Tobacco Control

As part of the State’s ongoing effort to address tobacco use, treatment, and exposure to secondhand smoke, we offer funding to qualified agencies to help and encourage people to quit tobacco use and to conduct prevention and enforcement activities.

About 10.8% of New Jersey adults smoke cigarettes regularly, according to the 2020 New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Every year, tobacco claims more lives than AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides, and fires combined.

Risks of Smoking: 

• Smokers are at greater risk for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels
• Smoking can cause lung disease by damaging your airways your lungs
• Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body
• Smoking can make it harder for a woman to become pregnant and can affect her baby's health before and after birth

Extinguishing the Tobacco Epidemic in New Jersey

CDC’s Tips From Former Smokers® Returns With Powerful New Ads

The New Jersey Quitline offers several options to help NJ residents, 18 and older, quit smoking.

All NJ Quitline registered callers will find a variety of support to help them quit smoking. The services include welcome kits that include a quit guide; access to the online program portal that helps track progress and connect with others trying to quit; coaching calls to work one-on-one toward the quit goal; email support with tips and support to fight urges; and quit coach live chat for personal support.

The one-call program includes registration and one quit coach intervention with unlimited re-enrollment. The two-call program includes one registration call and two intervention calls with a coach and is recommended for those who are ready to quit within 30 days. The 2-call program is available three times every 12 months to help prevent relapse. Two FREE weeks of nicotine replacement patches are available for those who qualify AND are enrolled in the two-call program.

Hours of operation:

M-F: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM

 Sat: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Sun: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Quitline Phone Numbers for Different Languages:

Registration Options:

Phone self-referral - 1.866.657.8677 Phone registration with a quit coach is available during the hours of operation. All other times, callers may leave a message.

Web to enroll self-referral – www.njquitline.org

 Easy “click to quit” access to the Quitline portal for online registration.

As of November 1, 2017, the legal age for purchasing tobacco products and electronic smoking devices in New Jersey is 21 (NJ 2A:170-51.4). Raising the minimum age from 19 to 21 helps protect young people from the deadly effects of tobacco use. New Jersey is the third state in the nation to raise the smoking-purchase age to 21, following Hawaii and California. More Information

Businesses that sell tobacco products are required to post visible signage that explains the law and describes the penalties for its violation. These materials are available on the Regulations page.