July 28, 2006
For Immediate Release: Contact Lee Rutledge-Falcione,
(724) 222-6511, Ext. 16
Efforts to Prevent Youth Access to Tobacco
Remains Consistent in Washington County
The Tobacco Free Program of Washington
County Health Partners recently concluded another fiscal
year of Enforcement Compliance Checks (ECC).
Conducted at all of the county’s tobacco retailers,
ECC enforces Act 112 of 2002, which makes it illegal for
a retailer to sell tobacco products to anyone younger than
18 years of age.
Any retailer and or retail clerk caught selling tobacco
products to minors faces a citation and fine.
Act 112 also requires tobacco products to be located within
the line of sight or under the control of cashier or other
employee.
The Tobacco Free Program of Washington County Health Partners,
as a primary contractor for the Pennsylvania Department
of Health (PA DOH), coordinates ECC activity in the county.
The PA DOH requires a minimum ECC rate of 90%. Since the
checks began in Washington County in 2002, the annual average
compliance rates have been as follows:
• 2002-2003 Fiscal Year-89.3%
• 2003-2004 Fiscal Year-95.1%
• 2004-2005 Fiscal Year-94.6%
• 2005-2006 Fiscal Year-94.1%
(Link
to list of all compliant retailers by municipality.)
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more
than one-third of all youth who ever try cigarettes become
regular, daily smokers before leaving high school, and nearly
300,000 Pennsylvania kids under the age of 18 will die prematurely
from smoking.
Overall, more than 23,000 Pennsylvanians die annually from
tobacco-related causes. The burden of tobacco use on health
care in the Commonwealth costs $4.7 billion per year, with
$1.5 billion being absorbed by Medicaid.
Tobacco Free Program
Washington County
Health Partners, Inc. (WCHP) was named by the Pennsylvania
Department of Health as the primary contractor to continue
to establish community-based, comprehensive tobacco use
prevention and cessation programs for Washington County
between May 2005 and June 2007. The Tobacco Free Program
has carefully addressed each of the contract deliverables
through 7 program areas:
¨
Ask and Advise
helps health care professionals to identify and help Tobacco
Users to quit.
¨
Clear the Air
increases the number of smoke-free environments.
¨
Do Your Part
supports local law enforcement and the business community
in prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors.
¨
Help to Quit
promotes local, phone, and internet-based tobacco cessation
programs.
¨
Knowledge in Action facilitates the exchange of tobacco control-related information between
experts, advocates, and lawmakers.
¨
Set Them Free
works with school-related audiences to implement tobacco-free
programs.
¨
Peer Factor
(BUSTED!)
creates an active youth movement that participates in one
or more of the Peer Factor challenges: to expose the truth
about manipulative and deceptive marketing practices used
to target teens, quit or help others quit using tobacco,
and/or work to increase tobacco-free environments.
For
more information, contact the Tobacco
Free Program at:
724-222-6511, toll free 1-866-904-FREE (3733), or info@tobaccofreewashington.org.
Washington
County Health Partners, Inc.
Incorporated in 2000, Washington County Health Partners,
Inc. (WCHP) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to
the enhancement of the health and well-being of Washington County
residents. Recognized
as a State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) Community Health
Partnership by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, WCHP
performs periodic community health assessments to identify
county health issues.
WCHP
provides a forum through its volunteer-led, collaborative
task forces for health and human service agencies, businesses,
local government, schools and colleges, the faith community,
civic organizations, community volunteers, and law enforcement
to combine expertise and resources to address health issues,
including access to health insurance, community wellness,
minority health, nutrition, respiratory health, teen wellness,
and tobacco free initiatives.
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