Tobacco Documents Online

STATE OF NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF EOUCATION CN 500 TRENTON. N.J. Oa625-OSOO May 18, 1990 William E. Parkin, DVM, DrPH Assistant Commissioner Division of Epidemiology and Disease Control Department of Health CN' 360 Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 Dear Dr. Parkin: SAUI- COOPERMAN..COMMf5S1ON£R Thank you for your letter of May 2, 1990 and the opportunity to express support of the America Stop Smoking Intervention Study (ASSIST) for Cancer Prevention initiative. Since cancer is the number one cause of death in the United States, its etiology and irradication are among critical concerns for all and a major thrust of current research. The strong relationship of smoking to cancer is widely accepted. Multiple sources such as the Surgeon General of the United States, the America Cancer Society and the American Heart Association have expounded upon the dangers of smoking. Smoking is considered to be a contributing cause of lung, larynx, and oral cavity cancers as well as a contributing factor in the development of cancers of the bladder, pancreas and kidney. Many of our citizens, old and young alike, ignore these warnings and engage in this practice. The harmful effects may take years to, appear, therefore, making it easier for people to think that using tobacco is not harming them. In an effort to reverse this trend. I offer my support to you in your efforts to expand public health programs and help decrease the incidence of tobacco related cancers. In addition, our staff, particularly our health occupations program specialist or the safety control program specialist can be contacted for technical assistance if needed. We would appreciate your keeping us informed regarding the status of your data collection and progress. In particular, information describing the smoking patterns of vocational students, effective educational programs and supportive smoke-stop efforts would be of interest to us. If you are in need of further assistance, please contact Marion Mullarkey, HeaLth N Occupations Program Specialist, at (609) 292=6594. Sincerely, ~ Lloyd J. Newbaker, Jr., Ed.D. Assistant Commissioner Division of Vocational Education LJN'/MM/1g:11/6361N