National Tobacco Control Programs in Action

Each year, about 41,000 Americans die from secondhand smoke exposure. The home is the primary source of secondhand smoke exposure for children. Secondhand smoke exposure causes ear infections, respiratory infections, more frequent and severe asthma, and sudden infant death syndrome among children. Alabama’s tobacco prevention and control staff, who are supported with CDC funding, are doing their part to protect Alabama residents in public housing from the risks of secondhand smoke exposure in their homes.

Tobacco use has declined in Indiana in recent years, and 22 cities and counties have protected their residents from secondhand smoke by adopting comprehensive smoke-free policies. However, a majority of Indiana residents still are not covered by comprehensive smoke-free policies, encountering secondhand smoke in public places and their workplaces. Indiana’s tobacco control program—supported by CDC funding—has put in place a number of strategies to educate citizens and decision makers about the problem, reduce secondhand smoke exposure, and support people who want to quit using tobacco.

Each year, tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure kills more than 8,800 Kentuckians and costs more than $1.2 billion in Medicaid and Medicare treatment costs. Kentucky’s tobacco control program, which is supported with CDC funding, built strategic partnerships to help ensure that all Kentuckians have access to counseling and FDA-approved medications to help them quit using tobacco products.

In Nebraska, 2,500 adults die from smoking-related illnesses each year, and nearly 18,000 children are exposed to secondhand smoke at home. People living in multiunit housing are particularly susceptible to unwanted secondhand smoke exposure, which can transfer between apartments. Nebraska’s tobacco prevention and control staff are supported with CDC funding. They prepared toolkits and trained housing managers, and used CDC’s scientific data, educational resources, and media tools to reach public housing managers and residents.

Despite significant reductions in tobacco use over the last 15 years, 28,200 New York state residents die from tobacco-related illnesses each year. New York’s tobacco control program understands the importance of using data to motivate community partners and guide decision-making. The program—supported with CDC funding—shared national, state, and local data with communities and educated them about strategies known to reduce tobacco use.

Cigarette smoking causes about 480,000 deaths every year. West Virginia has the highest percentage of adult cigarette smokers in the United States. In 2016, the West Virginia Division of Tobacco Prevention, with funding and technical support from CDC, created a pilot program for pharmacists in rural counties to counsel people. This partnership helped people quit smoking.