California was once a national leader among in programs to discourage children from smoking but has dropped to 25th place in its commitment to anti-smoking education, a consortium of health groups said today.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids includes such groups as the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association. It says that while California will collect $1.75 billion this year from the 1998 national lawsuit settlement with tobacco companies, it's spending just 4.5 percent of that on programs to prevent tobacco use. And, the organization says, tobacco companies will spend more than $800 million to market products in California this year.
"California has long been a national leader in fighting tobacco, but the state has fallen behind both in its cigarette tax rate and in its funding of tobacco prevention and cessation programs," said Matthew L. Myers, president of the coalition. "To continue reducing tobacco's devastating toll, California should raise its cigarette tax and increase funding for tobacco prevention. As California has proven, tobacco prevention is a smart investment that reduces smoking, saves lives and saves money by reducing tobacco-related health care costs."
The group pegged California's anti-smoking spending at $79 million a year, less than 18 percent of the $441.9 million recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ironically, although California's spending remains virtually unchanged from 2008, its relative ranking increased from 31st to 25th because other states have reduced their spending to ease budget problems.
The state last increased its cigarette tax a decade ago and, the anti-smoking campaign says, now has the nation's 32nd lowest tax at 87 cents a pack. California anti-smoking groups have pushed for an increase, in part to offset the state's chronic budget deficits.
North Dakota has the group's top rating, spending $9.4 million a year on anti-smoking programs, slightly more than the CDC's recommendation. California is tied with Oregon at 25th and the lowest rating is given to Tennessee.
The full report may be found here.
Latest posts:
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.