Anti-Smoking Campaigns Work

The following is from today's Los Angeles Times:

Smoking among California middle and high school students has reached record low levels, according to a state survey released today, and officials credit the state's 15-year-old tobacco control program.

"California's youth have grown up enjoying the benefits of living in America's smoke-free zone," said Kim Belshé, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. "Today we celebrate 15 years of reducing adult and youth smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke and tobacco-related diseases and deaths."

Proposition 99, the Tobacco Tax and Health Protection Act of 1988, increased the tax on cigarettes by 25 cents a pack. Five cents of that went to programs in schools and local health departments, an anti-tobacco media program and research.

All I have to say is Halleluyah! It is very comforting to think that anti-smoking campaigns actually have an impact on today's youth. I see so many young people smoking everyday -- and I just don't understand it. Its comforting to know that some of this is sinking in. And, health communicators (like I hope to be) have an impact on America's view of disease prevention.