Indiana’s Tobacco Prevention Program

Brandee Bastin spoke to Kiwanis about her work with Indiana’s Tobacco Prevention Program. Working for a tobacco free Indiana has been a priority for ten years. The mission is to create a healthier community through the prevention and cessation of tobacco use in Hancock County.


In the past ten years, smoking rates for high school youth have dropped by 42 percent. Adult smoking rates have decreased from 27 percent to 23 percent. This means there are 207,000 fewer smokers in Indiana. Over the past decade decreased tobacco use has saved $3.1 billion in future health care costs, including $512 million in Medicaid claims. Indiana’s prevention program manages without tax dollars. These services are funded by the Master Settlement Agreement between Indiana and the tobacco industry.

Over 70% of Indiana’s schools have a tobacco free campus. Bastin says that while much has been accomplished, there is still work to be done. Indiana has a 21% smoking rate which sounds good until compared with 17% nationwide which puts us in the top ten tobacco using states.

One of Bastin’s favorite facts used to emphasis the harm of tobacco use is that “Tobacco is the only legal product that kills one third of its users if used as directed”.

For more information about ways to quit smoking, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit; http://www.indianaquitline.net/.