Massachusetts tobacco control efforts needs your help. It is critical that Massachusetts invest tobacco settlement dollars to prevent our children from becoming addicted to tobacco and help adult smokers kick the habit. This is a sound investment that will save lives and reduce our states health care costs.

The evidence that these programs work is clear: Massachusetts needs continued political will. Three reports were issued last year, all of which recognized the need for Massachusetts to fully fund a tobacco prevention and control program. In October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs, 2007, affirming that investments in tobacco prevention programs save lives and money. Also in 2007, the prestigious Institute of Medicine and the Presidents Cancer Panel both issued independent reports which concluded that tobacco prevention and cessation programs are effective and essential components of a national strategy to reduce tobacco use.

Please support all efforts to help smokers quit and keep kids from starting:

--Fund Massachusetts tobacco prevention and treatment program
--Support policies that limit exposure to secondhand smoke
--Keep cigarette prices high to discourage demand; and
--Assure that youth access to tobacco products is restricted