Editorials back ballot measure to increase cigarette tax, fund tobacco prevention and cancer research
Editor
Apr 30, 2012
California’s newspapers aren’t fooled by tobacco industry lies about Proposition 29 – and they’re urging voters to beat back the scare tactics and support the measure to increase cigarette taxes, fund tobacco prevention programs and boost cancer research to save lives.
Continue reading California Newspapers: Don’t Believe Big Tobacco’s Lies
posted April 30, 2012
Key industry chiefs are paid more than 47 states and DC are spending on prevention
Editor
Apr 12, 2012
Pay packages for chief executives at the top three U.S. tobacco companies last year exceeded the amount of money being spent on tobacco prevention programs in all but three states.
Continue reading Tobacco Company CEOs Cash In While States Cut Back on Prevention
posted April 12, 2012
Unprecedented national media campaign will save lives and money
Editor
Mar 15, 2012
Meet Terrie. She starts her day by putting on a blonde wig and affixing a hands-free device to her tracheotomy hole to help her speak. Meet Brandon, who sits at the edge of his bed to ease on his artificial limbs. And Roosevelt – he’ll show you the deep scar that runs up and down his torso, the result of heart surgery.
These former smokers are the unlikely stars of the new nationwide media campaign aimed at encouraging smokers to quit and preventing children from starting to smoke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled the ads at a Washington news conference.
Continue reading Tips from Former Smokers on Why You Should Quit – Or Never Start
posted March 15, 2012
Big bucks will spread big lies about cigarette tax initiative
Editor
Mar 6, 2012
Big tobacco companies already have coughed up nearly $15 million to try to kill a California ballot initiative that would boost the state's cigarette tax by $1 to fund cancer research and tobacco-prevention programs.
"Shame on them," says Dr. Richard Gray, president of the American Heart Association Western States Affiliate. "But we aren’t surprised — they will always put their profits before the health of millions of Californians."
Continue reading Big Tobacco Bankrolls Fight Against California Measure to Reduce Smoking, Save Lives
posted March 06, 2012
Hundreds tell lawmakers to enact policies to protect kids and save lives
Editor
Feb 24, 2012
What does people power look like?
It looks like 900 middle and high school students thronging the state capitol in Charleston, West Virginia on Tobacco-Free Day to tell lawmakers to do more to reduce smoking and prevent kids from starting.
Continue reading West Virginia Youth Power Propels Tobacco-Free Day at State Capitol
posted February 24, 2012
Tell lawmakers that preventing disease saves money
Editor
Dec 15, 2011
Today is a National Day of Action on Prevention, a coordinated effort by hundreds of public health advocates around the country to protect critical prevention money in the new health reform law from deep cuts.
Proposals now moving forward on Capitol Hill would cut the prevention fund by two-thirds or more–just when evidence is mounting that proven prevention programs, especially those to keep kids from smoking and help smokers quit, pay big returns by reducing health care costs.
Continue reading Act Today to Stop Congressional Cuts to Prevention Fund!
posted December 15, 2011
Less than two cents of every dollar in tobacco revenue used to combat tobacco use
Editor
Nov 30, 2011
States have slashed funding for programs to reduce tobacco use by 12 percent in the past year and by 36 percent over the past four years, threatening the nation’s progress against tobacco, according to a report released today by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and other public health organizations.
The states this year will collect a near-record $25.6 billion in revenue from the 1998 state tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend only 1.8 percent of it — $456.7 million — on programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit. In other words, the states are spending less than two cents of every dollar in tobacco revenue to fight tobacco use.
Continue reading State Prevention Funding Cuts Threaten Progress Against Tobacco
posted November 30, 2011
Companies in search of new smokers can’t whitewash their true motives
Editor
Oct 7, 2011
Altria and altruism just don't mix.
Neither does the tobacco giant's financial sponsorship of an "Adolescent Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Symposium" in Nashville next month.
Continue reading Big Tobacco’s Latest Deception: We Support Youth Tobacco Prevention
posted October 07, 2011
But prevention cuts put progress at risk
Editor
Aug 10, 2011
Over the past decade, Indiana has reduced the smoking rate among adults by nearly a quarter, reaching an historic low for the state of 21.2 percent in 2010.
Indiana was in the forefront of tobacco control efforts following the 1998 settlement of state lawsuits against the tobacco industry. It established an independent agency—Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation—and initially provided robust funding for programs to prevent kids from starting to smoke and help smokers quit.
But political will has waned, and funding has dropped steadily, threatening continued progress.
Continue reading Indiana Smoking Rate Drops to Historic Low
posted August 10, 2011
Critical shift in health care system
Editor
Jun 16, 2011
The Obama Administration today unveiled a National Prevention Strategy that makes tobacco-free living a top priority as the nation tries to shift the health care system from one focused on treating costly illnesses to a model that encourages wellness and prevention.
Continue reading Tobacco-Free Living a Top Priority in National Prevention Strategy
posted June 16, 2011
Handful of industry executives make more than 49 states and DC spend on prevention
Danny McGoldrick, Tobacco-Free Kids Vice President of Research
Apr 8, 2011
How do big pay packages for top tobacco executives stack up against state funding for programs to keep kids from smoking and help smokers quit?
It's a lopsided mismatch that the tobacco execs win. Guess the lifestyles of the Big Tobacco Execs are worth more than the health of our kids.
Continue reading Tobacco CEO Pay and Tobacco Prevention: A Tale of Two Payouts
posted April 08, 2011
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