Campaign Unavailable

The annual American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control 2007 report has been released!  This national report card analyzes state tobacco control laws in four key areas—smokefree air, tobacco control program funding, cigarette taxes and youth access to tobacco.  North Carolina scored grades of "F" in smokefree air, "F" in tobacco prevention and control spending, and "C" in youth access to tobacco and an “F” grade for its cigarette tax.

This report should be a wake-up call to the legislature and our governor about the status of tobacco control in North Carolina. While North Carolina has made much progress in smokefree air laws, they are still weak and put lives in danger. Almost 50,000 non-smoking Americans die from secondhand smoke each year. No one in North Carolina should have to breathe toxic secondhand smoke when working in or visiting public places and workplaces.  Now is the time for North Carolina to pass a comprehensive smokefree law that will save lives.

In 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General released a report stating that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. The report also concludes that eliminating smoking in all indoor spaces is the only way to fully protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. The same year, the American Lung Association issued its Smokefree 2010 Challenge, urging all states to pass comprehensive legislation prohibiting smoking in all public places and work places by 2010. Twenty-one states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have now approved comprehensive smokefree legislation.

Please take a moment to send the attached letter to your Representative in support of legislation to protect all workers from secondhand smoke in North Carolina.