Ohio’s Road to Tobacco FreedomDecember 2, 2004by Mike Renner

Ohio TUPCF Executive Director

What Tobacco Does to Us

• 440,000 Americans die each year from disease caused by tobacco

• In Ohio, 52 each day• Every pack of cigarettes purchased has an

economic cost of $40.– $33 to the smoker– $5.44 to the smoker’s family– $1.44 to Society (after taxes)

• Ohio health care costs, about $3.4 Billion per year

What’s Deadly?

• Annually, 400,000 tobacco users die

• Annually, 53,000 non tobacco users die from disease caused by second hand smoke

The Tobacco Fight

• With this devastation, Ohio joined about 25 other states in suing the tobacco industry in 1997

• After nearly two years of litigation and one previous unsuccessful settlement attempt, Ohio helped finalize the Master Settlement Agreement at the end of 1998.

Damages

• Like other lawsuits, this one was settled in a manner designed to correct the damage which was the reason for the lawsuit.

• Industry to correct some of its conduct

• Industry to pay damages so Ohio could fix the problems identified in the lawsuit.

• Ohio to receive roughly $400,000,000 per year.

Budget Deficits

• Several years after the MSA, the national economy threw all states into budget deficits

• $350 Million originally scheduled to be used by Ohio for tobacco use reduction, was instead used to close the state budget gap

• Ohio at risk to not clean up the mess that tobacco caused and which the lawsuit fought

Endowment

• Ohio, unlike any other state, used an endowment concept

• Diverted funds didn’t restrict Ohio’s ability to deal with tobacco use, it has restricted the duration of time Ohio will be able to run tobacco reduction programs.

• Unless Ohio resumes investing MSA dollars into tobacco reduction, Ohio programming will cease in 7 to 10 years.

Make a Difference

• For whatever duration the Foundation exists, it will offer Ohioans programs to reduce tobacco use and the severe consequences of it.

Strategy

• Help tobacco users to quit

• Create conditions which protect non tobacco users from deadly effects of Secondhand Smoke.

CessationCessation Efficacy of Current Smokers

31.7% 34.5%

11.7% 13.0%9.1%

0%

20%

40%

60%

Very Likely Somewhatlikely

SomewhatUnlikely

VeryUnlikely

Don't Know

Quit Attempts in Past Year

51.6%

38.9%

9.5%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

No Attempt Unsuccessful Successful

•Two-thirds of Ohio smokers think they would be successful if they decided to quit.•Only one-fifth of Ohioans who tried to quit in the last year were successful.•Quitting is harder than smokers think it will be.•Encouraging: Almost half of the insured smokers in Ohio tried to quit last year.

Cessation

Quit Intentions of Current Smokers

14.9%

34.5%26.5% 24.1%

0%

20%

40%

60%

Plan to Quit inNext 30 Days

ConsideringQuitting in 6

Months

Plan to Quit inFuture (> 6

Months)

Don't Ever Planto Quit

Cessation

• Without help, Cold Turkey success rate is about 4%

• With Quit Line counseling support, success rate is a little more than 29%

• By adding NRT to counseling, can increase the success rate significantly

Ohio Tobacco Quit Line

• 1-800-QUIT NOW

• 5 pro active counseling sessions

• $4.5 Million marketing effort

• Target = 100 intake calls per day

• Non traditional marketing– Events– Health Care Professionals– Employers – NRT

Strategy

• Help tobacco users to quit

• Create conditions which protect non tobacco users from deadly effects of Secondhand Smoke.

Second Hand Smoke

• No debate over health– Even industry and bar owners concede

harmful to health

• Debate over loss of business

• Debate over right to choose conduct

Loss of Business

• Studies across America find no effect

• Toledo study– Compared Toledo after ordinance with

Youngstown at same time frame– Compared Toledo with Toledo’s suburbs– Found no measurable economic stress

differences

Freedom to Choose

The argument: If I own a business and I operate it on property that I own, and if I want to allow smoking on my business premises, and my patrons want it, no meddling, do-gooder, government should have the right to tell me how to run my business. It’s another erosion of basic American freedoms and rights.

Freedom to Choose

• Another instance of government intrusion

• Sign we are headed toward socialism

• Our Founding Fathers would be rolling over in their graves

Constitutional History

• 1789 in Philadelphia– Founding fathers drafted our constitution

• 1789 in Philadelphia– Mayor of Philadelphia eliminated all

commerce with New York City

• Cities have, from the beginning of our Republic, taken action to protect the general health of the community

Hypothetical Bar History

• “If I own the property, I ought to be able to run my business the way I want.”

• Has that been the bar owner’s experience?

Side Effects of Clean Indoor Air Ordinance

• Prevention

• Cessation/relapse

Challenge!

It’s in front of Cleveland now. It’s in front of a number of Cleveland suburbs. The opportunity is now for Cleveland to take a stand. Get involved in the debate!

Amen

Questions?