Indiana Legislature drops ball on tobacco control in 2011

Tobacco control in Indiana took some pretty big hits in this year's legislative session. First was the failure to pass a comprehensive smoke free air law to protect all workers. Indiana is one of only 13 states without a statewide smok free air laws. Three out of our four closes neighbors have comprehensive laws and this is leading many to consider our state the "ashtray of the Midwest." The other major blow to tobacco control came in the form of the dismantling of Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation(ITPC). ITPC has been recognized as one of the country's top tobacco control programs and has had many great successes over the last decade. ITPC will close its doors in June of this year and its responsiblities and budget will be moved to the Indiana State Department of Health. Despite things not going our way we want to give a big thanks to all of our supporters for all of your help this year. Hopefully in the next year Indy and Indiana will catch up with the times and protect all workers from the dangers of second hand smoke.