Tobacco is a big problem in North Dakota. Each year it kills more than 800 people and costs the people of North Dakota more than $247 million in increased health care spending.
Since 2009 we have achieved many positive results that save lives and save money for the people of North Dakota.
As a comprehensive program was put in place, the number of North Dakota school districts that have adopted comprehensive tobacco-free policies increased from 60 to 102.
In addition to K-12 schools, we are also working to promote tobacco-free colleges across North Dakota. Colleges and universities that enforce comprehensive tobacco-free policies increased from five to 12 campuses. These policies are a critical component, which prevent young adults from tobacco use.
And our work is bearing fruit.
According to the 2011 Youth risk behavior Review of North Dakota students, smoking among school children has decreased from 22.4 percent in 2009 to 19.4 percent in 2011. It’s not just smoking that down, either. The survey also reported a reduction in the use of other tobacco products such as chewing tobacco, snuff and fall, from 15.3 percent in 2009 to 13.6 percent in 2011.
The positive effect of our work can be felt all across North Dakota, and not just on school campuses. As an integrated program was launched, five communities were smoking regulations, banning smoking in public places, including bars, bringing the total number of smoke-free for up to seven communities in North Dakota.
There are more communities to the same purpose. “Smoke free” is becoming the norm in business, city, public and university campuses, which are, in fact, helped to reduce tobacco use among adults in North Dakota, with 18.1 percent in 2008 to 17.4 percent in 2010.
We also conducted a successful advertising campaign that educated people from North Dakota to high cost of tobacco, in both deaths and dollars spent.
In addition, the independent evaluation report commended our efforts, as well as the State Department of Health, local public health units and other partners to reduce health and social costs of tobacco use in North Dakota.
Dr. Kyle Muus Center for Rural Health and an author of the report said that our program and staff did a good job in working toward our goal, especially considering how early in the process we are.
We are extremely pleased by the positive results we’ve seen so far, but our work is not done until we help all smokers quit smoking and tobacco use in North Dakota is going to low single digits. Despite the success we have achieved, we still face some serious challenges as we continue to work to save lives and save money in North Dakota.
Although public opinion tells us that the people of North Dakota want and need to be tobacco-free policy, the influence of Big Tobacco is very strong. Every year the tobacco industry spends $ 12.8 billion nationwide marketing of its products. This is more than $ 35 million per day or about $ 25 promotion of tobacco for every $ 1 we spend to combat it.
But the fight against tobacco can win the battle. Science and experience give us proven, cost-effective strategies to prevent children from tobacco and help current users of tobacco smoke and to protect everyone from the harmful effects of passive smoking.
Thanks to the voters of North Dakota is one of two fully-funded tobacco prevention programs in the country. We are dedicated to continuing our efforts to save lives and money by reducing and preventing tobacco use in our sta
