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Director's Message
Reducing the use of tobacco If you aren't convinced that tobacco use is still a serious health problem in Oregon, consider the following statistics:
In 1995, the state put together its first statewide strategic plan for tobacco control and two years later the Tobacco Prevention and Education Program (TPEP) was launched in the Oregon Department of Human Services. Among the program's activities were the establishment of local tobacco control coalitions, implementation of school comprehensive prevention programs, and the establishment of the statewide Quit Line for smokers.
Oregon has seen great successes since these efforts began in reducing tobacco use including: teen smoking rates that have dropped by about 46 percent, approximately 95 percent of all employee workplaces now being tobacco-free, and the number of cigarettes sold in the state cut substantially from what it once was ten years ago.
More work to be done In spite of the strides taken in reducing tobacco use in the past decade, more work still remains to be done. Smoking and chewing tobacco are prevalent among both adults and youth in Oregon.
While it is true that overall cigarette consumption in Oregon is decreasing, smoking prevalence remains higher in some communities than in others. And youth continue to be at particular risk for tobacco use, with a recent estimate of eight percent of 8th graders starting to smoke.
This week, a new statewide strategic plan for tobacco control was unveiled, setting goals for the next five years. Among the issues to be addressed: attempting to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke; implementing prevention strategies aimed at keeping youth from starting to smoke in the first place; and increasing access to smoking cessation resources for those trying to quit.
Other goals include strategies to eliminate the disparities in tobacco use among various Oregon population groups and developing a more thorough and connected infrastructure for tobacco use prevention among medical services, counseling, and community education efforts.
A number of organizations have worked together on this planning effort with DHS including the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association of Oregon, local health departments, various healthcare organizations, Oregon Department of Justice, the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, the Oregon Medical Association and many others.
In spite of all of the factors that continue to contribute to tobacco use, we do know what works in controlling tobacco in Oregon. By working together -- through comprehensive state programs combined with community and school projects, continuing public education, and smoking cessation efforts -- we will continue to make an effective reduction in tobacco use in years to come.
A focus on Native American caregiving
This week, the department kicked off its first regional conference to support caregiving among Native Americans. The Lincoln City conference targeted Native American caregivers and also those who care for Native Americans, noting the special needs of this population and how it relates to its elders.
All of the sessions focused on tools and resources to help participants network and share information with other caregivers from other Indian communities.
Issues addressed included elder abuse, medication management, nutrition and diabetes, depression, grandparents raising grandchildren, self-care for caregivers, communicating with healthcare professionals, Alzheimer's and dementia, and learning how to use cross-cultural communications in various local communities.
Participants included members of the nine tribes of Oregon and Native Americans from Idaho, Washington, and Arizona. This was a first for the department and reflected the good partnerships that we continue to build with the tribes of this region.
Food for thought "It does not require many words to speak the truth." -- Chief Joseph
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