National Working Group for ACTTION

December 28, 2009

On December 1, Indiana held the first state-specific ACTTION Summit in Indianapolis. Led by Indiana Health Commissioner, Dr. Judy Monroe, and the state’s Executive Director of the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation, Karla Sneegas, the Indiana Cessation Summit brought together 85 state public health leaders to discuss access to tobacco cessation treatment in Indiana. Key partners in attendance included representatives from business, employer, insurer and religious groups, as well as representatives involved in state and local tobacco control coalitions and public health organizations.

Attendees engaged in a day-long dialogue to: establish guiding principles for the state’s tobacco efforts; strengthen partnerships to support change within each state sector; share ideas and resources available for promoting tobacco cessation; and ensure support and access to treatment for the state’s tobacco users.

During the meeting, attendees agreed that many elements contribute to how the state of Indiana offers access to tobacco cessation treatments and services, including policy, media, quitlines and clinical interventions from health care providers. They identified the need for greater support from employers, payors, health care professionals, educators and social support systems in order to successfully broaden the access to available tobacco cessation services throughout the state. The group identified a list of strategies to increase cessation in Indiana, with an emphasis on those which were of low- to no-cost. Focus areas include:

·         Business and industry

·         Policy change

·         Electronic/Internet solutions

·         Health care provider education

·         Quitline promotion

·         Patient and community education

As a next step, Dr. Karen Hudmon, a professor at Purdue University’s School of Pharmacy, will be developing an Indiana Summit case study that can be shared with others to serve as a model for how states, organization and individuals can expand the Call for ACTTION and increase its profile with decision-makers. Keep an eye out in future issues of the ACTTION Update for new information on Indiana’s efforts.

Your Call to Action: Based on the success of the first state-specific ACTTION Summit in Indiana, determine whether your state can benefit from convening your own summit.