Restore state’s anti-smoking program to save lives
Restore state’s anti-smoking program to save lives
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
In Florida, nearly 29,000 deaths are attributable annually to tobacco use. More than 35,900 children under the age of 18 adopt a daily smoking habit each year, and about one third of those eventually will lose their lives to this addiction.
In November, voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 4 - a citizen initiative that requires the Legislature to once again annually pay for a comprehensive, statewide tobacco education and prevention program.
Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Port St. Lucie, chairwoman of the House Committee on Health Quality, demonstrated great leadership by allowing health groups and concerned citizens unprecedented access to participate in the implementation of this citizen initiative. The result is an implementing bill voters can be confident will carry out their will to protect young people from the dangers of tobacco addiction.
In February, Sen. Durell Peaden, R-Crestview, a doctor and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Appropriations, addressed a crowd of American Cancer Society volunteers about their No. 1 legislative priority - the implementation of Amendment 4. Sen. Peaden said, “This is probably the most important project and the most important issue we’ll address this year.” And he’s right.
On Thursday, both chambers passed their respective bills appropriating full financing for the state’s tobacco education and prevention program. The House bill features a strong accountability component while the Senate version would reinstate a strong enforcement component, which was a part of the original program. While there is still work to be done to roll the best of both bills into one final product, Rep. Harrell and Sen. Peaden should be commended.
Florida’s youth tobacco prevention program was a model for the nation. Now, it can be again.
It is estimated that 296,900 kids under the age of 18 living in Florida today will die prematurely from smoking.
Restoring funding for youth tobacco education will save lives. What could be more important than that?
JOHN CHAPERON, Chairman
Floridians for Youth Tobacco Education
Tampa
Source: Palm Beach Post
