Izard County Hometown Health
Tobacco Prevention Program
Chris Haley/Tobacco Prevention Coordinator
PO Box 370
Melbourne, AR 72556
ph: 870-291-2482
izardtob
Arkansas Slips but Still a National
Leader in Tobacco Control
Arkansas slipped a notch in the national ranking to number 6 and remains one of top states for spending tobacco settlement money for tobacco prevention. It spent $15.6 million for tobacco control work which is 87.1% of the Center for Disease Control [CDC] recommended minimum. One of the goals being discussed for the upcoming legislative session is to raise this to 100% of CDC recommendation.
Arkansas is bordered by the worst states in this category. Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi. Mississippi, long a national leader and one of the few states that met the CDC’s recommendation, has fallen to near the bottom because Governor Haley Barbour, a former tobacco lobbyist, has worked relentlessly to eliminate funding for the program.
Nationally, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids seems some improvement but says much needs to be improved. It said in a national news release, “This year, we find that while the states have modestly increased total funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs, the vast majority of states are still failing to keep the promise of the tobacco settlement and falling far short of funding such programs at even minimum levels recommended by the CDC.”
Info came from Coaliton for a Tobacco free Arkansas.
Secondhand Smoke is Dangerous
Studies show that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Breathing secondhand smoke increases your chances of lung problems, cancer, heart attack, and stroke.
According to the American Lung Association, approximately 3,400 non-smokers die from lung cancer each year from exposure to secondhand smoke.
If you are a current smoker know this, the Izard County Tobacco Prevention Program is on your side. We are not looking down on you, casting you aside or anything of the nature. We are here to help you because we've seen firsthand the results of smoking and want to be there for you!
I know this all comes as a shock to most smokers. We think that it's only our bodies that were harming. I wish that was the case here, because in Arkansas secondhand smoke is the third leading preventable cause of death.
Secondhand smoke...causes 30 times as many lung cancer deaths as all regulated pollutants combined!
Copyright 2009 Izard County Health Coalition. All rights reserved.
Chris Haley/Tobacco Prevention Coordinator
PO Box 370
Melbourne, AR 72556
ph: 870-291-2482
izardtob
