Smoking Cessation Programs-Are Smokers Getting the Support They Were Promised?-Part 1

The states collect nearly $25 billion a year in tobacco-generated revenue from tobacco taxes and the 1998 state tobacco settlement. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).recommends that states spend a little Less than three percent of this $25 billion to fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs in every state at levels Unfortunately, no state currently funds prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels, and only nine states provide even half the recommended amount.

In fact, states have cut funding for tobacco prevention programs by more than 15% this year alone.

In FY 2010 states are projected to receive $8.1 billion in tobacco settlement funds and an additional 17.0 billion in tobacco tax revenues. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that states use $3.7 billion to fund tobacco prevention programs in 2010.

Unfortunately for smokers, states are only projected to spend a measly $629.5 million of the $8.1 billion on tobacco prevention.

Only one state — North Dakota — currently funds a tobacco prevention program at the level recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Only nine other states fund tobacco prevention at even half the CDC-recommended level, while 31 states and DC provides less than a quarter of the recommended funding.

If you’re a smoker, you just might be interested to discover where you cigarette taxes are being spent. Chances are it isn’t to help you quit smoking. Here’s how the numbers shake out.

Ten states are spending 50% or more of the CDC recommendations on tobacco prevention programs. Those states include Wyoming, Delaware, Maine, North Dakota, Alaska, South Dakota, Arkansas, Hawaii, Montana, and Vermont.

New Mexico, Iowa, Oklahoma, Arizona, Florida, Utah, Washington, Minnesota, and Mississippi are only spending 25%-49% of CDC recommendations on tobacco prevention programs.

Eighteen states spend 10%-24% of CDC recommendations on tobacco prevention. Those states include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Dist. Of Columbia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

States that are spending less than 10% of CDC recommendations for tobacco prevention programs include Alabama, Illinois, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

What do you think?

Are smokers getting the support they were promised from the 1988 Tobacco Settlement Funds?