Oklahoma’s Success in Reducing the Toll of Tobacco
As Governor of the State of Oklahoma, my goal is to create and maintain a happy, healthy, and productive state, but we cannot expect to improve the health of Oklahomans without addressing our state’s number one killer: tobacco. In fact, both of my parents died from smoking-related illnesses. After years of smoking, my father died from heart disease when he was younger than I am today. My mother smoked her whole life. At the age of 73 she had heart surgery, suffered a stroke, and was bedridden for five years before passing away. Although each death is tragic, for every person who dies from smoking another 30 are suffering from a smoking-related illness. As I have learned through personal experience, the results of tobacco use place an unnecessary strain on family well-being, our state, and our economy. Indeed, smoking costs Oklahomans more than $2 billion in healthcare costs and lost workforce productivity annually. Oklahoma’s 2012 adult smoking prevalence was 23.3%, compared to 19.6% nationally. Although these figures alarm and sadden me, I am encouraged by the progress realized in our state. Between 2001 and 2010, the State of Oklahoma has seen a statistically significant decline in adult smoking prevalence. Annual sales of cigarettes are also down dramatically, with more than 100 million fewer packs sold than a decade ago. I am very proud to have contributed to the ongoing efforts to reduce tobacco use throughout my tenure in public office. As Governor, I issued an executive order in 2012 that prohibited the use of any tobacco product on all properties owned, leased, or contracted for use by the State of Oklahoma. This includes state parks, where families can now enjoy the beauty of Oklahoma’s landscape without exposure to tobacco products or their waste. During implementation of this policy, I also closed the State Capitol’s smoking room and created a Capitol Fitness Center in its place. In 2013, I proactively