The states are missing a golden opportunity to save millions of lives and billions of dollars in health care costs because they continue to shortchange proven programs that prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit, according to a report released today by a coalition of public health organizations. The report challenges states to do more to fight tobacco use – the nation’s No. 1 preventable cause of death – and help make the next generation tobacco-free.
This year (fiscal year 2017), the states will collect $26.6 billion from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes. But they will spend less than two percent of it – just $491.6 million – on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, according to the annual report assessing state funding of such programs.
The report – “Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 Tobacco Settlement 18 Years Later” – was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights and Truth Initiative.
