercial tobacco use was identified as a top priority for improving the county’s health outcomes.

Participants from a diverse group of organizations came together to complete the training, including Adventist Health Clear Lake, Blue Zones Project Lake County, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Lake County Public Health, Kno'Qoti Native Wellness Inc., Lake County Office of Education, Mendocino County Public Health, Lakeview Health Center and Konocti Unified School District.

The intensive workshop equipped attendees with the tools to:

• Understand the power of nicotine addiction and its hold on users
• Teach the risks associated with tobacco use and the life-changing benefits of quitting
• Guide participants in preparing personalized quit plans
• Offer strategies to prevent relapse
• Educate on cessation therapy aids, including how medications work and proper usage.

“This initiative marks a significant step toward empowering our local organizations to help individuals break free from commercial tobacco and vaping addiction,” said Christina Braden, project manager for Hope Rising / Adventist Health Clear Lake. “Thanks to Hope Rising’s leadership, led by Executive Director Laurie Allen, and the momentum generated at the Innovation Summit, we are building a stronger foundation for public health in our communities.”

Tobacco use in Lake County: A persistent challenge

Lake County faces some of the highest commercial tobacco use rates in California.

In 2021, nearly 20% of adults in Lake County reported smoking cigarettes, compared to the statewide average of around 10%, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Commercial tobacco-related illnesses remain a leading cause of preventable death, driving up healthcare costs and lowering quality of life.

With these newly trained facilitators now ready to lead cessation classes throughout Lake and Mendocino counties, the region is better equipped than ever to offer hope and real solutions to individuals ready to quit smoking and vaping.

For more information about upcoming cessation classes or to learn how to get involved, contact Christina Braden, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..