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Florida Ranks 15th In Protecting Kids From Tobacco; Alabama Is 49th
December 10, 2013
Fifteen years after the 1998 state tobacco settlement, Florida ranks 15th in the nation in funding programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit, according to a national report released today by a coalition of public health organizations. Alabama ranks 49th.
Florida currently spends $65.6 million a year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is 31.1 percent of the $210.9 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Other key findings for Florida include:
- Florida this year will collect $1.6 billion in revenue from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend just 4.2 percent of it on tobacco prevention programs.
- The tobacco companies spend $562.6 million a year to market their products in Florida. This is 9 times what the state spends on tobacco prevention.
In recent years, Florida has taken significant action to reduce tobacco use. In 2006, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring the state to spend 15 percent of its annual tobacco settlement revenue on tobacco prevention programs. This has allowed the state to conduct a well-funded, sustained tobacco prevention program. In 2009, Florida increased its cigarette tax by $1 per pack.
As a result, Florida recently reported that it reduced its high school smoking rate to just 8.6 percent in 2013, far below the national rate.
“Florida’s strong commitment to tobacco prevention is paying off with large declines in youth smoking that will save lives and save money by reducing tobacco-related health care costs,” said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “But Florida’s fight against tobacco isn’t over. To continue making progress, Florida must sustain its investment in tobacco prevention as required by the state Constitution and further increase the state tobacco tax.”
In Florida, 8.6 percent of high school students smoke, and 14,500 more kids become regular smokers each year. Tobacco annually claims 28,600 lives and costs the state $6.3 billion in health care bills.
Alabama currently spends $275,000 a year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is 0.5 percent of the $56.7 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Other key findings for Alabama include:
- Alabama this year will collect $223.1 million in revenue from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend just 0.1 percent of it on tobacco prevention programs. This means Alabama is spending less than a penny of every dollar in tobacco revenue to fight tobacco use.
- The tobacco companies spend $196.9 million a year to market their products in Alabama. This is 716 times what the state spends on tobacco prevention.
“Alabama is one of the most disappointing states when it comes to protecting kids from tobacco and needs to increase its investment in tobacco prevention,” said Myers. “Tobacco prevention is a smart investment that saves lives and saves money by reducing tobacco-related health care costs. States are being truly penny-wise and pound-foolish when they shortchange tobacco prevention programs.”
In Alabama, 22.9 percent of high school students smoke, and 6,800 more kids become regular smokers each year. Tobacco annually claims 7,500 lives and costs the state $1.5 billion in health care bills.
Comments
2 Responses to “Florida Ranks 15th In Protecting Kids From Tobacco; Alabama Is 49th”
The only real way to end nicotine addiction is to actually find a way to block its effect on the brain. Users quickly wish they had never started but are often already hooked. The danger of tasting the fobidden fruit — it bites back.
David for drug cures for drug problems
(seems contradictory, though)
“In Florida, 8.6 percent of high school students smoke, and 14,500 more kids become regular smokers each year. Tobacco annually claims 28,600 lives and costs the state $6.3 billion in health care bills.” And they’re available at your corner store.. The tobacco lobbyist work hard payin off our lawmakers to allow this to happen.. This product should be shutdown like a meth lab..