Partners for Tobacco Control Sustainability

Group Chair

Karyn Madore, Community Health Institute

About the Partners for Tobacco Control Sustainability

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in New Hampshire. Because of this, the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Project identified it as one of our three priority areas. Every year in New Hampshire, smoking is responsible for an estimated $608 million in healthcare costs and $405 million in lost worker productivity. The state of New Hampshire has not allocated funding to any smoking prevention programs since 2003, while the tobacco industry has spent an estimated $141.7 million on marketing in New Hampshire every year.

The workgroup met through the summer and fall of 2007 to develop legislative priorities for 2008 and 2009.  We also identified long-term projects. This is outlined in our tobacco plan of action document.  Throughout our meetings in 2008 it became clear that tobacco advocates needed to coordinate their efforts.  The American Cancer Society led an effort which resulted in the Coalition for Tobacco Free NH.  For information on their activities please contact Derek Durbin, Tobacco Free NH Director  ddurbin@lungnh.org  (603)-770-3315 

In the fall of 2008, the state Tobacco Prevention and Control Program along with the Citizens Health Initiative secured a technical assistance grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  This resulted in a CDC facilitated planning process on sustaining tobacco programming in New Hampshire.  Through 2010, the Partners for Tobacco Control Sustainability will build on the CDC process.  Meeting dates are posted on the Citizens Health Initiative home page. 

For more information on the Partners for Tobacco Control Sustainability contact Laura Davie at Laura.davie@unh.edu.