TOBACCO TAX INFO NEWS

Health Agencies launch petition drive for tobacco tax

Smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in California. Smoking causes one of every six deaths in the state, more than 40,000 a year. For every Californian who dies a premature death from smoking, 20 more are suffering from serious smoking-caused disease and disability.

The financial strain smoking places on our health care system, on government, is impeding our ability to address important diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and asthma," said Bob Krans, Chair of the American Heart Association's San Diego office.

"Smoking is one of the primary risk factors for heart disease. Increasing the price of cigarettes is a proven method to reduce smoking rates-It not only discourages people from starting, but also encourage people to quit," Krans explained.

"This is the opportunity to help hundreds of thousands of people quit smoking and to keep over half a million children from ever starting to use tobacco."

Initiative supporters have April to collect the 1 million names needed to put the initiative. For more information and to HELP NOW, call the American Lung Association at 619-683-8657, or the American Cancer Society 619-682-7431

Smokers who would like to talk to a professional counselor can get free counseling

anywhere in the San Diego County just by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

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