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      The National American Lung Association has released its State of Tobacco Control Report which grades all 50 states in four areas of Tobacco Control; smoke-free air, tobacco program funding, cigarette excise taxes and youth access to tobacco. But Alaska's F, D, C and B in these categories don't worry the American Lung Association of Alaska's Chief Executive Officer, Christie Garbe. "Our national office sets a high, but necessary, bar for these grades because only the toughest laws will help us achieve our mission to prevent lung disease and promote lung health.  And even though these grades may not seem stellar, the truth is, Alaska is making significant progress in tobacco control, we just have to keep it up."

      In December, Governor Murkowski released the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey which shows smoking among Alaskan High School students has been cut in half since 1995. According to the survey, only 19 percent of the state's high school students say they have smoked at least one cigarette in the past month, down from 37 percent in 1995. Frequent smoking, in which students report using cigarettes on at least 20 days in the previous month fell from 21 percent in 1995 to just 8 percent. Just 56 percent of high school youth say they have even taken a single puff on a cigarette, down from 72 percent in 1995. 

      Please take a moment to send the attached letter to your State Senator, Representative and Governor Murkowski, to support continued funding for Alaska's comprehensive tobacco control programs. 

Thank you as always for your help!

Christie Garbe

Chief Executive Officer