U.S. Surgeon General Promotes Tobacco Control in North Carolina

Dr. Regina Benjamin, the 18th Surgeon General of the United States and "America's doctor", participated in a multi-day conference for state health directors in North Carolina. At the forefront of discussions was the promotion of the National Prevention Strategy, called for under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and created to move the nation from a country focused on sickness and disease to a country focused on prevention and wellness.

North Carolina's success in implementing evidence-based tobacco use prevention programs was also highlighted by Dr. Benjamin during a statewide teleconference with health advocates.

"There is no greater health danger in the United States than tobacco use and obesity," said Dr. Benjamin. "We must move healthcare from a system based on disease to one based on wellness and prevention."

In fact, North Carolina is at risk for losing ground on the great progress the state has made in tobacco control. With the elimination of the state's tobacco control program in 2011, the Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF), and non-recurring funds allocated for the 2012 year, it is unclear what the state of tobacco control funding will be in the near future.

Dr. Benjamin echoed the same message of the American Lung Association and members of the N.C. Alliance for Health, public health advocates must continue to fight for evidence-based tobacco control programs for the state.

Click here to send a message about this important issue to your members of the North Carolina General Assembly.

Surgeon General Benjamin also announced her next report that will focus on how smoking and tobacco use impacts children and youth. The report will be released March 2012.