Tobacco blamed for 7,700 deaths
Milwaukee (AP 6/6/97)

The deaths of 7,725 WI residents in 1995 were linked to tobacco, according to a study.

The state Division of Health and the American Cancer Society said in a report Thursday that the deaths, ranging from those from lung cancer to those resulting from fires caused by careless smoking, accounted for 17% of all deaths, which totaled 45,037 that year.

In WI, 24% of all adults and 37% of all children between the ages of 14 and 17 smoked a total of 465,356,000 packs of cigarettes, the report said.

A coalition called Proposition 56 has proposed a 56-cent increase in the state cigarette tax, which now stands at 44 cents a pack.

Along with the release of the statistics was a statement from the head of Proposition 56, physician John Mielke, stating that young people are particularly sensitive to price increases.

The coalition includes the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Aurora Health Care, WI Health and Hospital Association, State Medical Society of WI, WI Education Association Council and the Coalition of WI Aging Groups.