NMCAT’s policy priorities and accomplishments include:

Clean Indoor Air:

NMCAT works to educate the public as well as decision makers regarding the health, social and economic impacts of secondhand smoke. NMCAT led the campaign to pass a strong ordinance in Albuquerque in 2003 and has provided training, technical assistance and campaign support to local advocates and policy makers that resulted in the passage of strong local clean indoor air laws in a number of other communities across the state.
In 2007, NMCAT and its partners led the campaign in support of the Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air Act to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke in nearly all public places and workplaces across the state, including retail stores, offices, and all restaurants and bars. The Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air passed the Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Richardson. It took effect June 15, 2007. NMCAT continues to work in collaboration with the NM Dept. of Health, enforcement agencies, local coalitions, and businesses to support implementation of the statewide law. For more information, visit http://www.smokefreenm.com.

Increase in Tobacco Prices:

Significant increases in the price of tobacco products have been proven to reduce smoking consumption and prevalence, particularly among youth. NMCAT campaigned successfully during the 2003 Legislative session to increase the state cigarette tax by 70 cents per pack, raising the tax to $.91 per pack, effective July 1, 2003. NMCAT also continues to support efforts to increase the price of smokeless tobacco and other tobacco products and to curb the Tobacco Industry's irresponsible marketing practices aimed at youth and other disparately affected groups.

Stewardship of Tobacco Settlement Funds:

The State of New Mexico receives more than $35 million annually through the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between states and the tobacco companies. NMCAT works each year to ensure these funds are preserved and continue to be spent on health programs. NMCAT has continued to advocate for an increase in the allocation of funds for tobacco use prevention and cessation to at least the minimum of $14 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for an effective comprehensive statewide tobacco control program. Annual tobacco use prevention and cessation program funding has increased from $5 million in 2003 to a Legislative appropriation of $9.6 million in 2007, including $500,000 specifically for tribal programs. The use and distribution of these funds are overseen by the New Mexico Department of Health (or the Indian Affairs Dept. for the tribal appropriation) to ensure that prevention and cessation programs adhere to "best practice" guidelines developed by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Tobacco Use Cessation:

New Mexico is currently the only state in the nation with a state law requiring private insurance coverage of services and treatment to help people quit smoking and using other tobacco products. This law was passed by the State Legislature in 2003. NMCAT provided assistance and input to develop the implementing regulations for this law. NMCAT continues to promote the cessation services provided through the New Mexico Department of Health's free help line, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), as well as other efforts to help pregnant women and people suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease quit smoking.

Tribal Tobacco Coalition:

NMCAT first formed a Tribal Advisory Group in Feb. 2002 and supported their application for grant funding to form the Tribal Tobacco Health Education and Outreach Project. The project continued with funding from the Con Alma Health Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and additional funding from NMCAT partners, including the American Cancer Society and the New Mexico Dept. of Health. The Statewide Tribal Tobacco Coalition was established in 2006 to provide a network of tribal advocates to coordinate efforts to address health, social and economic issues related to commercial tobacco use and secondhand smoke. For more information about the Tribal Tobacco Coalition, contact .

Grassroots Advocacy and Support for Local Coalitions:

Each year NMCAT hosts meetings of our statewide grassroots coalition in order to provide advocates with an opportunity for networking and training on key issues. We also maintain the New Mexico Tobacco Free Action Network (TFAN), an e-mail communication system of updates and action alerts on critical tobacco control activities at the local, state, and federal level; provide localized training on advocacy, coalition building and developing strategies for successful policy campaigns; and provide technical assistance to local coalitions, other state coalitions, and decision-makers to support the development and implementation of responsible tobacco control policies. NMCAT places a strong emphasis on building partnerships at every level and including the voices and perspectives of diverse stakeholders in the development of public policies that will truly change the way our communities think about tobacco.