In order to provide equal access and equal opportunity to people with diverse abilities, this site has been designed with accessibility in mind. Click here to view

back to press releases

Joe Camel Running Out of Smoke Stats Show Cigarette Hike Already Saving Lives

Senator Tom Adelson Senator Tom Adelson


Senator Tom Adelson said statistics released by the Oklahoma State Department of Health Friday show that the increase in the tobacco tax is “Oklahoma’s most significant public health legislation in a generation.”

OSDH reported that tobacco sales in Oklahoma have declined by 4.4 million packs per month and that 30,000 adult Oklahomans had given up smoking since the tax increase took effect.

“By tripling the tobacco tax Oklahomans are going save at least a half a billion dollars in healthcare costs,” Adelson said. “And more importantly, it will make Oklahoma a healthier state.”

The Tulsa Democrat is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on Health and Human Services and served as Governor Henry’s Secretary of Health before running for the Senate.

“Today’s news shows that the increase in the tobacco tax is already saving lives,” Adelson said. “Each person who chooses not to smoke will add an average of 14 years to their life.”

OSDH said percentage of adults who smoke in Oklahoma decreased from 26.1 percent to 24.4 percent in the first six months of 2005.

“Oklahoma no longer has the second highest rate of adult smokers in the nation,” Adelson said.

The Senator said that while much of the discussion about the tobacco tax has centered on alleged disparities between the tax paid by some tribal and non-tribal retailers, a more important point should not go unnoticed.

“The increase in the tobacco tax is hardly a disaster, as some have suggested. It is absolutely achieving its most important purpose – fewer Oklahomans are smoking,” Adelson said. “Senate Democrats will continue to try and come up with a solution that will level the playing field between tribal and non-tribal retailers but what we won’t do is anything that will slow the decline of smokers in our state.”

Adelson said the Center for Disease Control is expected to release youth smoking statistics in the fall, and he expects a similar decline in teenage smoking.

Contact info
Senator Adelson's Office- (405) 521-5551