Contacts: Elisia Greiner (212) 601-8083
Susan Gibowicz (212) 601-8300
STUDY SHOWS EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP INCREASES QUIT ATTEMPTS AMONG SMOKERS
American Cancer Society and SmithKline Beecham Are Making a Difference Among Smokers
New York, November 6, 1997 -- The national impact of the partnership between the American Cancer Society and SmithKline Beecham Consumer Healthcare has been demonstrated by the success of the American Cancer Society's 1996 Great American Smokeout, as noted in the September 19, 1997 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study, conducted by Lieberman Research, Inc., shows that an estimated 30.5 million smokers (64 percent of all U.S. smokers) were exposed to Great American Smokeout promotions sponsored by SmithKline Beecham and the American Cancer Society in 1996. Furthermore, the percentage of smokers who initiated any action during the Great American Smokeout increased from 18 percent in 1995 (before SmithKline Beecham became involved) to 26 percent the following year.
The American Cancer Society, the nation's largest voluntary health organization, partnered last year with SmithKline Beecham, the marketers of Nicorette" nicotine gum and NicoDerm" CQ" nicotine patch, to help the organization accomplish its goal of reducing the number of smokers and prevalence of smoking-related disease. Evidence clearly shows that, when handled responsibly, educational partnerships like that of the American Cancer Society and SmithKline Beecham increase communication of helpful, and sometimes life-saving, information to the broader public.
On a grassroots level, the American Cancer Society and SmithKline Beecham are continuing an educational campaign known as the NicoVan Stop Smoking Counseling Vehicle. The program began in February 1997 and has helped make free one-on-one smoking cessation counseling available to over 14,000 smokers across the U.S. The NicoVan, a 34-foot mobile counseling center, has been customized with colorful graphics to become the "world's largest stop smoking brochure."
The partnership supports the American Cancer Society's efforts to expand its education of products and methods relevant to smoking cessation and the fight against cancer with techniques, media and resources which might not be otherwise accessible. Plans are under way for continued efforts to provide smokers with information about the quitting process and to educate them about the deadly, addictive nature of cigarette smoking. SmithKline Beecham supports the overall cancer-fighting mission of the American Cancer Society with a $1 million annual grant.
The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major public health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. For more information about the American Cancer Society and its programs, contact your local American Cancer Society or call (800) ACS-2345 or visit the American Cancer Society on the World Wide Web (http://www.cancer.org).
SmithKline Beecham (NYSE:SBH) -- one of the world's leading health care companies -- discovers, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, health-related consumer products and health services including laboratory testing, disease management and pharmaceutical benefit management. For company information, visit SmithKline Beecham on the World Wide Web (http://www.sb.com).
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