Blunt About Tobacco

Source from:  Kentucky finally facing truth about killer crop 11/17/2005

"Tobacco use is the No. 1 public health threat in Kentucky. "The state's adult and youth smoking rates, annual deaths related to smoking and lung-cancer death rates are among the highest in the country. "Tobacco-related diseases cause more deaths in Kentucky and across the nation than AIDS, automobile accidents, homicides, suicides, alcohol and illicit drug use combined." What you just read is not a health zealot's anti-tobacco diatribe. It's not the work of an ivory-tower professor or an editorial writer. It was lifted from a Kentucky state government Web site. We know it's just words, but blunt words about tobacco have been all too rare from Kentucky's government and elected leaders. This long state of denial caused untold suffering. Tobacco was always a sacred cow, even though smoking-related disease fueled Kentucky's high health-care costs. So it's good to finally see the truth plainly stated. It's also good to see Gov. Ernie Fletcher take a personal interest in a series of public forums that have been held around the state to develop tobacco-control policy. Fletcher, a physician, attended last week's gathering in Lexington, giving those assembled a pep talk and moral support. One of the sponsors of the forums has been the Get Healthy Kentucky! board in which first lady Glenna Fletcher, a nurse, is involved. Speaking the truth is always a good place to start. The proof will be in the policies. Enditem