News

Haws: Tobacco use declines in Lincoln County

Tuesday, December 31, 2013
North Platte Telegraph

On Jan. 1, 1964, a headline in the Washington Post read: “Cigarette smoking in U.S. hits record.”

The story reported the year-end data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on tobacco use.

“Despite higher prices and the so-called cancer scare, Americans smoked more cigarettes in 1963 that ever before in history — 523 billion,” the story read.

Just 14 days later, the so-called cancer scare became cancer facts when U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Luther Terry issued the first-ever report on smoking and health from the Surgeon General’s Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health.

“The anniversary of the first report really brings to mind that we have made a lot of progress when it comes to understanding the harmful effects of tobacco and the recognition that it continues to be an important health issue in our country,” said Community Connections Tobacco Free Lincoln County coordinator George Haws. “It continues to be the greatest cause of preventable death in the United States.”

The 1964 report was the first to definitely link smoking with lung cancer and heart disease. Since then, the number of smokers in the country has been reduced by half.

“Smoking has declined dramatically, especially since the first report came out,” Haws said. “Here in Lincoln County, there has been general decline in tobacco use. While there have been bumps and valleys, the trend has been less use of tobacco, but tobacco use is still at a rate that is of concern.”

The Tobacco Free Coalition will mark the anniversary by continuing to encourage people to have smoke-free homes and vehicles and by working to reduce tobacco use by young people.

“We are always looking at the situation around us trying to find the best ways to address these important issues,” Haws said. “Tying into the anniversary is another way to promote awareness. We will continue to work to address secondhand smoke and work with youth to prevent them from using tobacco.”

The decrease in tobacco use is related to a number of factors and prevention programs, especially since 1998 when the tobacco master settlement was signed. Tobacco companies are required to give money to the states to address the effects tobacco has had in our country, he said.

Haws cited a study from Washington State that showed during the first 10 years of its tobacco prevention program, the state saved more than $5 in tobacco-related hospital costs for every $1 spent on prevention.

Haws works with Community Connections Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and with local schools to get the anti-tobacco message out.

“We coordinate with schools and take advantage of programs like Red Ribbon Week,” he said. “We work with counselors to help get our message across. We try to involve the students themselves in our program.”

In January 2014, the Surgeon General will release the 50th anniversary Surgeon General’s Report on smoking and health. The report will highlight 50 years of progress in tobacco control and prevention, present new data on the health consequences of use and detail initiatives that can end the tobacco use epidemic in the U.S.

http://www.nptelegraph.com/news/haws-tobacco-use-declines-in-lincoln-county/article_f2b575e3-7a10-515a-a847-7fd181ae8b33.html?mode=story

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