Tobacco Education Specialists
PRC 11 & Tobacco in Texas
The Prevention Resource Center (PRC), in collaboration with other PRCs across the state, plays a key role in implementing comprehensive tobacco prevention strategies. Our primary goal is to support retail compliance with state and federal tobacco laws, particularly those designed to prevent youth access to tobacco products.
Within our designated region, we conduct retail merchant education and facilitate voluntary compliance checks to ensure retailers understand and adhere to legal requirements. These proactive efforts are crucial in reducing underage tobacco sales and promoting healthier communities through youth tobacco prevention.
Texas Department of State Health Services Mental Health and Substance Abuse Division
DSHS MH & SA Division, Program Services
E-Mail: janie.dykes@dshs.state.tx.us
Janie G. Dykes, PRC State
Coordinator 1100 West 49th Street,
Tower Building Austin, TX 78756
Ph: 512-458-7111
ext. 6944
DSHS Mental Health and Substance Abuse Information Center/RADAR State Center
Email: chris.cregeen@dshs.state.tx.us
Web Page: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/sa
Mimi Martinez McKay, Director Christopher Cregeen, Librarian 909 W. 45th St., Mail Code 2083 Austin, TX 78751
Ph:866-378-8440
ext. 2610 Fax: 512-419-2063
Enforcing Texas Tobacco Laws to Prevent Youth Access
To help prevent minors from accessing tobacco products, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (TCPA) work together to ensure retailers are held accountable for unlawful tobacco sales to minors. Strict penalties are also enforced for minors who are cited for tobacco-related offenses.
The official Texas Tobacco Law website — www.texastobaccolaw.org — serves as a valuable resource for understanding current Texas tobacco laws, offering training materials for law enforcement, updates on tobacco use trends across the state, and access to public health campaigns aimed at reducing youth tobacco consumption.
Prevention Resource Center 11 (PRC 11) actively collaborates with HHSC and TCPA to support tobacco retail compliance checks, ensuring that businesses follow regulations designed to limit youth tobacco access.
To learn more about how Texas is working to reduce youth tobacco use and how you can get involved in tobacco prevention efforts, visit www.texastobaccolaw.org.