by , @d_yetter –

Dr. Salvatore Bertolone, pediatric oncologist, talks about a smoking ban, e-cigarettes and a cigarette tax. Jessica Ebelhar, The C-J

Encouraged by a poll that shows a growing number of Kentuckians support a statewide smoke-free law, a major state health policy group said it is ready to join the battle for such a law in a state with the nation’s highest rate of smoking.

“We are looking at the possibility of really getting involved in a big way,” said Ben Chandler, president of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. “It’s just a hugely expensive problem we’ve got that badly affects the health of our people.”

Further, Chandler said, his group – which traditionally has not lobbied for causes – is ready to join the fight for an increase of at least $1 in Kentucky’s relatively low cigarette tax of 60 cents a pack. The national average cigarette tax per pack is $1.69.

Chandler said the health costs of smoking are so huge for Kentucky – about $1.9 billion a year – that the foundation can no longer sit back and let other advocates lobby for changes meant to reduce smoking or improve public health, including a smoke-free law and cigarette tax hike.

The human toll of smoking is deadly in a state with the highest rate of cancer deaths, many linked to smoking, he said.

“Almost 8,900 adults die from smoking-related causes a year,” Chandler said. “It’s just a massive, massive problem.”

Chandler said that makes tobacco far more deadly than drug overdoses, which killed an estimated 1,200 people in 2015, or car crashes, which kill about 800 people a year.

“With tobacco, it’s a slow process,” he said. “It causes way more deaths.”

A poll released Tuesday by the foundation shows that 71 percent of Kentuckians support a law to ban smoking in most public places. That’s a 5 percent increase over last year and up 17 points from 2011 — the first year the foundation conducted such a poll and found 54 percent of Kentuckians supported a statewide smoke-free law.

The question, part of an annual poll by the foundation on health issues, reads: “Would you favor or oppose a state law in Kentucky that would prohibit smoking in most public places, including workplaces, public buildings, offices, restaurants and bars?”

While public support has grown for a statewide smoke-free law over the years, political support has not. Despite bipartisan backers, the last major push for such a law failed in 2015 after a bill passed the House but died in the Senate, the fifth year such a measure had failed in Frankfort.

“I’d say the poll is further proof that most elected officials are way behind the public on this issue,” said Amy Barkley, with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

Tonya Chang, senior government relations official with the American Heart Association, said health advocates decided to regroup in 2016 and try to encourage more local governments to adopt such laws. In recent years, 24 local communities or cities have adopted laws to limit smoking in public places, including Lexington and Louisville, local measures advocates say cover about one-third of the state.

“There was just a lack of political will to pass it at the state level,” she said.

Opposition generally has involved people who argue they should have freedom to smoke and legislators reluctant to enact a statewide mandate.

A statewide smoke-free bill died in a House committee in 2016. And this year, a measure to ban tobacco products from public school grounds sponsored by Sen. Ralph Alvarado, a physician and Winchester Republican, passed the Senate but died in the House.

Chang said she hopes the poll’s findings make a difference.

“I would encourage legislators to take a look at this poll and talk to their constituents,” Chang said.

Chang said if people want such a law, they should contact their state representatives and senators.

“We know there is overwhelming public support for this,” she said. “We have to show there is not only public support, there is public demand.”

As for the cigarette tax, Chang said she would welcome help from the foundation in seeking a hike of at least $1 in Kentucky’s cigarette tax. The main goal is not to raise revenue, although it would, but to discourage smoking. Research from other states shows the tax must go up at least $1 before people cut back or quit smoking, Chang said.

Chandler said that with talk of tax reform underway in Frankfort, likely to be addressed in a special legislative session this year, the foundation will encourage consideration of the cigarette tax hike.

He said he expects the foundation to play an increasingly active role in such matters.

The foundation was created in 2001 with funds available after Anthem took over Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Kentucky, a not-for-profit company, and Blue Cross agreed to direct some assets it had accumulated for a charitable cause.

Chandler, who was Kentucky attorney general at the time and helped create the foundation, said its assets are worth about $52 million. He said the foundation board is reviewing ways it can be more active in improving health in Kentucky.

“We want to have an impact on public policy,” he said. “We want to identify things that policymakers can do to get the people of Kentucky to be healthier.”

Contact reporter  Deborah Yetter at 502-582-4228 or at [email protected].