State To Release Results of 2003 Report on Youth Access to Tobacco

To:  News Departments and Reporters

What:
State health care workers will hold a press conference to discuss results of the 2003 Synar Report, which studies sales of tobacco products to people younger than 18. This year, Louisiana had a non-compliance rate (salespeople selling tobacco products to minors) of 5.66 percent, the lowest rate for Louisiana to date and the fourth-lowest rate in the nation. Department of Health Secretary David W. Hood, Office of Addictive Disorders Secretary Mike Duffy and Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter all will speak at the conference. Dr. Lisa Ulmer, the principal investigator for the report, also will attend the conference. The Synar Report will be embargoed until after the press conference ends. After that, a full copy will be available on the LDH Web site.

When:
Friday, February 21
10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Where:
Governor’s Press Conference Room
State Capitol - fourth floor