Are State Tobacco Control Programs Thriving or Under Attack?

While ARRA federal monies have boosted state tobacco control efforts in some states, other states have experienced dismantling, defunding, or restructuring of their existing programs. Of particular interest are the programs that were created or enhanced during the initiation years when MSA funding was created. The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (TFK) reports that most states are failing to properly fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs. In their latest report, issued in November 2010, states collected $25.3 billion from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes in Fiscal year 2011 but are spending only two percent of it on tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Over the past three years, states cut tobacco control funding by 28 percent. This part of the panel presentation will discuss changes in tobacco control state programs over the past 12 months and consider trends for the future. Two states, Indiana and North Carolina, set up independent state agencies in 2000, when MSA funding was appropriated by their respective legislative bodies. In 2011, both states closed these agencies and transitioned the programs into state health departments. The current status for both programs will be reviewed along with other changes in funding for state programs.