RIAFP Policy
Brief: 12/15/00
Tobacco Settlement
Money
Advice by a primary
care physician to quit smoking is the single most effective strategy
for smoking cessation.
Even more important
is keeping young people from starting to smoke.
The Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians sees the tobacco "Master
Settlement" as a "golden" opportunity to make Rhode
Island a tobacco free state, to improve the quality of life in Rhode
Island, and reduce the financial cost and human suffering caused by
tobacco.
We believe all
tobacco settlement funds should be used to assist smokers who wish
to quit, for tobacco counter-advertising, and for improving access
to primary health care.
Rhode Island
leads the nation in access to care for all its people. Let us lead
the nation in access to care for a population not crippled by tobacco.
This is one
in a series of reports designed to advance Family Practice and primary
care in Rhode Island's health care system, as well as to discuss public
health issues of importance to all Rhode Islanders.
We welcome
the opportunity to further discuss the issues presented here. We can
be reached by phone at 401-453-4176, or by email at info@riafp.org.
12/15/00
