Ambitious Goal Set To Reduce Tobacco Use In OK

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- State officials are asking Oklahomans to join them in an ambitious goal to reduce tobacco use rates in Oklahoma to below the national average by 2012.

Achieving that goal would result in 200,000 fewer adult andyouth tobacco users in the state.

The plan urges Oklahomans to make their homes and vehicles smoke-free and support policies to promote smoking cessation.

It was announced Tuesday by the Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Advisory Committee. State Health Commissioner Terry Cline is chairman of the panel.

Tobacco use is a major risk factor in diseases that claim the lives of more than 5,800 Oklahomans each year.

A federal study released earlier this year ranked Oklahoma as having the fifth-highest death rate from smoking among the 50 states.