CDC helps states develop anti-tobacco strategies

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CDC helps states develop anti-tobacco strategies

Posted 8-30-99
By Barbara Tone, RN

Atlanta. States are getting a helping hand in their efforts to combat tobacco use, thanks to a comprehensive set of guidelines released by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The "Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs, August 1999" is part of the CDC's ongoing state-level efforts intended to help develop programs to reduce tobacco use, eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke, and identify disparities related to tobacco use among various population groups.

The recommendations are divided into nine parts:

Community programs aimed at reducing tobacco use
Programs focusing on prevention and early detection of tobacco-related disease
Enforcement of policies that restrict smoking in public places and minors' access to tobacco products
School programs linked to local and statewide efforts that include tobacco-free policies, evidence-based curricula and teacher training, and parent involvement
Statewide programs providing state and regional grants for education and support of organizations that have access to racial, ethnic, and diverse communities
Paid television, radio, billboard, and print advertising to offset pro-tobacco influences
Cessation programs that include coverage of treatment under public and private insurance, medical counseling, pharmacotherapy, and elimination of treatment cost barriers to underserved populations
Evaluation systems to monitor tobacco-related behaviors, attitudes, and health outcomes
Administration and management programs to help coordinate all parts of the program

Similar tobacco control programs in California and Massachusetts have shown substantial benefits. Between 1992 and 1996, following the start of control programs, Massachusetts experienced a 20 percent drop in per capita tobacco use. California showed a 16 percent decline during the same period.

According to the CDC, the average cost to carry out all the recommendations ranges from $7 to $20 per person in small states and $5 to $16 in large states. Also available from the CDC is STATE (State Tobacco Tracking and Evaluation), an electronic data warehouse with state-by-state information on past and present tobacco use issues and control efforts.