Arizona Shows More Than a 20% Drop in Smoking Rates

170,000 Arizonans quit smoking since 2007

PHOENIX, May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- New information from the Behavioral Risk
Factor Surveillance System 2008, shows that the rate of smoking among adults
in Arizona has dropped significantly -- more than four percentage points
representing a 20.7 percent decrease in prevalence equating to 170,000
Arizonans who quit smoking since 2007. The rate of smoking in one year dropped
from 19.8 percent to 15.7 percent.

Bill Pfeifer, TRUST Commission Chairman said, "This is a historic drop in
smoking prevalence for Arizona."

This decrease, the single largest decline in tobacco use in any state in the
U.S. during the past year, moves Arizona from ranking 26th in the nation for
smoking prevalence to 7th.

"This is a jump in the ranking of Arizona; and that says great things about
the leadership of our state for tobacco control," said Wayne Tormala, Bureau
Chief for the Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Tobacco and
Chronic Disease (ADHS BTCD). "But what this also means is that more Arizonans
are making the choice to positively impact their own health, the health of our
state, their personal budgets, and our Arizona economy."

"Healthcare costs for smoking related illnesses cost Arizona$3.6 million a
day," Tormala added.

"Our state is progressive in tobacco control," Pfeifer said. "The TRUST
Commission has worked closely with the American Heart Association, the
American Lung Association, and the American Cancer Society locally to
spearhead tobacco control efforts in our state." The Commission works closely
with ADHS BTCD, all 15 counties statewide, community partners statewide and
other tobacco control organizations like Arizonans Concerned About Smoking and
the Coalition for Tobacco Free Arizona.

"Truly it is because of partnership and collaboration statewide that we have
been successful in moving the bar," Tormala added. Tormala leads the ADHS
BTCD which is responsible for coordinating much of the community-based,
grass-roots efforts around the state; works to educate Arizona youth about
tobacco prevention; and partners with Arizona Smoker's Helpline (ASHLine) to
provide free tobacco quitting services to all Arizonans.

Since the end of 2006 many changes have occurred in Arizona that could be part
of the reason for the steep decrease. For example:
-- The TRUST Commission worked with American Cancer Society, American
Heart
Association and American Lung Associations' and other organizations
statewide to raise the tax on tobacco by two cents and pass the
Smokefree Arizona Law.
-- Smokefree Arizona, the law that eliminates smoking in most indoor
businesses went into effect in the beginning of 2007. ADHS' Bureau
of Environmental Health has worked with all 15 counties statewide to
enforce the smoking ban.
-- ADHS BTCD worked closely with the Health Officers from all 15 counties
statewide to develop its new strategic direction, engaging people
locally on the topic of tobacco control during more than 30 public
meetings statewide.
-- In early 2008, the strategic plan was implemented and County tobacco
control program teams began engaging in community development and
outreach activities around tobacco control statewide.
-- ADHS BTCD did a media campaign including paid advertising featuring
Nick, an "everyday" person who was quitting smoking utilizing
the state's free quit assistance program - ASHLine. This campaign
was effective in getting the message out about free cessation
services.
-- ADHS BTCD began working with AHCCCS to provide nicotine replacement as
a
benefit to clients.

-- ADHS BTCD did a significant 'pilot program' offering free
nicotine replacement therapies and medications.

"It's a collaborative effort, we are all working on this everyday," Pfeifer
said. "And today, we get to take a moment to recognize that we are,
collectively, having an impact."

"Whether it's the health impact or the cost, whatever motivates a person to
quit, we are excited to see this impact in Arizona," Tormala adds. The Arizona
Smokers' Helpline (ASHLine) is the free quit coaching service provided by the
state and, he says, "We can help all Arizonans quit too. Call the ASHLine at
1-800-55-66-222 or visit ashline.org and try the recently launched on-line
WebQuit program."

"Now is a good time to quit," Tormala said. "If you've tried before, or if
this is your first time, let us help you quit tobacco."

About the TRUST Commission
Arizona's Tobacco Revenue Use Spending and Tracking Commission was established
with the passing of Arizona's first tobacco tax. The Commission acts as an
advisory board which oversees the programs and services provided by the
Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic Disease
(ADHS BTCD).

About the Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic
Disease (ADHS BTCD) www.tobaccofreearizona.com
ADHS BTCD is the tobacco prevention, education and cessation program for the
state of Arizona and is funded by the voter approved/voter protected tax on
the sale of tobacco products which began in 1995.

About Smokefree Arizonawww.smokefreearizona.org
In November of 2006 the citizens of Arizona passed the Smoke-Free Arizona Act
A.R.S. section 36-601.01. This landmark statute prohibits smoking in most
enclosed public places and places of employment. The law became effective May
1st, 2007.

About Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a state-based system
of health surveys that were developed and conducted in order to monitor
state-level prevalence of the major behavioral risks among adults associated
with premature morbidity and mortality. The basic philosophy was to collect
data on actual behaviors, rather than attitudes or knowledge that would be
particularly useful for planning, initiating, supporting, and evaluating
health promotion and disease prevention programs.

The BRFSS is a cross-sectional telephone survey conducted by state health
departments with technical and methodological assistance provided by the CDC.
Every year, states conduct monthly telephone surveillance using a standardized
questionnaire to determine the distribution of risk behaviors and health
practices among non-institutionalized adults. Adults 18 and over are asked to
take part in the survey. Only one adult is interviewed per household.

About ASHLine
The Arizona Smokers' Helpline offers effective, research-based tobacco use
cessation services to Arizona residents through personalized telephone
coaching services in English and Spanish. www.ashline.org features a series
of modules that allow clients to develop an individualized quit plan. Clients
are able to schedule periodic email or text reminders prompting them to return
to the website to review their quit plan. Online assessments and activities
help clients review and revise their quit plan to help them stay quit. ASHLine
is a partner of the Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Tobacco
Education and Prevention (ADHS BTEP). www.ashline.org Toll free: 1- 800-
55-66-222.

SOURCE TRUST Commission

Mary Ehlert, Director of Marketing and Communications, +1-602-540-6897, or
Laurie Thomas, Community Promotions Manager, +1-480-540-6050, both of TRUST
Commission; or Christina Borrego of Riester, +1-602-462-2229, for TRUST
Commission