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 Last week’s ruling by the State
Supreme Court that the cigarette price increase was unconstitutional is
disappointing, but it’s important to note that the court’s decision was based
on how the price increase was enacted, not the value or worth of increasing the
price of cigarettes. The court ruled that the bill did not meet constitutional
requirements because it was passed in the final days of the legislative
session, and appeared to be a revenue bill.
We respect the Supreme Court’s
ruling that the price increase contained in Senate Bill 845 does not meet the
constitutional requirements. We encourage policy makers to continue to seek
statewide solutions to prevent and reduce tobacco use.
Yet, the experiences of other
states, and even history in Oklahoma shows that a meaningful increase in the
price of cigarettes is an effective way to reduce youth smoking, encourage
smokers to quit, and save lives. Smoking remains the leading cause of
preventable death and disability in our state.
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 The application period
for Certified Healthy Oklahoma is now open.
Certified Healthy
Oklahoma programs are a joint effort of the Oklahoma State Department of
Health, The State Chamber, The Oklahoma Academy, Oklahoma Turning Point
Council, and other partners who are helping to shape a healthier future for
Oklahoma.
Criteria details and
application information for all Certified Healthy Oklahoma programs are now
available on the Certified Healthy Oklahoma website. The application period
closes on November 1st.
Successfully getting Certified Healthy Oklahoma status is the first step in meeting the criteria for TSET's Healthy Communities and Healthy Schools Incentive Grant programs.
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Fresher. Tastier. Healthier. Farmers markets bring a lot to the table.
Build a healthy plate with fresh produce from your local farmers market.
 The food you buy at a local farmers market is the freshest
and tastiest available, just ask Alan Ware, the assistant coordinator for the TSET Healthy
Living Program serving Garvin County and member of the Pauls Valley
Farmers Market Association. Ware spent
26 years working for the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and helped
start a farmers market in Pauls Valley.
But it took a lot of trial and error to get it started. The Pauls Valley farmers market
officially opened in June and offers 100% Oklahoma-grown produce, giving locals
access to quality fruits and vegetables.
The Pauls Valley farmers market is increasing the
availability of fresh produce and accepts Chickasaw Nation vouchers for senior
citizens. Organizers are working on a process to accept Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for low-income individuals and
families.
In Oklahoma, one out of every three adults are obese and less than half of the population consumes one fruit daily. About 75 percent
of Oklahomans eat only one vegetable per day. By making fresh fruits and vegetables readily
available, people are able to create healthier meal options. Fruits and
vegetables are naturally low in fat, calories and sodium, and they have no
cholesterol. Plus they contain lots of fiber, vitamins, minerals and
antioxidants, all essential for good health.
Want to know how you can get your hands on fresh farmers
market produce? Shape Your Future,
a program of TSET, has added a free resource to help Oklahomans get familiar
with local markets. The new webpage,
includes farmers market tips, videos and more for first time farmers market
visitors and market pros. The site also offers an interactive map to showcase
markets statewide, and highlights markets that accept SNAP benefits, Senior
Nutrition Farmers Market Program benefits, and Double Up Oklahoma markets.
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Gentry and Bodie, children of Rep. Mike Osburn, Edmond, love their fruits and veggies! The
Osburns stopped by the display at Penn Square Mall earlier this
month. The display is part of the Shape Your Future mall partnership program
with eight malls across the state to share the message to eat better, move more
and be tobacco free. These mall displays remind shoppers to eat their
fruits and veggies to improve overall health to reduce the leading
causes of preventable death in Oklahoma – cardiovascular disease and cancer.
 Peer
pressure to use tobacco isn’t the only thing parents should be worried about.
For decades, Big Tobacco has been targeting kids in order to recruit new
smokers. Through a variety of deceptive tactics, they ensure innocent and
impressionable children are being bombarded with their products and messaging.
Why
do they do this? Since more than half of all smokers die from smoking-related
diseases, the tobacco industry counts on a steady stream of young newcomers to
keep their business profitable.
Talk
to your kids about the dangers of tobacco and find
tips to get the conversation started here.
Coming soon: more
information from Tobacco Stops With Me on the importance of stopping kids before
they ever start using tobacco.
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Check out milestones and accomplishments from 2016 in the TSET annual report. Over the years, TSET’s mission has remained steadfast and simple: to reduce the number of preventable deaths from cancer and cardiovascular disease by preventing and reducing tobacco use and obesity.
Learn about Oklahoma’s health indicators and outcomes in our latest annual report by clicking here.
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