Tobacco Free Alabama
By-Laws
Coalition for a Tobacco Free Alabama By-Laws
Actions of the Coalition
Aided Legislative Implementation of:
* 2004 Excise Tax (first increase in 20 years, that went from 16.5˘ to 42.5˘ per pack).
* 2003 Clean Indoor Air Act.
* Comprehensive Youth Access to Tobacco Law (one of four states that require age 19 to purchase tobacco products).
* Model smoke-free ordinances.
Educational:
* Awarded Environmental Protection Agency grant in 2006 for Smoke-Free Home and Headstart Program.
* Co-Chaired of Alabama Tobacco Use, Prevention and Control Task Force that produced Alabama’s comprehensive plan in 2000.
* Co-sponsored Advocacy Conference in 2004.
* Attended sustaining States Center for Disease Control Conference Attendee in 2004.
* Conducted Advocacy training based on the Mid-West Academy Model in 2004.
* Participated in the “Butt Out Campaign” against teen smoking.
* Conducted Alabama Hispanic Survey in 2006 on Tobacco Beliefs and Awareness.
Ongoing Activities:
* Promote educational public information relations through billboards.
* Exhibitor at community events and health fairs.
* Provide technical assistance on addressing clean air act initiatives.
* Maintain informative Coalition for a Tobacco Free Alabama website tobaccofreealabama.org.
History of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Alabama
The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Alabama was formed in 1986 under the leadership of former State Health Officer, Dr. Ira Myers. The organization has evolved into a partnership of businesses, organizations and individuals, whose goal is to achieve a tobacco-free society.
The Problem
• Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing more than 440,000 deaths each year and resulting in an annual cost of more than $75 billion in direct medical costs.
• Approximately 80% of adult smokers started smoking before the age of 18. Every day, nearly 4,000 young people under the age of 18 try their first cigarette.
• More than 6.4 million children living today will die prematurely because of a decision they will make as adolescents — the decision to smoke cigarettes. (source Center for Disease Control)
The Solution
A comprehensive approach aimed at reducing the number of youth using tobacco products; promotion of successful cessation strategies; and public awareness of the true costs of tobacco use to all Alabamians. Tobacco Free Alabama has developed the following Strategic Priorities to address the tobacco use problem in our state.
• Enhancing communication with the media to publicize the hazards of tobacco use and secondhand smoke and to increase counter tobacco messages for all ages and populations
• Incorporating tobacco-use prevention education and tobacco free campus policies in all Alabama educational institutions
• Promoting state and local tobacco control legislation
• Assuring clean indoor air and reducing youth access to tobacco products
• Increasing the number of tobacco cessation services
• Promoting youth involvement in tobacco use prevention, intervention and cessation efforts
• Building strong local tobacco-free coalitions throughout Alabama
[Last updated: 2008-02-05 17:27:37]
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