How You Can Help Hold Big Tobacco Accountable
Nearly 20 years ago, a U.S. Federal District judge found that the major cigarette manufacturers violated civil racketeering laws for deliberately defrauding the public.
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Cancer survivors and patients applaud historic efforts to protect youth from tobacco addiction
March 16, 2016
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, calls on Oregon’s lawmakers to join a growing national movement to protect kids from deadly tobacco addiction by raising the state’s age of sale for tobacco to 21. This policy has been passed by more than 110 cities nationwide, including Boston, New York City, San Francisco and Chicago, and the state of Hawaii. A bill to raise the age of tobacco sale to 21 statewide in California is on its way to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk.
It’s estimated that 2,600 Oregon kids will become new daily smokers each year – or seven kids every day. If current smoking rates do not decline, 68,000 Oregon kids alive today will die prematurely from tobacco-related illnesses. Raising the age of sale is expected to have the biggest effect on young teens age 15-17, where the Institute of Medicine projects raising the national sale age to 21 will reduce the number of youth who start smoking by 25 percent.
“National data indicate that 95 percent of adult smokers begin smoking before age 21,” said ACS CAN Oregon Government Relations Director Luis Rodriguez. “Raising the age of tobacco sales will greatly reduce the number of kids who start smoking. Younger teens often access tobacco products from 18 year-old peers, so raising the age of sale to 21 will help address this peer-to-peer source of tobacco for kids.”
ACS CAN and its Tobacco 21 for Oregon coalition partners launched their statewide campaign during the 2016 legislative session. So far, 23 organizations have signed on in support. The coalition is ramping up efforts across the state this spring, which will include petition blitzes and community events to gain support for legislation in 2017. In all, the coalition hopes to sign on 50 organizations and secure 5,000 petition signatures this year.
“ACS CAN Oregon applauds the city of Chicago for becoming the newest city to take a historic step toward a tobacco-free generation today, and we’re excited that California’s tobacco 21 bill is heading to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk,” said Rodriguez. “Now it’s Oregon’s turn to snuff Big Tobacco’s efforts to hook future generations on this deadly addiction.”
Increasing the age of sale for tobacco products to 21 is an important step in strengthening Oregon’s tobacco laws and dramatically improving public health. To fully combat tobacco, this policy needs to be part of comprehensive tobacco-control efforts that include substantial, regular tobacco tax increases and fully funded tobacco prevention and cessation programs—two areas where Oregon trails other states.
Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in Oregon, and the stark fact is that one-third of cancer deaths are attributed to tobacco. Learn more about ACS CAN’s efforts to protect Oregon kids from tobacco at www.fightcancer.org/or.
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