Cancer Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Increase Funds for Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Programs
Cancer Advocates Gathered at the Statehouse Today to Say West Virginia Can and Must Do Better to Reduce the Burden of Tobacco
New Hampshire Lawmakers Vote Against Public Health; Reduce Tobacco Control Program Funding
Current funding levels already far below Centers for Disease Control recommended amount
April 1, 2025
CONCORD, NH – April 1, 2025 – Today, New Hampshire lawmakers voted to cut funding to the state's lifesaving tobacco control program, despite the ongoing risks of tobacco addiction for New Hampshire’s kids and adults alike.
The following statement can be attributed to Mike Rollo, New Hampshire director of government relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
“This is no April Fool’s Day joke: despite already ranking near the bottom of the nation in tobacco control program funding levels, lawmakers have acted against the interest of public health by further cutting back this lifesaving – and cost saving – public health investment.
“Today’s decision to cut funding to our state tobacco control program is an extremely costly and unnecessary road to take. Any short-term savings are dwarfed by the staggering toll tobacco use takes on our economy and our health care. Research shows that the more states spend on tobacco control, the greater the decrease in smoking – which not only saves money but saves lives.
“Every year, nearly 2000 New Hampshire kids under 18 try cigarettes for the first time. We owe it to them to provide the resources needed to avoid picking up this deadly addiction in the first place – and to give adults who smoke the support they need to quit.”
New Hampshire incurs $847 million in annual healthcare costs due to tobacco use, and over one third of the cancers in the state are attributable to tobacco use – yet the state funds its tobacco control program at only 3.4% of the Centers for Disease Control recommended amount. For additional resources on the toll of tobacco in New Hampshire, click here.
###
More Press Releases About