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Ten years after the November 1998 state tobacco settlement, we find that most states have failed to keep their promise to use a significant portion of the settlement funds to reduce tobacco’s terrible toll on America’s children, families and communities. Please take a minute to write a letter to the editor of your local paper about the importance of increasing state tobacco prevention and cessation funding.
Talking Points
- Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in America and around the world.
- More than 6.3 million children under age 18 alive today will eventually die from smoking-related disease, unless current rates are reversed.
- Research shows that tobacco prevention programs work to keep kids from smoking and to save lives, especially when they are funded at the minimum level recommend by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- In the last 10 years, the states have spent just 3.2 percent of their total tobacco-generated revenue on tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
- Increasing state tobacco prevention funding is a win-win-win solution: a health win that reduces smoking and saves lives; a fiscal win that raises revenue and reduces health care costs; and a political win that is popular with the public.
- State leaders should make it a top priority to combat tobacco use by adequately funding programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit.
- It's time to put our kids first by fully funding prevention at the CDC recommended level!
Step 1 - Select a RecipientPlease send your letter to your local newspaper. |
