Do the Right Thing on Tobacco Funds
* As the Orange County Board of Supervisors considers several proposals concerning the national tobacco settlement funds, I would like them to also consider that 3,000 children start smoking every day and 1,000 or more of them will die from a smoking-related disease.
The average age for initiating tobacco use is 12, and stopping smoking is as hard for some smokers as giving up heroin, according to the U.S. surgeon general’s report of 1994.
Currently, there appear to be several rival proposals that are being debated by the supervisors, who are charged to represent the citizens of Orange County.
One allows 60% of the funds for health care and anti-smoking programs. Another is a proposed ballot initiative calling for 80% of the funds to be spent on health care.
The original proposal by the supervisors allows 20% to 25% of the funds per year to be spent on health care for the next five or six years, “reserving the bulk of funds for jail construction and debt reduction.” (May 10)
The citizens of Orange County need to be heard by the Board of Supervisors. [People should] contact them now about loved ones who have battled the horrid consequences of their addictions. To do nothing is to commit generational suicide.
SHARON P. BROWN
Dana Point
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