January 12, 2010. Washington, DC. The District now has the lowest smoking prevalence ever recorded in the District’s history. In the past three years, the number of District smokers has significantly decreased and the number of District smokers seeking assistance in quitting has significantly increased, with a 500 percent increase in calls to the quitline since 2006.

In 2006, the DC Department of Health, the American Lung Association of DC and the American Cancer Society jointly launched DC Tobacco Free Families, a three year campaign to reduce tobacco use prevalence among District residents.  The comprehensive $10 million campaign, combined with the implementation of progressive tobacco prevention and control policies, such as a doubling of the cigarette tax and a comprehensive smoke-free air law, contributed to the decline in the District’s single most preventable cause of death. This finding, among other impacts of the campaign, is presented in a recent evaluation report for this tobacco settlement funded initiative.

Rolando Andrewn, President and CEO of the American Lung Association of DC, declared,  “Reducing tobacco use is a priority for the Lung Association, as it contributes to 90 percent of all lung cancers and 80 to 90 percent of respiratory diseases, and we were proud to be a key partner in such a successful campaign.”

According to Afya, Inc., the campaign’s independent evaluator, DC Tobacco Free Families met all of its primary objectives.  DC Tobacco Free Families implemented comprehensive evidence-based programs recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to effectively reduce tobacco use, including free counseling and nicotine replacement therapy via a well-funded Quitline, community program grants, an aggressive media campaign, and broad community and health care systems changes to promote tobacco free lifestyles.

While CDC’s stringent Best Practices recommendations for tobacco control funding were not met, the final report clearly shows that the campaign used the funds strategically to reach those most in need of free services and significantly increased community partnerships and calls to the quitline during this period. According to a survey of partners conducted for the DCTFF Final Report, “The partners depended on DCTFF to provide technical assistance and training, critical health information, training for providers, telephone counseling services, and free nicotine replacement therapy. Community partners attributed the successful collaborations to DCTFF’s ability to effectively communicate concern for clients’ health, and willingness to listen and respond to community needs.”

The District’s Tobacco Control Program includes a Tobacco Free Coalition of community partners and a free Quitline for District residents, 800 QUIT NOW. To download a copy of the full report, click here. To learn more about the District’s Tobacco Free Coalition, click here.