Simply put, tobacco kills. It is the leading cause of preventable death in Oregon. And at Upstream we are working hard to end these needless deaths. Since almost all smokers start when they are just kids much of our work focuses on preventing youth from picking up this deadly habit.
Why It Matters
As long as tobacco related illnesses are the #1 cause of preventable death in Oregon – it will be a priority for Upstream. Simply put, tobacco kills. The best way to end these needless deaths is to prevent youth from picking up this deadly habit. According to the American Lung Association, the TRUE cost of a pack of cigarettes to the community is $18.83 when you include the healthcare costs and lost productivity of tobacco users who get sick or die. The Upstream board and staff are also concerned that the tobacco industry always fights against good tobacco policy with their big bucks. The industry has been found guilty of racketeering, lying under oath, and countless other criminal acts. How do we win against this industry? We organize. Advocates have to be strategic, coordinated, have a winning plan, and the funding to implement it. Over 75% of smokers report they want to quit. And many have. We need an even larger arsenal of advocates who can work to expose their lies, call them out on their false claims, and speak the truth about the costs we can quantify – health care costs, and the costs we can’t calculate – suffering and early death. Upstream believes it is a moral imperative that we do what we know works, to prevent the harm caused by this addictive and deadly product.
What We’re Doing
Upstream works with the Tobacco Free Coalition of Oregon (TOFCO) and local jurisdictions to develop innovative options to decrease tobacco related death, disability, and the crippling economic burden that tobacco causes. We want to know for public record where tobacco products are sold – retail licensure, as its called is already the law of the land in most states. You need a license to cut someone’s hair but you don’t a license sell tobacco. We know where guns and alcohol are being sold, but we don’t know where cigarettes are being sold. Knowing where tobacco is sold will soon become even more critical as the FDA rolls out its plans to restrict marketing. A tobacco tax is a proven smoking prevention tool— every 10 percent increase in cigarette prices reduces youth smoking by about seven percent and total cigarette consumption by about four percent.
What You Can Do
How do we win against a powerful industry? It takes a village of dedicated advocates just like you to stand up and speak your truth. Join us.
Our Successes So Far
Oregon tobacco advocates won a huge tobacco victory in 2007 when the state legislature passed a strong smoke-free workplace law, in essence providing smoke-free bars, restaurants, and other places where people work. Eliminating the threat of second hand smoke in Oregon has saved many lives and could be considered one of the most significant public health victories this decade.