Act Now to Preserve Funding for Tobacco-Use Programs

The House Health and Human Services (HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee is working NOW to finalize the HHS appropriations proposal.  This is a pivotal time.  The House leadership expects to have the House version of the budget approved in just a few short weeks.  There is no time to waste!

Future funding for tobacco-use prevention and cessation programs is at risk since the Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) was eliminated in last year's budget.  The HWTF previously received 25 percent of the state's tobacco settlement funds and provided dedicated funding for the state's tobacco prevention and cessation programs.  Tell your representative to support recurring appropriations for these critical programs.

While last year's budget permitted the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to allocate $17.3 million to tobacco prevention and cessation programs for one year, this funding is currently non-recurring.  The programs face elimination by June 30 (in less than two months!) unless funding is renewed by the General Assembly this year.

With the House budget deadline approaching and subcommittees working now to prepare their proposals, now is the time for advocates to communicate with their House members about the effectiveness of NC's current tobacco-use prevention and cessation programs and the need to secure recurring funds of at least $17.3 million to sustain current efforts to keep our youth from starting to smoke.

Send your customizable letter now!


To learn more contact Betsy Vetter: betsy.vetter@heart.org 

Video of the Month!

Get Walking!

Walking is one of the best, easiest and cheapest things you can do to reduce risk factors for heart disease and stroke. And choosing where and with whom you walk helps.

The Buddy System
MyWalkingClub.org allows you to connect with others who share your goals and schedules. You can join an existing club, or start your own.

A Walking Club is a built-in support system to help you stick to your fitness routine. In fact, American adults are 76 percent more likely to walk if someone is counting
on them.

Get on the Right Path

Whether you walk in a group or by yourself, AHA Walking Paths can help you freshen up your routine. You can find more than 19,000 Walking Paths - covering more than 132,000 miles - at StartWalkingNow.org or through the Walking Paths app for iPhone and Android devices.
You can find a Walking Path for anywhere you want to go: a neighborhood or downtown, an airport or shopping mall, a nature park or amusement park, a school campus or workplace. They range in difficulty, from easy to moderate to high (most are easy), and vary in length, from a few blocks to a few hundred miles (about an average 7 miles).
You can narrow your search by ZIP code. As you scroll through the names, you'll find titles such as "Main Street Mile" or "Home Stretch." You can print them out, or follow them on your smartphone or tablet. You can also keep up with your progress by logging walks into our tracking tool. You might even be inspired to share a favorite path.
So get moving. You have nothing to lose - except maybe a few extra pounds! 

Be CPR Smart

In less than the time it takes to watch a 30 minute TV sitcom, we can give students the skills they need to help save someone’s life with CPR. Pledge your support for making CPR training a requirement for high school graduation. www.BeCPRsmart.org.

Video of the Month!

Save NC's Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Programs

Neil Dorsey (left) seen here with fellow advocate
Bob Smith and Rep. Van Braxton at the
2010 NC You're the Cure at the Capitol State Lobby Day

This week we celebrate Kick Butts Day, a day devoted to encouraging people not to smoke. Recently, the US Surgeon General released the 31st tobacco-related report. It describes the epidemic of tobacco use among youth and young adults. The study shows that almost no one starts smoking after age 25. Early cardiovascular damage is seen in most young smokers; those most sensitive are at greater risk of dying very young. Among youth who persist in smoking, a third will die prematurely from smoking.

North Carolina tobacco use prevention and cessation programs that began with the Health and Wellness Trust Fund will end June 30, 2012, unless our lawmakers act to continue these successful programs. Send an email now to your lawmakers urging them to continue the funding.

Neil Dorsey, Eastern NC AHA Advocacy Team Leader, told us why he is a passionate advocate for this issue:

"Tobacco prevention is always cheaper, and most effective, than treatment in the long run. Without cessation programs, we cannot adequately attack tobacco addiction. It is short sighted to not fund prevention and cessation when one looks at the long term cost, both fiscal and human. It is for these reasons that I advocate for full funding of prevention and cessation programming." 

Join Neil and tell your lawmakers that NC can't afford to let our tobacco control programs end.

Send your customizable letter now

Evolution of Food and Exercise