Anti-Smoking Ads

In response to “State Set to Scrap Anti-Smoking TV Ads” (Jan. 16):

The article described the Wilson Administration’s plan to scrap an anti-smoking media campaign that a recent state study showed had helped reduce the number of California smokers by 17%.

What the article failed to note is that there are broader public policy implications to the state’s decision to arbitrarily move money approved by the voters in Proposition 99, to the general treasury. The facts:

By stripping the campaign of funds, a clear message is sent to voters: “Don’t bother passing initiatives. Government will ultimately do what it wants.”

For ethnic minorities, the media campaign is vital. In Southern California, 20% of the Latino population smokes. Many people having recently arrived here from other countries are unaware of the health dangers of smoking.

The administration wants to divert the monies earmarked by the voters for tobacco education to Medi-Cal. While the support of Medi-Cal is admirable, to put all resources into treatment and none into prevention runs contrary to logic and experience. For example, it’s estimated that Southern California spends at least $1,485 billion annually on smoking-related health care. The $16 million to be used for the media campaign is a small price to pay for prevention.

ROBERT O. DILLMAN MD

President, American Cancer Society

Orange County Unit