Florida tobacco expert criticizes youth smoking plan

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A former leader of the Florida youth smoking prevention program is critical of the proposed Oklahoma plan. <br><br>Charles Wolfe is now chief operating officer of the American Legacy

Tuesday, May 23rd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A former leader of the Florida youth smoking prevention program is critical of the proposed Oklahoma plan.

Charles Wolfe is now chief operating officer of the American Legacy Foundation. Wolfe says the Youth Tobacco Prevention Act in Oklahoma falls short of the highly successful Florida prevention program it is modeled after.

The Florida program is credited with causing a 54 percent decline in smoking among middle school students and a 24 percent drop in tobacco use among high school students in the past two years.

Two members of the 17-member advisory commission for the Oklahoma plan would be youths. But Wolfe says young people have a much greater involvement in decisions about Florida's anti-tobacco program. He also says the plan needs more emphasis on minorities.