The Problem• Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of health

problems and health care costs

• The Tobacco Industry continues to aggressively market and promote their products and oppose real policy change

• States have not addressed the problem adequately despite the opportunity provided by the MSA

The Solution• Tobacco prevention and cessation programs work to

prevent kids from starting to smoke and help all smokers quit – lots of evidence that programs work

The Case for Tobacco Control

At the local level you can: • Put a face on the problem and on the program

• Reach people where they live, work, play and worship

• Be THE voice for the tobacco control program in your community

Sustainability requires ongoing program promotion:• You must constantly educate your communities about your work and its

results – Make it Real!• You need to help the media, the public, and policymakers understand

what you bring to your community, whom you’ve helped, lives you’ve saved, and the money you’ve saved

• Bread and butter sustainability activities: media advocacy, communication with elected representatives and continuous communication and coordination with partners

Sustaining the Tobacco Control Program The Local Level is Crucial

Work With Local Advocates

• Health departments (HD) and advocates can accomplish more by working together

• Meet regularly to share information and strategize - overcome obstacles by focusing and building on strengths different players bring to table

• HD Can Provide Advocates with Important Information– what the program is doing– what results it is achieving– what this means in dollars and lives saved– Advocates can HELP TELL THE STORY IN WAYS PGM STAFF

CAN’T

• HD can provide advocates with access to people working in local communities who can be powerful voices for the program and other tobacco control issues

Working Locally, We Can Bring About...

• Successful prevention and cessation programs

• Policy Change

• Exposure of Tobacco Industry Behavior

= HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES