As a primary care doctor, I see just how devastating tobacco use and nicotine addiction are for my patients. In fact, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Maine. It claims more than 2,400 lives every year. But one program is working to reduce that number.

Maine’s tobacco prevention and cessation programs, fully funded at the levels recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are a lifeline. These programs help people quit, prevent kids from starting to use nicotine and tackle critical policy issues like restrictions on flavored tobacco products that target our youth.

Maintaining and even expanding this funding would allow us to reach more people, particularly in communities where use rates of tobacco are highest, with education and resources to help people quit. The governor’s proposed tobacco tax increase is another essential step in protecting public health. Kids are especially price-sensitive, and higher tobacco prices significantly reduce youth initiation.

Maine has led the nation in its commitment to preventing tobacco-related diseases. By sustaining and expanding these programs, we can save lives, reduce health care costs and create a healthier future for all Maine residents. Let’s continue to set the example for the rest of the country.

Brendan Prast, MD, MPH
board president, American Heart Association Maine
Portland