Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education

Evaluation of the California Tobacco Control Program

Progress from 1988 through 1993 1. Protection of Nonsmokers form Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) (a) Children at Home: 80% of children younger than 17 years protected by 1993 (b) Nonsmokers at Work: 23% decrease in the number of nonsmokers exposed to ETS during 1990-1993

2. Reduction in Smoking Prevalence

(a) Tobacco consumption declined 27% between 1988 and 1993.

(b) Smoking prevalence declined 28% from an estimated 26.5% in 1988 to a best estimate of 19.1% in 1993.

(c) The observed decline in consumption and prevalence resulted from an increase in successful quitting among California adults.

(d) No decline in adolescent smoking was observed after 1990. The Program appears to have halted the increases in adolescent smoking observed during 1988-1990.

Forecast to Year 1999

1. As currently implemented, the Tobacco Control Program will not meet the legislatively set goal of a 75% reduction in smoking prevalence.

2. To achieve the set goal, the Program should emphasize effective interventions in order to increase its annual impact by 50% for the period 1994 through 1999.