Every day in Oregon 20 kids start smoking. One-third of them will eventually die of a tobacco-related disease. Most adult smokers started using tobacco before they turned 18, which underscores the significance of this new policy.

Every day in Oregon 20 kids start smoking. One-third of them will eventually die of a tobacco-related disease. Most adult smokers started using tobacco before they turned 18, which underscores the significance of this new policy.

This is something we need to do a lot more talking about.

DHS' role is that of a steward of data about the use of the law. This is a law, not a DHS program, and our only legal role is to report accurate aggregate data about the use of the law. It is critical that we have accurate data so that informed ethical, legal and medical decisions can be made.

The major way we've reduced the death rate from heart disease is through lifestyle changes: eating better, exercising more, smoking less. It would require a lot of people to change the way they live, but there's no reason to think we can't have the same impact on Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

The true face of smoking is disease, death and horror -- not the glamour and sophistication the pushers in the tobacco industry try to portray.