CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / SACRAMENTO

Anti-smoking advocates celebrated Tuesday’s 20th anniversary of California’s groundbreaking tobacco-control effort by releasing a slew of data showing that cigarette use is continuing its steep decline in the Golden State.

Data released by the state Department of Public Health show that smoking rates among adults have declined 41% since voters approved the California Tobacco Control Program, which instituted a 25-cent tax per pack on cigarettes that has funneled 5 cents a pack to tobacco control.

In 1988, nearly 23% of the public smoked, compared with 13% last year.

Last year also saw a decline in youth smoking, to 14.6%, one of the lowest rates in the nation, state health officials said.

Meanwhile, telephone calls to the “1-800-No-Butts” help line are up 25% over last year, data show. Kimberly Belshe, secretary of California’s Health and Human Services Agency, said in an announcement that authorities estimate the program has over the last two decades saved 1 million lives and $86 billion in healthcare costs.

-- Eric Bailey