I have vigorously supported comprehensive efforts to reduce youth smoking in our state. Youth empowerment approaches are one of the most promising strategies to attain our goal of achieving a 50 percent reduction in tobacco use by 2010. I applaud your efforts to work closely with our Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch as your research helps us evaluate the impact of teen empowerment programs in North Carolina.

July 21, 2000

-- Governor James B. Hunt, Jr.