Law Offices of James Scott Farrin Vice President Joins Volunteers to Urge NC Lawmakers to Support Funding for Tobacco Use Prevention Programs and Other Health Initiatives
(PRWEB) June 08, 2012
Advocates from across North Carolina gathered at the Capitol with a lifesaving message for North Carolina legislators: “You’re the Cure for a Healthy North Carolina.”
Eric Sanchez, the vice president of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin and a Cary, NC resident, joined dozens of youth advocates, heart disease and stroke survivors, and volunteers for the 2012 N.C. American Heart Association (AHA) “You’re the Cure” at the Capitol State Lobby Day on May 30.
At six-weeks old, Sanchez’ daughter was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect that required open heart surgery. The successful surgery was performed at Duke Children’s Hospital. The ordeal caused Sanchez to become engaged in raising congenital heart defect awareness and heart health in general.
Sanchez met with Sen. Josh Stein (D-Wake), Rep. Tom Murry (R-Wake), and Rep. Jennifer Weiss (D-Wake) to urge them to support funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs, mandated CPR training in high schools, and the adoption of a healthy choice option for foods sold outside the school nutrition program.
“We need programs in our schools that give our children the knowledge and the tools they need to make healthy choices for life,” Sanchez said. “Our legislators need to know that their constituents support programs that teach these skills and value the importance of continuing North Carolina’s tobacco prevention and cessation programs to help keep our kids from ever starting tobacco’s damaging and addictive habit.”
The use of tobacco products is the leading cause of preventable death and disability in North Carolina, and nearly 11,000 North Carolina children will become regular daily smokers this year. Smoking costs North Carolina taxpayers $ 2.46 billion in direct healthcare costs and $ 3.5 billion in lost productivity every year.
The Department of Health and Human Services allocated $ 17.3 million to tobacco prevention and cessation in fiscal year 2012. However, all programs will end on June 30, 2012 unless the General Assembly takes action to continue these programs.
“Today, North Carolina has the lowest teen smoking rates in the state’s history. Now is not the time to slow down or discontinue our teen tobacco use prevention work,” said Betsy Vetter, the government relations director for the American Heart Association.
Volunteer advocates also urged lawmakers to support legislation that would require CPR training for all high-school students, as well as legislation to adopt nutrition policies for foods sold outside of the school nutrition program so that they are consistent with national standards of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation Healthy Schools Framework or the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine.
Legislators appeared to be moved by the efforts of the American Heart Association and these volunteers.
The Senate is considering the state budget and funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs. A hearing has been requested for the CPR bill, and the nutrition bill has moved to a conference committee.
For more information on the American Heart Association’s “You’re the Cure” network, visit http://www.yourethecure.org or contact Betsy Vetter at 919-463-8328.
About the American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2006-07 the association invested more than $ 554 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives.
About the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin
The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin is headquartered in the American Tobacco Historic District, adjacent to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, in Durham, North Carolina, with 12 additional offices statewide in Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Goldsboro, Henderson, New Bern, Raleigh, Roanoke Rapids, Rocky Mount, Sanford and Wilson. The firm’s 28 attorneys focus on the following practice areas: Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Disability, Bankruptcy, Intellectual Property, Civil Rights, Mass Torts and Products Liability. Three of the attorneys are North Carolina Board Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation Law, one is a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Social Security Disability Law and one is a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law. The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin is involved in the community, including sponsorship of local philanthropic organizations and an active employee matching donation program.
Contact Information:
David Chamberlin
800-220-7321
http://www.farrin.com
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