The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: The statewide tobacco control advocacy coalition realized that in order to create major policy changes sought in the state, strong partnerships would need to exist between the coalition, State Health Dept., and major medical organizations. The goal was to forge a united front against powerful tobacco lobbyists and leverage very limited resources. Since there are 23 sovereign tribal nations in NM, it was also essential to build relationships of trust between the coalition and tribal leaders to minimize conflicts in passing State legislation.

Methods: Leaders of identified key stakeholders meet frequently to plan prevention and policy campaigns. A tribal advisory group was formed by NMCAT in 2002, and funding was obtained to launch a tribal tobacco health education project targeting tribal government leaders and health professionals. Research, data collection, training, grassroots efforts, media, and funding efforts have all been carefully coordinated. Regular communication is a top priority.

Results: This intentional partnership building has made it possible to prioritize limited funds, recruit and mobilize a broader group of advocates, enhance credibility and influence with decision makers and the public, and develop policies more quickly that are responsive to the needs of New Mexicans. Since 2003, tobacco program funding has increased, the State passed a 70-cent/pack tax increase, clean indoor air ordinances have passed that cover over 42% of the population, and commercial tobacco is on the radar screen for tribal communities as a major health issue.