The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

It has been 18 years since California voters approved the landmark California Tobacco Tax and Health Protection Act in November 1988, which made California the first state to implement a comprehensive, sustainable tobacco control program. The primary goal of the California Tobacco Control Program (CTCP) is to prevent tobacco-related disease and death in California by reducing tobacco use across the state. The CTCP uses a comprehensive approach that strives to change the broad social norms around the use of tobacco by "indirectly influencing current and potential future tobacco users by creating a social milieu and legal climate in which tobacco becomes less desirable, less acceptable, and less accessible." California's strategy focuses on four broad priority areas for use both in program planning and funding decisions: reducing exposure to secondhand smoke; revealing and countering tobacco industry influence; reducing the availability of tobacco products; and providing cessation services. The combined efforts of 61 local health departments, approximately 50 to 100 community-based organizations including seven priority population partnerships, a statewide media campaign, a tobacco cessation helpline, and other statewide technical support systems, have helped the program achieve significant progress toward a tobacco free California. Hundreds of trained and experienced public health workers, and thousands of adult and youth volunteers have contributed to this effort. More than anything else, the California experience shows that it is difficult but not impossible to succeed against a force as rich and powerful as the tobacco industry.