COOS BAY, Ore. – The grandson of the founder of the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. was in Oregon last week to tell high school students that smoking is bad for them.
Patrick J. Reynolds has established his own organization, called the Foundation for a Tobaccofree Earth.
Last week he was in Coos Bay to encourage Oregon students to avoid tobacco.
According to the Web site, the percentage of Oregon high school students who smoke is higher than adults. And the estimate on annual health care costs directly caused by smoking is more than $1.1 billion.
Patrick Reynolds criticized state efforts to discourage smoking. He said Oregon ranks only 35th in funding for tobacco prevention programs, despite more than $307 million a year from the tobacco industry lawsuit settlement with the states.