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May 24, 2004

WHAT

Celebration by the Contra Costa Tobacco Prevention Coalition (TPC) of 20 years of successful efforts to reduce smoking rates among adults and youth, and to change norms on tobacco use and sales in the county.

The celebration will include awards and recognition for TPC members and community partners as well as presentation of a proclamation from the Board of Supervisors and a resolution from State Sen. Tom Torlakson congratulating TPC on its anniversary.

WHEN

Wednesday, May 26, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

WHERE

John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek
Directions

WHY

In 1984, the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and Contra Costa Health Services formed the Smoking Education Coalition, and helped the County and 18 Contra Costa cities become the first multi-jurisdictional region in the nation to adopt uniform legislation restricting smoking in the workplace and public spaces.

This coalition became the TPC, which continued to work with numerous partners to develop indoor air ordinances to protect workers from secondhand smoke; draft a Tobacco-Free Youth Ordinance that has become a model for the state and the nation, and been adopted by the County and the 18 cities; and, with the Sheriff's Office, enforce local and state tobacco sales laws and reduce the illegal tobacco sales rate to minors in the unincorporated areas from 37% in 2002 to 2% by end of 2003.

TPC efforts also helped lower the smoking rate among Contra Costa adults by 31% from 1990 to 2002, the second greatest decline among California counties and regions.

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