About Us

People Educating Communities About Tobacco is a project of East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse that serves the North East Texas Region such as Harrison, Upshur, Gregg, and Smith Counties. PECAT's Mission is to reduce the health and economic impact of tobacco in East Texas through education and envision of smoke free communities. Some of the activities PECAT are involved with include but are not limited to: Tobacco Prevention, Great American Smoke Out, Red Ribbon Week, Tobacco Free Kids Day, Community Outreach, Media Literacy, Teens Against Tobacco Use, Life Skills, Towards No Tobacco Use, Teen Tobacco Summits, and Monthly Coalition Meetings. It's goals are to prevent tobacco use among young people, increase cessation amongst all age groups and populations, eliminate exposure to secondhand and third hand smoke, address tobacco-related health disparities, ensure compliance with state and local tobacco laws with adequate enforcement, and identify and recruit volunteers and stake holders to sustain PECAT's efforts.

History

PECAT was founded in September 2002 by 28 adults and 5 youth as a project of the East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. The coalition officially became PECAT in April of 2003. The original members recognized the necessity of having a coalition that addressed the needs of tobacco prevention and cessation in East Texas.

Goals

• Prevent tobacco use among young people
• Ensure compliance with state and local tobacco laws with adequate enforcement
• Increase cessation among young people and adults
• Eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke
• Address tobacco-related health disparities
• Identify and recruit volunteers and stake holders to sustain PECAT's efforts