The use of tobacco is the single most important preventable cause of disease and premature death in La Crosse County.

The direct health care costs of smoking (e.g. physician visits, hospitalization, etc.) are estimated at $31.5 million in La Crosse County.

23% of students reported smoking at least one cigarette during the past 30 days, according to the Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2003 Report.

Prevalence of current smoking among students decreased significantly from 38% in 1999 to 23% in 2003 (2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey).

 In the United States, smoking kills over 430,000 people each year – more than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, fires, cocaine, heroin, murders and suicides combined.

Every day in the United States, over 3,000 children become regular smokers.  The average age is 14 years old.  Of these new smokers, we can expect 30 will be murdered, 50 will die in traffic accidents and 1,000 will be killed from smoking.

Forty percent of Wisconsin children live in a home where they are exposed to secondhand smoke.  Children exposed to smoke tend to have more bronchitis, pneumonia, respiratory infections, otitis media (fluid in the middle ear), and asthma symptoms.  The frequency of infection depends directly on the amount of smoke in the home.  Children who live with two smoking parents have more respiratory infections than children who live with one smoking parent do.

Research shows up to 70% of smokers, if asked, are willing to go outside to smoke for their children’s health.

23% of Wisconsin adults smoke according to 2002 figures

14% of women who reside in La Crosse County smoke during pregnancy, compared to 15% of Wisconsin women (2002)

18 communities have passed ordinances adopting smoke-free restaurants in Wisconsin