Rather than send monthly e-mail newsletters, the Tobacco Public Policy Center will be sending updates when there is important news to report. In the meantime, please visit our website regularly for the latest tobacco policy news.

This update is to let you know about an important new study released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) entitled Ending the Tobacco Problem: A Blueprint for the Nation. The Institute of Medicine is part of the National Academy of Sciences, chartered by Congress to provide unbiased, evidence-based information on health-related issues.

The report emphasizes that there is now a strong evidence base establishing the efficacy of many tobacco policy interventions. Future progress now depends on political will, adequate funding, and creative responses to new tobacco industry strategies. Maintaining momentum, even after the successful Smoke-Free Ohio campaign, is crucial. As the report says, “[a]ny slackening of the public health response not only will reduce forward progress but may lead to backsliding.”

The report provides strong support for many of the tobacco control efforts already underway in Ohio and many of the initiatives that the Tobacco Public Policy Center has been pursuing. For example:

Tobacco Control Funding

“Recommendation 1: Each state should fund state tobacco control activities at the level recommended by the CDC….”

For Ohio, this would mean a minimum funding level of $61.7 million/year.

Cigarette Taxes

“Recommendation 2: States with excise rates below the level imposed by the top quintile of states should substantially increase their own rates to reduce consumption and to reduce smuggling and tax evasion. State excise tax rates should be indexed to inflation.”

The top quintile of states have cigarette taxes of $1.70/pack or higher. Ohio’s current cigarette tax is $1.25/pack.

Smoke-Free Housing

“Recommendation 7: …States should…encourage the owners of multiunit apartment buildings and condominium developers to include nonsmoking clauses in [their] leases and sales agreements and to enforce them.”

For more information about smoke-free housing, visit www.ohiosmokefreehousing.com.

Importance of Community Coalitions

“Recommendation 21: While sustaining their own valuable tobacco control activities, state tobacco control programs, CDC, philanthropic foundations, and voluntary organizations should continue to support the efforts of community coalitions promoting, disseminating, and advocating for tobacco use prevention and cessation, smoke-free environments, and other policies and programs for reducing tobacco use.”

The IOM report is an important tool for tobacco control advocates in Ohio, and it reinforces the need for effective policy change that will reduce tobacco use in our state. The full report can be downloaded or ordered (for a fee) here. For any questions about the IOM report, please contact us at tobacco@law.capital.edu.