Tobacco Control Program

The Tobacco Control Program  (TCP) plans and implements its activities towards its four major goals which are: 

• Preventing the initiation of tobacco use among young people
• Promoting quitting among young people and adults
• Eliminating nonsmokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke
• Identifying and eliminating the disparities related to tobacco use and its effects among different population groups

Tobacco control activities contribute to reaching the goals of Healthy People 2010.  The Tobacco Control Program plan is based on recommendations and Best Practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The program plan has multiple components that include:

• Policy initiatives such as cigarette tax increases, passage of the Public Health and Workplace Safety Act of 2004, regulations of tobacco use and prevention on school property and youth access to tobacco;
• Media advocacy on education and awareness of the Public Health and Workplace Safety Act, youth tobacco use prevention, promotion of cessation and treatment services and elimination of health disparities.
• Direct services include free tobacco cessation services to help smokers quit tobacco use.

The CDC has recommended funding levels between $10 and $22 million to conduct an effective program. Currently the Rhode Island Tobacco Control Program is funded below the $10 million minimum level.

The Toll of Tobacco
Tobacco is the deadliest consumer product, illegal drugs included and is the only product that, when used as directed, kills. Yet, tobacco is less regulated than a child’s teddy bear. Smoking kills more people than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide and illegal drugs combined. It causes about 440,000 annual deaths, or nearly 1 of every 5 deaths, each year in the United States.

Health Effects of Tobacco
Cigarette smoking causes about 90% of lung cancer deaths, and at least 30% of all cancer deaths. Smokers are 2-4 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than nonsmokers. Smoking approximately doubles a person’s risk for stroke and has many adverse reproductive and early childhood effects, including an increased risk for infertility, preterm delivery, stillbirth, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). *

The Toll of Tobacco in Rhode Island **

• Tobacco-related diseases kill about 1,700 Rhode Islanders every year
• 19.8% or 164,500 adults smoke
• 15.9% or 9,300 Rhode Island high school students smoke
• 1,400 kids become new daily smokers each year
• 23,000 kids now under the age of 18 and alive in Rhode Island will ultimately die prematurely from smoking
• Secondhand smoke kills about 130 to 230 Rhode Islanders every year
• 53,000 kids are exposed to secondhand smoke at home
• Tobacco-related medical costs in Rhode Island exceed $506 Million annually
• Smoking-caused productivity losses in Rhode Island is $364 million per year
• The tobacco industry spends an estimated $54.8 million dollars each year marketing tobacco products to Rhode Islanders (15.4 billion is spent nationwide)

* Accessed January 2007: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/factsheets/HealthEffectsofCigaretteSmoking_Factsheet.htm

**Accessed January 2007: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/settlements/toll.php?StateID=RI

Additional Information for Rhode Island:

State Cancer Burden Data for Rhode Island: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides State Cancer Burden Data including National versus Rhode Island Data in terms of new cancer (lung, colorectal, breast and prostate) cases death rates by race. 

The State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation (STATE) System is an electronic data warehouse containing up-to-date and historical state-level data on tobacco use prevention and control. The main topic areas presently being offered are Behaviors, Demographics, Economics, Environment, Funding, Health Consequences and Costs, and Legislation.

American Lung Association’s State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI) for Rhode Island.  SLATI is an extensively researched and invaluable source of information on tobacco control laws and policy, and is the only publication of its kind in the area of tobacco control today.

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts: Source of state health data: Rhode Island and Smoking

Tobacco Control Spending for the State of Rhode Island includes CDC Recommended Minimum Spending on Tobacco Prevention and Actual Spending on Tobacco Prevention

History of U.S. State Spending for Tobacco Prevention from 2002 – 2007

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/settlements/2007/history.pdf

The Toll of Tobacco in the United States includes prevalence rates for adults and children, number of tobacco related deaths, tobacco-related costs, and tobacco industry influences.

Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs Saves Money & Lives Including Immediate and Future Savings!

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0168.pdf

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0045.pdf

The American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control 2005 report grades federal and state tobacco control laws and regulations enacted as of December 31, 2005. The federal section of the report addresses and grades tobacco control laws regarding cigarette taxes, lack of regulation of tobacco products by the Food and Drug Administration, cessation and the international tobacco control treaty - the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The state tobacco control law section focuses on tobacco prevention and control spending, smokefree air, cigarette taxes and youth access to tobacco products.

The American Lung Association's 2005 Report Card for the State of Rhode Island
Rhode Island “Behind the Scenes” highlights how the American Lung Association works with our local partners and assists with tobacco control efforts and current tobacco control issues in RI: http://lungaction.org/reports/state-narrative05.tcl?geo_area_id=44

Tobacco Publications

• Tobacco Use and Health Risks Among Rhode Island Adults in 2006
• Tobacco Use and Health Risks Among Rhode Island Adults in 2004
• How to Get Hispanic/Latinos to Call a Quitline
• Ya No Fumo - A Community-based Tobacco Cessation Program: Lessons Learned August 2004
• Decreasing Youth Initiation of Smoking: Overview and Scientific Evidence July 2004
• Increasing Smoking Cessation: Overview and Scientific Evidence July 2004
• Secondhand Smoke: Overview and Scientific Evidence July 2004
• Tobacco and Health Disparities: Overview and Scientific Evidence July 2004
• Tobacco Control Electronic Newsletter: http://tcpnewsletter.com/
• Smokefree Zone

June 2004
September 2004
October 2004
November 2004
December 2004

• Tobacco Use in Rhode Island: Addressing Disparities Among Adult Current Smokers March 2003
• Diabetes and Smoking: Why Take the Risk? 2002
• Helping Rhode Islanders to Quit 2001
• Divergences in Smoking Patterns among Younger and Older Rhode Islanders, 1988 and 1998 November 1999
• Tobacco control programs prevent children from smoking and help smokers quit! March 1999
• Tobacco Use Prevention in Pediatric Primary Care Settings 1998
• Stop Selling Tobacco to Children! 1996
• The Tobacco Vending Machine: An Idea Whose Time Has Passed 1995

Rhode Island currently has the 2nd highest cigarette excise tax in the nation ($2.46 per pack)

Rhode Island is the seventh state in the nation to have smoke-free work and public place law.