The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: In 2004 the American Heart Association was working with partners in the third year of a campaign to raise North Carolina's cigarette excise tax. Support was increasing, but policy makers were not convinced and there remained a mood that North Carolina was THE tobacco state. The coalition decided to reach out to NC faith leaders for their support and assistance with the campaign. Past history in other states showed that the faith community could bring influence to the grassroots and legislators on the tobacco issue. The groups had previously partnered on the FDA regulation of tobacco products. Vinnie DeMarco and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids were consulted to help with additional faith leader contacts.

Methods: Engagement of the faith community began with a face-to-face meeting between faith leaders and key partners. Having obtained their support, the next step was to engage them in the tax campaign. The faith community assisted with logistics for the Alliance Advocacy day securing the meeting location for volunteers. They wrote an op-ed for key newspapers, sent letters to members of the General Assembly urging support and became the focus of a successful press conference which featured the faith leaders speaking in support of raising the cigarette tax.

Results: The press conference featuring faith leaders resulted in 17 media outlets attending the event. Members of the faith community were quoted throughout the state. The cigarette tax was successfully increased to 35-cents per pack. A lasting relationship was built between the faith community, the AHA and the NC Alliance for Health.