Chandler is the the CEO for the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to make Kentuckians healthier. He spoke to the Purchase Area Development District Board of Directors Monday about the state of health in our area.
Chandler says the Purchase area has seen a major decline in the smoking rate over the last few years.
“In 2012, the smoking rate here in the Purchase area was 30 percent,” Chandler said. “It's now only 18 percent. That's an amazing drop in just four years. The Purchase area actually has the lowest smoking rate in the whole state.”
Chandler said smoking and obesity are the state's two biggest problems. He says the Foundation wants to try to tackle those problems.
“We want more smoke-free ordinances around the state and we want to hike the tobacco tax,” Chandler said. “We would like to see the cigarette tax go up considerably We know that works in lowering the smoking rate.”
Funded by an $50 million endowment, the mission of the Foundation is to address the unmet health needs of Kentuckians by developing and influencing health policy, improving access to care, reducing health risks and disparities, and promoting health equity.
