Tobacco Control & Air Quality Advocacy
FACT: Every day, cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 1,300 deaths in the United States.
FACT: 95% of Californians live in areas that do not meet healthy air quality standards.
In 2014 Breathe California:
- Advocated for cleaner air at over 300 meetings with California State Assembly and Senate staff
- Advocated for the adoption of the California Clean Truck and Bus Program to improve public health by deploying heavy-duty vehicles with advanced clean technologies
- Informed local (Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz counties), regional and state policy makers regarding the relation of air quality to lung health. Topics of discussion included the hazards of second hand tobacco smoke, wood smoke, low level ozone and particulate matter to public health
Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, killing close to a half-million Americans annually. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence has shown the deadly effects that secondhand smoke can have on us and our children. In order to reduce the impact of tobacco use and addiction in our community, we offer a number of programs which utilize cessation, prevention and education as tenants to promote a healthier lifestyle.