Breathe DC Urges Tobacco Control Funding
On June 5th, 2020, Breathe DC’s president and chief executive officer, Rolando Andrewn, submitted written testimony to the DC Council’s Committee on Health urging the Committee to recommend level funding for DC Health’s tobacco control programs.
The harm caused by cigarette smoking is devastating. It is the only product that if used as intended, will kill. Each year more than 700 adults over 35 year’s old die in the District as a result of tobacco related illness and disease.
Breathe DC urges the Committee on Health to continue funding the District’s tobacco control programs at the $1.9 million – the level recommended by the Mayor’s budget. The funding will give the District an opportunity to reduce the smoking rate below 20%, and make a significant impact on driving down the millions of dollars spent on the annual healthcare expenditures caused by tobacco in the District.