New Report: States Shortchange Tobacco Prevention Programs Proven to Save Lives and Health Care Dollars
The states this year will collect a record $27.5 billion in revenue from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend less than 3 percent of it – $721.6 million – on programs to 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 cause of preventable disease and death – in order to accelerate progress and address large disparities in who still smokes in the United States.