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WORLAND - Mary Buchanan has been working in Worland the past 15 years to provide a safe environment for the community's youth.

As the Prevention Management Organization of Wyoming prevention management specialist for Washakie County, Buchanan has been working to help people stop smoking or using smokeless tobacco, as well as working to prevent youth from starting to use tobacco products.

While her work began in 2001 with the Wyoming Tobacco Prevention Program, it has evolved into the PMO of Wyoming, focusing not just on tobacco prevention, but also alcohol abuse, drug use including prescription medication, and suicide prevention.

Buchanan background

Buchanan was born Mary Copp in Greybull, graduating from Greybull High School in 1960. She attended Northwest Community College and the University of Wyoming. She said she started studying history until an advisor told her that usually coaches taught history and she should consider something else. She said she played around with other subjects, noting "I could have been a professional student."

She returned to Greybull where she met her husband Neil. They married in 1969 and had two children and two grandchildren.

Mary helped on the family farm and then, due to economic necessity, had to get a job, working for Pepsi in Worland.

Later she bought and operated a video store in Worland, Show Biz, for 13 years.

In November 2001, Buchanan was approached by the county grant writer, Ginger Largent, about doing the tobacco program.

Buchanan said she agreed to run the Wyoming Tobacco Prevention Program in Washakie County because, "I was to the point where I realized that smoking was one of those things people shouldn't be doing and I hated to see kids start."

She said she started smoking at the age of 13, quitting at the age of 50. Why did she quit? "I'd known for some time I shouldn't be smoking," Buchanan said, noting that she never smoked in her house for several reasons including the fact that her husband had extreme asthma.

She said she got tired of the sounds, comments and looks she would get when smoking, so "I just figured I'd quit." She said she quit cold turkey with a full pack of cigarettes in the house and she still has that pack of cigarettes in a drawer. "They will be there until the day I die."

She added, "There's still days I'd kill for one."

Buchanan said people start smoking mainly because of two basic reasons - their parents smoke or they are harassed by their peers.

She said things have changed over the years regarding tobacco, mostly thanks to the tobacco settlement where conditions included the fact that companies could no longer advertise and thus target children. Characters in movies and on TV were no longer smoking.

"Growing up when someone asked where's the ashtray, you didn't say 'you can't smoke in my house,' you got up and got the ashtray whether you smoked or not. Now it's 'you're not smoking in my home or in my car'," Buchanan said. "We've come a long way."

She said when she was in high school she could stand on the steps and smoke until classes started and people would smoke in the lobby during basketball games. Today, that's not the case with schools designated tobacco-free zones.

Why is it hard to quit? Buchanan said what makes it hard to quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco is the addiction from the nicotine, which vape cigarettes do not help.

In addition to the addiction, smoking and using smokeless tobacco is a habit.

"We have to tell people to change their routine in order to change their habits," Buchanan said.

Wyoming Quit Tobacco Program

She said the cessation programs available do work, and the Wyoming Quit Tobacco Program is a great program. The Wyoming Quit Tobacco Program is a free online service available to all eligible Wyoming residents. When you become a member, you get special tools, a support team of coaches, research-based information, and a community of others trying to become tobacco free. Expert coaches can talk to you about overcoming common barriers, such as dealing with stress, fighting cravings, coping with irritability, and controlling weight gain.

There is also a free telephone service, so you can speak to a coach in person. Through the telephone program you can receive a free supply of nicotine patches, gum or lozenges, too. Call the QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Coaches will determine if you are eligible to receive the patches, gum or lozenges.

Prevention Management Organization of Wyoming

In 2011, the Wyoming Tobacco Prevention Program evolved into the Prevention Management Organization, still grant funded and still operated under the Wyoming Department of Health.

She said instead of the focus being solely on tobacco prevention it also includes alcohol prevention, drug abuse and other drugs including prescription.

Buchanan noted that last year she worked with the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police to send out information on the harmfulness of marijuana to parents of students in grades 6-12.

When the PMO of Wyoming program evolved it also included having the prevention management specialists trained in recognizing signs of suicide and what to do and say if they believe someone may be considering suicide.

In regard to prescription drugs, she said they have pamphlets for funeral homes, reminding loved ones to dispose of prescription drugs properly; and they also have pamphlets for Realtors to give prospective sellers.

"We tell them to treat your drugs like jewelry, lock them up when you know someone will be looking at their home," Buchanan said. She added that parents should do the same when their children have friends over.

She added that parents need to be aware that during events where alcohol is served and children and youth are present it can be easy for children to get alcohol. She said some people are not careful if they leave a drink on a table where it can be picked up a child who could drink the contents.

"That's the reason we do all of this; we try to keep kids safe," Buchanan said.

She said it's also important for parents to talk to their children. When First Lady Carol Mead came out with her campaign of talking early and often to your children about drugs, tobacco and alcohol, Buchanan said she had done that with her kids.

So why retire now? After 15 years, Buchanan said she felt it was time. "I really enjoyed what I was doing but it was becoming technologically challenging." She said the reporting programs seem to continually change and she's not as tech savvy as she needs to be.

Buchanan said she has seen progress in the community from the programs over the past 15 years. She said all the restaurants are smoke free and when she started only one was smoke free. Most liquor establishments are smoke free as well.

She said people are becoming more aware about the dangers of drinking and driving as well.

The success of the prevention programs involve a lot of people in the community and Buchanan said she has enjoyed working with Washakie County Sheriff Steve Rakness and Worland Chief of Police Gabe Elliott, Bruce Miller when he was the activities director at WHS.

"A lot of people have stepped up to the plate because they care about kids, too. We're all helping them be the best they can be," she said.

Although she officially retired July 15, Buchanan has been volunteering a few hours a week until someone is hired. "I'm not going to let the program slide," she said.

Prevention specialists for neighboring counties will join Community Prevention Manager Charlotte Carlton in conducting interviews on Wednesday.

In her retirement, Buchanan said she has wanted to spend more time with her children and grandchildren. "I love to read. I have stacks of books. I want to have time to read them."

She added that she will also stay active in the local Prevention Management Organization Coalition and will help them as they head before the council in October to try and get a few of the parks in Worland smoke free.

Buchanan leaves people with these thoughts as she heads into retirement, "I wish people think about their habits. If you choose to smoke, do it responsibly. Don't smoke around your children. Every child should have the ability to be healthy."

"It's been a wonderful ride. I enjoyed what I was doing. We are making a difference," Buchanan said.