HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04161991 - 1.17 TO- BOARD OF SUPERVISOR `
FROM: Contra
w,o t.a
Mark Finucane, Health Services Director Cita
DATE; Cry n
March 6, 1991 V6,11 Ry
SUBJECT;
Tobacco Awareness Week
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
I. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Proclaim April 21 to April 28, 1991 as "Contra Costa County
Tobacco Awareness Week" and encourage Contra Costa County residents to take action to
protect themselves and others from the ill effects of tobacco consumption.
II. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
III. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND: Tobacco use is the leading cause of
preventable death in the United States and Contra Costa County. Every year over 400,000
smokers die of smoking related illnesses and 40,000 non-smokers die of cancer and heart
disease caused by exposure to involuntary smoke. In 1985, 839 Contra Costa County
residents died prematurely of smoking related illnesses at a cost of $87.5 million in
health care costs. The tobacco industry spends over $3 billion each year on advertising
and promotion to encourage the use of their products, and every day another 3,000
children begin using tobacco. The Contra Costa County Tobacco Control Coalition, in con
junction with the California State Legislature has set a goal of reducing tobacco
consumption by 75% by the year 2000.
In December of 1990, the California Health Services Department, Tobacco Control Section,
awarded the Bay Area Cancer Coalition a grant to develop a Bay Area Regional Media
Advocacy Project (BAMAP). BAMAP is supported by the Health Departments and Offices of
Education in the nine Bay Area counties. The purpose of this two year project is to plan
activities and events strategically timed to keep tobacco a key item of discussion on
the public agenda.
The kick-off for BAMAP is a Bay Area-wide "Tobacco Awareness Week", April 21-28, when
Phillip Morris brings the Bill of Rights to San Francisco for display at Fort Mason.
This tour represents an ideal opportunity to educate Bay Area residents on a variety of
tobacco issues. The week will include a series of regional and local tobacco education
and prevention activities; regional activities to be coordinated by BAMAP staff and local
activities to be coordinated by each county's Tobacco Control Project and Office of
Education.
April is also the American Cancer Society's "Cancer Awareness Month". A "Tobacco
Awareness Week" during this month provides an appropriate focus on the leading
cause of preventable cancer.
Declaring April 21-28 "Tobacco Awareness Week" is in keeping with the Board of
Supervisors' strong history of leadership in the area of tobacco control . It provides
a strong symbol around which to organize and promote the various activitiessc uled for
the week, and enhances the overall message of "Cancer Aware ne s Month".
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE;
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD CO MITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATUREISI:
ACTION OF BOARD ON April 16, 1991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDEDOTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
cc: County Administrator ATTESTED April 16, 1991
Health Services Department PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BY FL04
O b ,DEPUTY
M382/7-83