A series of community forums on a draft plan for a comprehensive statewide tobacco prevention and control program finish with a meeting in Williston this evening.

The meeting at 7 p.m. today at the Williston Public Library, 1302 Davidson Dr., is held by the Tobacco Prevention and Control Advisory Committee appointed by Gov. John Hoeven.

Javayne Oyloe, health promotion team leader for Williston’s Upper Missouri District Health Unit, said the purpose of the meeting is to get public comment on a draft plan for the program. Oyloe said public comment is important for a comprehensive state tobacco plan because it could have an effect on businesses in all communities and prevention could save lives.

“There are three main goals for this new plan. One is to promote smoke-free establishments whether through state law or by people voluntarily doing so. The second is to promote ways for users to quit and the third is to prevent young people from taking it up in the first place,” said Oyloe.

Oyloe said the committee put together a pretty good plan that ties current state programs together into a more cohesive effort to implement and enforce. She also said having community comment points out things that need to be fixed or added to make the plan even more complete. “Great work has been done by the committee and now that we have this plan, we’ll be able to have contacts to work with like health providers and other programs to help with treatment and prevention,” said Oyloe.

Oyloe said the draft plan has been in the works since January and the completed plan is due by July 8. She said the time is right for a more thorough statewide plan because of an increase in state funding.

This added funding allows for more work with providers and the ability to get involved with more programs. More intensive work also can be done at prevention and treatment programs and a stronger statewide policy can be implemented, she added.

Oyloe has attended three of the previous five forums and she believes the public is in support of the plan.

“The public feedback has been very positive. People want to move to smoke-free establishments. They want to see kids not taking up smoking in the future,” said Oyloe.

Oyloe said after the final plan is submitted and accepted, it is an ongoing process to implement various features of the plan.