Tobacco Control Programs Cut Adult Smoking Rates

According to an article in this month's American Journal of Public Health investments in state tobacco control programs are independently and significantly associated with larger and more rapid declines in adult smoking prevalence, according to a study by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study covers the period from 1985 to 2003. However it depends what you mean by tobacco control programs. Much of the credit is probably due to increasing taxes on cigarettes and public programs to reduce public smoking, particularly in restaurants, offices and stores. I believe the behavioral programs that occurrred concurrently had minimal effect.