Washington, D.C. – Dec. 21, 2010 – Several states significantly strengthened their tobacco control policies in 2010 by passing comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws or increasing their tobacco excise taxes, but state funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs sank to a new low, adding urgency to the need for legislators to redouble their efforts to save lives and reduce the negative toll of tobacco use in 2011.
Four states – Kansas, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Michigan – passed and implemented comprehensive smoke-free laws this year that protect workers and patrons from the hazards of secondhand smoke. In addition, six states – New York, New Mexico, Utah, South Carolina, Washington, and Hawaii – and Guam raised their tobacco taxes, with New York becoming the first state with a tax above $4 and South Carolina raising its tobacco tax for the first time in 33 years.
But there was also troubling news in tobacco control this year, with a new report showing that states cut funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs to their lowest level since 1999, when they began receiving funding through the Master Settlement Agreement with the tobacco companies.
“Despite major advances this year in the effort to ensure smoke-free workplaces and to discourage smoking through higher tobacco taxes, we saw a continuation of dwindling funding for proven programs that help smokers quit,” said John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “The record reduction in spending by states on cessation and prevention programs makes it clear that there is much more work to be done to protect kids and adults from the deadly effects of tobacco use.”
Thirty-five states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico now require 100 percent smoke-free workplaces and/or restaurants and/or bars. In addition to the statewide successes this year, many local smoke-free ordinances were passed and implemented. Seven additional towns across South Carolina went smoke-free, bringing to 37 the total number of ordinances passed in the state. In Texas, San Antonio was the last of the state’s major cities to pass a comprehensive smoke-free law, joining Houston, Dallas and Austin. Their new law goes into effect in August 2011. Other cities, including Savannah, GA, and Bismarck, ND, also passed smoke-free laws that cover 100 percent of workplaces. Across the United States, nearly 22,000 municipalities are now covered by a 100 percent smoke-free provision in workplaces, and/or restaurants, and/or bars, by a state, commonwealth, or local law, representing 79 percent of the U.S. population.
Since the beginning of 2002, 47 states, the District of Columbia and several U.S. territories have raised their tobacco taxes. This year, New York, New Mexico, Utah, South Carolina, Washington, Hawaii and Guam all raised their taxes which are now: $4.35, $1.66, $1.70, $0.57, $3.025, $3.00 and $3.00 respectively. South Carolina’s historic increase came after a decade-long battle. Until 2010, the state had the lowest tobacco tax in the nation and had not passed an increase since 1977. Missouri now has the lowest tax in the nation at 17 cents.
Research has consistently shown that every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by 7 percent and overall cigarette consumption by about 4 percent.
A new report released in November by ACS CAN, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that states have cut funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs to their lowest level since 1999. In fiscal year 2011, the states have budgeted $517.2 million for tobacco prevention and cessation programs, representing a nine percent cut in the past year and a 28 percent cut in the past three years.
In December, Washington State, a leader in tobacco control, cut 3 million dollars from its prevention program. Those cuts were in addition to a 20 percent funding decrease during the 2010 legislative session – despite the fact that, since its inception, the program has halved state youth smoking and has saved 13,000 lives.
In a positive step, starting in October 2010, a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act required state Medicaid programs to begin covering tobacco cessation services for pregnant women. These services are now available without co-pays or deductibles.
“With a tough fiscal year ahead for the states, legislators should look to tobacco control as a win-win method to save both health care dollars and lives,” said Christopher W. Hansen, president of ACS CAN. “Now is not the time to back down on tobacco control. States need to continue the positive trend of passing comprehensive smoke-free laws and increasing tobacco taxes with new revenue directed to fund critical lifesaving tobacco prevention and cessation programs.”
The American Cancer Society and its advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN, work in partnership with state policymakers across the country to ensure that tobacco use is addressed through a comprehensive approach including 1) raising the price of tobacco products, 2) implementing 100 percent smoke free policies and 3) fully funding and sustaining evidenced-based, statewide tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
States with comprehensive tobacco control programs experience faster declines in cigarette sales, smoking prevalence, and lung cancer incidence and mortality than states that do not invest in these programs.
Secondhand smoke is a major health hazard, proven to cause lung cancer, heart disease and emphysema. With 4,000 substances and more than 50 carcinogens – including arsenic and polonium – secondhand smoke causes cancer and heart and lung disease and kills nearly 50,000 nonsmoking Americans each year, including 3,400 deaths from lung cancer. The use of tobacco products remains the nation’s number one cause of preventable death, killing approximately 443,000 Americans and costing $96 billion in direct health care costs each year.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Nicole Bender
(202) 661-5773
[email protected]
Steven Weiss
(202) 661-5711
[email protected]