January 28, 2008

Contact:
- Andrew Weisser, 818.703.6444, aweisser@alac.org

New Study Shows Fully Funded Tobacco Control Programs Reduce Number of Smokers

--Lung Association Urges State Leaders to Fully Fund Tobacco Control Programs

Sacramento, CA (January 28, 2008) – A new study in the American Journal of Public Health adds to the overwhelming evidence that comprehensive tobacco control programs save lives. The study indicates that the U.S. would have between 2.2 million and 7.1 million fewer smokers if states had funded their tobacco control programs at the levels recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 1995 and 2003. 

“It’s time for Governor Schwarzenegger and the California legislature to marshal the political will to fully fund these life-saving programs,” said Paul Knepprath, Vice President of Government Relations for the American Lung Association of California. “California has led the way with its model tobacco control program, but we are in danger of backsliding if we don’t do more to address our tobacco problem.”

Conducted by researchers from the CDC’s Office of Smoking and Health and research and technical service firm RTI International, the study finds that state spending on comprehensive tobacco control programs results in fewer adults smoking. This research echoes previous studies and adds to the growing body of research that finds the more states spend on tobacco use prevention and cessation, the fewer Californians will smoke. Each year in California, nearly 38,000 lives are lost to tobacco. In addition, California’s economy bears the brunt of over $15 billion in economic costs due to smoking. 

In October 2007, CDC released an updated edition of Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs, including updated spending levels. CDC now recommends that California spend $441.9 million each year on comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation programs. As the number one cause of preventable deaths in the U.S., tobacco takes a toll on the economy, health care costs, and lives.  In the American Lung Association’s State of Tobacco Control 2007, California earned a “F” for spending merely $79,260,591 on tobacco control programs. 

“There is no excuse for California not to fund these life-saving programs,” said Knepprath. “We have a chance to prevent more youth from becoming smokers, and to save lives.”

Other states have reaped the health and financial benefits resulting from funding comprehensive tobacco programs. 

• In Maine, smoking was reduced from 39.2% to 14% among high school students from 1997 to 2007. 
• In 2003, New York State’s adult smoking rate declined by 12 percent in just one year –from 21.5 percent in 2003 to 18.9 percent in 2004 – according to the New York State Department of Health’s Adult Tobacco Survey. In contrast, adult smoking rates nationwide declined just four percent from 2002 to 2003. 
• Washington State, which has also invested heavily in tobacco control programs, saw its adult smoking rate decline from 22.4 percent in 2000 to 17 percent in 2006.  According to the Washington State Department of Health, that translates to about 235,000 fewer smokers and a $2.1 billion savings in future health costs. 

The 2007 edition of Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs reinforces the need for states to adequately fund evidence-based tobacco prevention programs to reduce the death and disease caused by tobacco use. In this updated report, CDC reviewed the science and analyzed effective state tobacco control programs. Based on that evaluation, CDC now recommends a level of investment for each state’s tobacco control program that reflects the agency’s best judgment of what each state – based on its specific characteristics – must spend to implement with sufficient intensity an evidence-based comprehensive tobacco control program. 

The recommended spending levels reflect overall state population, the prevalence of tobacco use, the proportion of the population that is uninsured and a number of other factors, including the cost and complexity of conducting mass media to reach targeted audiences. The recommended spending levels had not been updated since the last time Best Practices was issued in 1999.

About the American Lung Association
Beginning our second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined. The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is “Improving life, one breath at a time.” For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or log on to www.lungusa.org.