New Statewide Poll Shows Increased Support for Smokefree Illinois         The Illinois Coalition Against Tobacco (ICAT) is a group of more than 130 organizations and individuals working together to reduce tobacco use in Illinois. Our mission is to promote prevention of the harmful effects of tobacco to individuals and to society at-large. ICAT wants the public to know the facts: Tobacco contains nicotine, an addictive drug that makes it very difficult for users to quit. Nicotine addiction is a pediatric disease. The average age to become a daily smoker is 14.5 years. Tobacco kills more than 420,000 smokers in America each year. One of every three smokers dies from tobacco-related disease. Secondhand smoke is deadly. It kills about 53,000 nonsmokers and triggers roughly 1,000,000 episodes of childhood illness every year. Annual health care costs attributable to tobacco use are in excess of $50 billion dollars in the United States. The tobacco industry spends more than $17 million a day to promote their product. They target market to teens, minorities and women. The Tobacco Industry has tremendous political power in Illinois and the federal level. It is one of the most powerful special interest groups, contributing massive amounts of money to politicians and political parties.   ICAT is active in three areas: Tobacco Policy Development ICAT's Center for Tobacco Control Policy and Action oversees tobacco policy development. The center provides training and technical support throughout Illinois to promote tobacco control policy initiatives including: opposing the tobacco industry's attempts to pass protobacco legislation, restricting youth access to tobacco; increasing the cigarette excise tax: strengthening clean indoor air laws; and regulating cigarette advertising and promotion. Youth Programs Six culturally diverse communities have been selected to conduct two-year programs that involve youth in anti-tobacco events and community activities. Culturally sensitive activities are taking place in schools, YMCAs, community centers and after school programs throughout Illinois. Coalition Mobilization Tobacco-Free Illinois events have attracted new coalition members throughout Illinois. As a result, more organizations and individuals will become better advocates to reduce tobacco use in Illinois.
		What Can the Coalition Accomplish? The coalition was formed to advocate policy changes to reduce the toll of tobacco use. We do not advocate a ban on tobacco. But we are pooling our resources to help prevent children from starting to use tobacco and protect nonsmokers from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. In recent years, ICAT has passed legislation in Illinois to: Restrict smoking in public buildings, restaurants and workplaces in Illinois Ban smoking on school property Require warning signs regarding the dangers of smoking during pregnancy Increase the cigarette excise tax from 30 to 44 cents per package Ban unsupervised cigarette vending machines where childrenare present Determine how frequently tobacco products are Illegally sold to minors
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