New Guidelines Released for Local Tobacco Prevention and Control Programs
07/23/01
WASHINGTON - The National Association of County and City Health
Officials (NACCHO) released today the second edition of the Program
and Funding Guidelines for Comprehensive Local Tobacco Prevention
and Control Programs (Guidelines) at NACCHO's Annua
The Guidelines will assist local public health officials and their
community partners in structuring tobacco control efforts around the
seven components of a local, comprehensive tobacco control program
recommended by NACCHO and CDC. The Guidelines can be used to:
- assist local public health agencies, local boards of health, and
community partners in structuring comprehensive tobacco control
efforts to address community needs;
- develop tobacco control budgets;
- serve as a framework for discussions between local and state
health department officials, community stakeholders, members of
local boards of health, and other state and local elected officials
regarding allocation of Master Settlement Agreement monies to
local tobacco control programs; and
- serve as a framework to engage tobacco control stakeholders in
the community to collaborate to provide comprehensive tobacco use
prevention and control services.
"We hope that the Guidelines will encourage many to seize this
tremendous opportunity and advocate for local resources to reduce
the burden of tobacco on our hometowns and all across America,"
said Michael C. Caldwell, MD, MPH, commissioner of the Dutchess
County Department of Health in New York and NACCHO Board member.
Tobacco-related illness remains the single most preventable cause of
death in America today. Tobacco is also attributed to one out of six
deaths, or 430,000 lives, and costs the U.S. between $50-$73 million
annually. Evidence from successful tobacco control programs in
California, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Florida indicate that the most
successful approaches to reducing tobacco use and exposure to
secondhand smoke include a comprehensive, community-based
program. Local governments have the statutory authority to reduce
tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure as a dominant threat to
the health of their communities-especially among vulnerable populations.
Copies of the Guidelines are available at no cost to tobacco prevention
and control advocates through NACCHO. For more information, please
visit http://www.naccho.org/GENERAL185.cfm.