Investing in Tobacco-Free Youth
Protect Children, Save Lives, Reduce Healthcare Costs
As of June 30, 2008, funding for tobacco prevention and cessation was devastated: coalitions that are fighting to prevent tobacco use in their communities, in-school prevention programs, cessation programs for smokers who want to quit, free nicotine replacement therapy for those who can’t afford it, youth anti-smoking campaigns like stand, and programs to help minorities and other populations who are targeted by the tobacco industry--their funding is gone.
However, the tobacco industry hasn’t cut their marketing of cheap, candy-flavored tobacco products in Ohio.
But you can do something about it. Send this letter to your legislators letting them know you support funding for tobacco prevention and cessation and also making the tax on all tobacco products the same to reduce the use of non-cigarette forms of tobacco.
Tell me more
Dear [ Decision Maker ],
Research shows that with the shutdown of tobacco prevention and cessation programs, like those cancelled at the end of June in Ohio, smoking rates rise, and people's lives and health are put at risk. Not only that, but healthcare costs associated with smoking also rise affecting every taxpayer.
The impact that will have on our kids is worsened by the rise in the use of non-cigarette tobacco products like cigars, little cigars, and smokeless tobacco in our state. Our children are hit especially hard, and no wonder since these products are available in kid-friendly flavors like grape, cherry, apple, and watermelon, and come in bright-colored packaging.
In addition, some populations are hit harder than others. For example, use of smokeless tobacco is especially high in Appalachian Ohio, and use of little cigars and cigars is very high among African Americans.
These products are cheap because the tax that covers them is less than half the rate of the cigarette tax. The cheap price makes them all the more appealing to kids. Single cigars can sell for as little as 25 cents.
Fortunately there is a solution that will tackle both problems. Please support HB 572 which corrects the inequity between the "other tobacco products" tax, covering non-cigarette forms of tobacco, and the cigarette tax, and uses the revenue generated to fund tobacco prevention and cessation.
This legislation would reduce the total youth users of these products by 25%! And it would provide enough revenue to bring back all of the programs that were cut this summer.
Taxing all tobacco at the same rate just makes sense, and so does saving lives and saving money.
(Edit Letter Below)
Please provide content for your letter
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
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- Governor Ted Strickland (if you live in Ohio)
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