Source
Department of Political Science, The University of Oklahoma, 455 West Lindsey, Room 217, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA. mgivel@ou.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To document and analyze comprehensive Oklahoma state tobacco policy-making trends and their link to public health trends.
METHODS:
A historical qualitative and archival content overview and analysis from 1985 to the present of previously secret tobacco industry documents.
RESULTS:
The 2002 Oklahoma State Plan for Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation indicated tobacco use was the largest cause of annual preventable death in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Plan recommended a variety of proposals, including sales restrictions, youth access enforcement, repealing state preemption of stricter local tobacco control laws, adopting clean indoor air laws, increasing tobacco taxes, cessation programs, and anti-tobacco education efforts.
CONCLUSIONS:
Since 1985, the powerful tobacco lobby in Oklahoma has been highly successful in maintaining lower tobacco taxes and reduced regulations, which is a major impediment to the anti-tobacco public health goals of the Oklahoma State Plan and enhanced public health.