Tobacco Documents Online

MEDICAL SOCIETY OF NEW JERSEY EXECUTIVE OFFICES O TWO PRINCESS ROAD. LAWRENCEVILl1E, NEW JERSEY 08648 0 TELEPHONE 609-896-t766 April 3, 1990 . Ms. Janice Marshall Division of Epidemiology and Disease Control New Jersey Department of Health CN 369 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0369 Re: Project Assist Dear Ms. Marshall: 1. The Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) has had an extensive public health care awareness program for many years. The direction of this public service effort continues for the benefit and edification of the general public. 2. There are approximately 9,800 actively practicing physicians in New Jersey who are members of MSNJ. Within the composition of the Society's membership there are forty specialty societies represented. Their function permits the constant upgrading of medical skills and knowledge for the benefit of the public. 3. MSNJ has actively campaigned for the elimination of smoking in hospitals, schools, restaurants, all public buildings, and the work place and has enforced a ban on smoking in its office since 1982. MSNJ was successful in gaining the support of the New Jersey Department of Health, the New Jersey Hospital Association and industry for the development and implementation of smoke free work places. The Society supported Senate Bills 1276 and 2682, banning the sale of tobacco products to persons under age 18. MSNJ is committed to increasing public awareness of the magnitude of health problems zelated-to the use of tobacco products, including addiction, and• its adverse impact on the economy in the work place.

- 2 - F,j.NDINGS Magnitude of the Public Health Problem Tobacco is the leading cause of avoidable illness and death in New Jersey. Every year nearly eleven thousand deaths are caused by cigarette smoking in three categories alone: (a) Thirteen percent of cardiovascular disease deaths (4,300)! are attributable to smoking cigarettes. (b) Thirty-two percent of cancer deaths (5,000) are caused by smoking cigarettes. (c) Eighty-eight percent of chronic lung disease deaths (1,600) are caused by smoking cigarettes. The annual economic impact of tobacco on New Jersey is immense. 0* (a) One billion dollars are spent each year to purchase over 880 million packages of cigarettes in New Jersey. (b) An estimated 790 million dollars are spent each year as the result of increased health care costs created by tobacco use in New Jersey. (c) An estimated 1.3 billion dollars are lost each year to the New Jersey economy by decreased productivity and earnings due to illnesses caused by tobacco. Tobacco use has declined among all age groups except children. A 1986 high school survey of lOth, llth and 12th grade students in New Jersey indicates that almost forty percent smoke; and half smoke every day. This data is unchanged from 1980. MSNJ"s Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse has conducted seminars on drug addiction for physicians and other health care professionals which included tobacco products. A nationally famous artist, Bonnie Vierthaler, displayed her renown paintings Parodies of Commercial Tobacco Products Promotions. A co-sponsored AMA program utilizing a postcard cause of death announcement was sent to congressional representatives by physicians informing them of their constituents who terminated from the use of tobacco products. The Office of the Surgeon General of the USDH and the New Jersey Commissioner of Health was solicited for support against the introduction of alternate tobacco product forms for oral use, such as, flavor and tobacs chewing-gum.

3 4. MSNJ has actively supported other public service programs on addictive diseases relating-to other addictive drugs, such as alcohol, heroin, marijuana, cocaine, etc. The Society has also sponsored programs on AIDS, pollution and senior citizen health care, utilizing media promotions for public information and symposium and seminars for physicians and other health professionals. 5. MSNJ has historically joined with the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, the New Jersey Hospital Association, the Medical Inter-Insurance Exchange of New Jersey and the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons in addressing public health concerns in New Jersey. 6. MSNJ will continue to address the target groups through the media networks and speaker programs for public group meetings.. County medical society meetings and seminars for physicians and other health care workders will continue to be utilized. 7. We are attaching copies of some of the printed media promotions that have been used. We also have tapes of our public service public service TV programing. A professional clipping service gives the Society access to public and professional opinion on the success of our efforts. 8. Any requests for in-kind and direct support would have to be requested by a formal application to the Medical Society of New Jersey for review by the Board of Trustees. I hope this is helpful to your efforts. Sincerely yours, ~~ ~~l~ Vincent A. Maressa Executive Director/ General Counsel VAM:ah Enclosures