NJ Gets Mixed Reviews on Cancer Fighting Policies

Report Ranks State Progress on Tobacco Control, Access to Care and Prevention

Trenton, NJ – August 9, 2012 – New Jersey receives a mixed review for its legislative work to combat cancer, according to a new report by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).  How Do You Measure Up?: A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality evaluates each state’s activity on seven issues crucial to winning the fight against cancer. The report by ACS CAN, the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, finds that New Jersey measured up to benchmarks in four of the seven categories.  

Now in its 10th year, How Do You Measure Up? grades seven key state policy areas nationwide: breast and cervical cancer early detection program funding; colorectal screening coverage laws; smoke-free laws; tobacco prevention program funding; tobacco taxes; state tanning bed bans for minors; and access to palliative care. A color-coded system classifies how well a state is doing. Green shows that a state has adopted well-balanced policies and good practices; yellow indicates moderate movement toward the benchmark and red shows where states are falling short. 

How New Jersey Measures Up:

Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Funding: Green
Colorectal Screening Coverage Laws: Green
Smoke-free Laws: Green
Tobacco Prevention Funding: Red
Tobacco Taxes: Green
State Tanning Bed Bans for Minors: Red
Access to Palliative Care: Yellow

“New Jersey’s biggest shortcoming is its failure to adequately fund anti-tobacco efforts,” said Blair Horner, Vice President for Advocacy, American Cancer Society of NY & NJ.  “The state’s tobacco control program is just a shadow of what it used to be and the effects will be felt in higher smoking rates and more suffering from tobacco-related illnesses.  More funds must be added to this program.”

Also, the American Cancer Society continues to advocate for a ban on indoor tanning for minors under the age of 18 to protect kids from a known carcinogen.  According to the World Health Organization, those who use indoor tanning before the age of 30 increase their risk of melanoma by 30 percent.   

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.  ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard.

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