Tobacco Documents Online

BERNARD'J. DWYER 6TR DISTRICT, NEWJERSEY CUMMITTEES'. APPROPRIATiIONS SUBCOMMITTEES: LABOR.,HHSAND EDUCATION COMMERCE,.JUSTiCE. STATE AND THE JUDICIARY BUDGET PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE Dr. Samuel Broder Director National Cancer Znstitute National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland 20892 Dear Dr. Broder: agfjington. 3BC 20515 August 20, 1990 WAS'HINGTONOFFICE" 2428 RAVRURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGWASHINtiTON; DC 20515-3006 (2021 225-6301 DISTRICT OFFICES'214' SMITH STREET RERTH AMaor,. NJ 0886 1-4338 (20.11 826-461iD 628 WOOD AvENUE. NORTH LwDEN,.NJ A7036-4 162' (201(486-4600 86 BANARO STREETN'EW BRUNSWICK.. NJ 08901-21'15(201) ,545-5655 It has been brought to my attention that the New Jersey Department of Health, in partnership with the New Jersey Division of the American Cancer Society, has applied for funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for its American Stop Smoking Intervention Study (ASSIST) for Cancer Prevention program, RFP number NCI-CN-95165-38. I am writing to urge complete and favorable consideration of this application. Each year, tobacco addiction results in 390,000 premature deaths, $43 billion in lost production, and $22 billion in medical costs. While past education and prevention programs have successfully encouraged millions of Americans to quit smoking, tobacco addiction continues to be problematic for key elements of our society -- youth, minorities, young women, and the poor. Indeed, statistics show that cigarette smoking is increasing among our young people, with the average age of initiation declining annually. In New Jersey, it is estimated that 26% of the adult population are smokers. While this number is reflective of the national average, the number of New Jersey adolescents who smoke is startling. According to New Jersey Department of Health statistics, 47% of teenaged girls and 35% smoke at least half a pack to a pack of cigarette a day. It is apparent that an intense effort is needed'to educate New Jersey teenagers that smoking is not glamorous, an ineffective method of weight control, and'a costly as welll as deadly habit. I believe that the establishment of an ASSIST program is vital to the well-being of New Jersey residents. Thanking you in advance for your efforts, I am N ~ Sincerely, ~ ~ Bernard Ji DwYer ~i~~ ~ CD Cortgre,~!5 of tfje Maniteb *tato' jbougP of Repregentatubeg Member of Congress &0