Please read about some of these programs and notice that the recovery rate is much higher in smoke free programs than those that continue to ignore nicotine addiction.

Article #2 - Tobacco-Free Chemical Dependence Treatment Facilities Advocated

Article #3 - Programs Including Nicotine Addiction as Part of Treatment

Given the an alcoholic (active or in remission) is SEVEN TIMES more likely to die from smoking than from drugs or alcohol, it seems unbelievable that this issue was not addressed at least 20 years ago when our then US Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, MD publically proclaimed that nicotine is more addicting the heroin.

Also remember that with each passing decade, lung cancer is the leading cause of death in females...............not breast cancer or ovarian cancer. The number of elderly now tethered to their oxygen tanks due to advance emphysema (from primary or secondary tobacco smoke) accounts for an incredible number of our seniors and leads to a slow, downward spiral of diminished ability to be active and a greatly reduced Quality of Life.

In Minnesota, 28.8% of the Middle School or High School students are smokers, so Big Tobacco is still very successful in finding plenty of new recruits to replace the thousands that "pass on" (Smoke & Croak") each year.

www.TobaccoFreeKids.Org is still making major headway in this State & will soon be expected to convince the State Of MN to pass legislation similar to other States, mandating chemical dependency treatment centers that receive state money must be tobacco-free.

The Mr Butts character has even been featured in the Doonesbury cartoon strip, and kids in their MR BUTTS costumes are hovering around the State Capitols in increasing numbers. GO MR BUTTS!!!