Tobacco control professionals from across the state will gather for the official launch of the newly formed ADEPT (Advocacy and Data dissemination to achieve Equity for Priority populations Tobacco) Project on August 3, 2011 in Long Beach, California. California’s recent smoking prevalence data on reports that adult smoking rates are at an all time low of 11.9%, second only to Utah. However, with smoking prevalence for African American males at over 18% and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young adults at 43%, there are many other California populations that have not shared in the gains reaped from the passage of Proposition 99. Approved by California voters in 1988, Proposition 99 added a 25-cents tax to every pckage of cigarettes sold in the state of California of which 5-cents was used to fund California’s comprehensive tobacco control movement.
“It has been over 20 years since Prop 99 passed, and the diminishing reach and power of that 5-cents has meant a drastic reduction in programs and services that benefit our communitiies”, stated Carol McGruder, Co-Chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council.
Download the full press release. >>Read more
CONTACT:
Rod Lew, Executive Director, APPEAL
Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership
510-318-7814 or rodlew@appealforhealth.org
Carol McGruder, Co-Chair, AATCLC
510-508-7264 or cmcgruder@usa.net
