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Show Five-Year Anti-Smoking Campaign Now Underway The Utah Division of the American Cancer Society is laying plans for active participation in a nationwide five-year anti-smoking program being launched by the Cancer Society. Dr. Gerald P. Stevenson, Utah Division President, said the "Target Five" program has the following goals: To reduce the number of adults who smoke by at least 25 percent (12.5 million adults). To reduce smoking among young people by at least 50 percent (4.5 million teenagers). To reduce the .toxic elements in cigarette smoke by at least 50 percent. The Target Five program is based on recommendations of the Task Force on Tobacco and Cancer set up by the 'Cancer Society in 1975. Target Five is funded by $1,005,000 nationwide. Dr. Stevenson said Utah representatives will attend a planning meeting January 17 in Los Angeles, along with spokesmen from California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii. Utah's representatives will be Wes Bowen, Vice-president for Public Affairs at KSL, and Dr. George E. Crawford of Weber State College's business administration department who quit smoking through the Smoke Stoppers Program. "This meeting will seek ideas and guidance on what steps can be taken to reduce the incidence of cigarette-caused disease, and protect the public from unnecessary exposure to risk," said Dr. Stevenson. The Los Angeles meeting will be followed by hearings at eight regional centers. A filmstrip is being prepared on the Target Five program and will be available from the Utah Division within a few weeks. A new booklet entitled "Cigarette Smoking Among Teenagers and Young Women" will also be available soori. It reiterates the finding that "even as the adult population of the country is' beginning to curtail its cigarette smoking, the nation's young, specifically teen-age girls and young women, are ' now more likely to smoke and smoke more than in the past." "Cigarette smoking is one major cause of cancer which is known and, is preventable," said Dr. Stevenson. "Cigarette smoking is responsible for nearly 70,000 cancer deaths a year. Counting heart and lung diseases, smoking teakes a toll of 325,000 needless deaths a year." Recent surveys show cigarette smoking is inching up year after year, especially in groups previously thought "safe" women and particularly teenage girls. Target Five activities are planned to include such programs as anti-smoking education in schools at early levels; efforts to reach young women who are or plan to become pregnant; clinics to help smokers quit, and legislation to require tougher warning labels, prohibit misleading cigarette advertisements' |