Sections
Log in
Top News
U.S. News World News Featured Voices
Odd News
Entertainment
Movies Music TV
Sports
Soccer NFL NBA MLB
Photos
News Entertainment Sports Features
More...
Defense Featured Science Health Video Archive Almanac
About Feedback Privacy Policy
About Feedback Privacy Policy
Search
Trending
San Francisco 49ers
Lottery
SpaceX
Lyft
Execution
France strike
Winter storm
Shipyard shooting
E. coli
USS Gerald R. Ford
U.S. News
Dec. 3, 2018 / 2:45 AM

20 years after settlement, billions in anti-tobacco funds spent elsewhere

"We could have the first tobacco-free generation... if states spent more money," one stop-smoking advocate said.

By
Clyde Hughes
Since U.S. tobacco companies agreed 20 years ago to pay billions to states for cessation efforts, experts say very little of that money has been spent for that purpose. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Workers take down a Marlboro cigarettes billboard in 1999 as part of the state of Missouri's $6.7 billion settlement with the tobacco industry to rid Missouri of tobacco advertising. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Twenty years after 46 states and the District of Columbia reached a historic settlement with four major tobacco companies, the United States has seen an unprecedented drop in adult smoking. But advocates say the billions paid to states are not always being targeted for smoking cessation.

The 1998 agreement established a fund in which tobacco companies -- Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, Brown & Williamson and Lorillard, as well as industry trade associations -- pay states billions annually for smoking-related healthcare costs, impose permanent restrictions on tobacco marketing and contribute $1.5 billion to an entity dedicated to counter-advertising and public education.

Partly due to the agreement, smoking in the United States is at its lowest level since 1951, and per capita use has not been so low since the 1930s, even though the U.S. population has doubled in the last seven decades, according to the National Association of Attorneys General.

John Schachter, spokesman for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said there have been many missed opportunities because states have repurposed their tobacco funds.

RELATED Smoking fatigue increases after six weeks of quitting

"We've made incredible progress over the last 20 years bringing down smoking rates for adults and youth," Schachter told UPI. "There's still a lot of work to be done. In light of the billions of dollars the tobacco settlement yielded, it would be great if more of the states used it for tobacco prevention and cessation.

"We only have a few states that devote remotely close to the money needed for those programs. We could really have the first tobacco-free generation if states spent more money on top of other policies that we've supported."

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said the annual payments will have netted states $246 billion by 2023. But most states have consistently fallen far short of using that money to implement recommendations made by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

RELATED Obesity linked to COPD in nonsmokers

For fiscal 2018, states provided just 22 percent of the recommended funding to such prevention and cessation efforts.

"Despite having evidence that tobacco-control efforts and programs save lives, in the past 20 years, states have by and large failed to fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs at the levels needed to drive down smoking rates," Deb Brown, chief mission officer of the American Lung Association, told UPI.

"Fortunately, the [tobacco companies'] annual payments to states do not have an end date, and so our state leaders still have the opportunity to do the right thing."

Many states have placed the tobacco settlement funds into their general treasury, making the money available for anything -- from filling budget holes to supporting other programs. The American Lung Association said North and South Carolina, for example, used some of their funds to support tobacco farmers and producers.

Brown said of the $27.5 billion states collected this year, less than 3 percent -- roughly $721.6 million -- will be spent on programs to help smokers stop and prevent kids from picking up the habit. She said Alaska is the only one that's funded its tobacco prevention program at CDC-recommended levels this year.

Joel London, a spokesman for the CDC's Office of Smoking and Health, said the agency has learned a lot over the past two decades what measures are effective.

"We used several lessons that we've learned from several states that were at forefront of the movement and had promising success early on," London said of CDC efforts to document best practices in smoking cessation programs.

"We now have several decades of experience and science showing what works to reduce tobacco use among youth and adults. We've seen great progress, often not as quickly as we prefer, but we've seen progress nonetheless."

He added that electronic cigarettes, which are popular among young adults, have changed the dynamic in the battle against tobacco.

"E-cigarette companies can legally promote these products by using techniques that are prohibited for cigarettes by the master settlement agreement, including television and radio ads, billboards, outdoor signage and sponsorships," London said.

He said e-cigarettes must also be included in prevention and cessation programs -- pointing out that they've been the most popular tobacco product among U.S. youth since 2014 -- and experts saw a 78 percent increase in e-cigarette use among high school students from 2017 to 2018.

Regarding efforts that can still be made, Schachter pointed to California voters passing a measure last month that adds $2 to cigarette taxes -- and a public service campaign in Florida. He said states could also raise the legal smoking age to 21. In most states, it's 18. He also said only half of states have smoke-free environment laws that define places where people can smoke.

"The bad news is that tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, and we still have 34 million current adult cigarette smokers," London said. "The good news is that we know what works ... including proven interventions such as tobacco product price increases, comprehensive smoke-free laws, hard-hitting mass media campaigns and access to cessation resources.

"If we were to fully invest in and implement comprehensive tobacco control programs that advance these proven strategies, we could significantly reduce the staggering toll that tobacco use has on society."

  • Topics
  • R.J. Reynolds
  • E-cigarettes

Latest Headlines

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asks for articles of impeachment against Trump
U.S. News // 3 hours ago
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asks for articles of impeachment against Trump
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Declaring "no one is above the law," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday asked committee chairmen investigating President Donald Trump to go ahead with articles of impeachment.

Weekly U.S. jobless claims come in well below expectations at 203,000
U.S. News // 20 minutes ago
Weekly U.S. jobless claims come in well below expectations at 203,000
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. jobless claims dropped to a surprisingly low level in weekly figures released Thursday, giving a boost to sentiment that the labor market remains strong despite a slowing global economy.

United CEO Oscar Munoz to leave post in May
U.S. News // 1 hour ago
United CEO Oscar Munoz to leave post in May
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- United Airlines announced a leadership change Thursday, saying CEO Oscar Munoz will leave the post in May and will be replaced by President Scott Kirby.

Huawei sues FCC in bid to fight off U.S. restrictions
U.S. News // 2 hours ago
Huawei sues FCC in bid to fight off U.S. restrictions
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Huawei said Thursday it has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, in an effort to rollback the agency's restrictions on the Chinese telecommunications company.

Experts: China feeling pressure to use force in Taiwan
U.S. News // 3 hours ago
Experts: China feeling pressure to use force in Taiwan
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- The chances that China will invade Taiwan have increased, but the risk might be too great, two experts said at a conference in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., close to creating 1st office for deaf, hard of hearing
U.S. News // 5 hours ago
Washington, D.C., close to creating 1st office for deaf, hard of hearing
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- A historic bill that would create the first-ever government office for the deaf and hard of hearing in Washington, D.C., is moving closer to fruition.

Watch live: SpaceX tries again for cargo launch with robot aboard
U.S. News // 8 hours ago
Watch live: SpaceX tries again for cargo launch with robot aboard
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- SpaceX plans a second attempt Thursday for its 19th cargo mission to the International Space Station, carrying supplies, experiments and a new version of the CIMON robot designed to interact with astronauts.

20 women sue Lyft alleging sexual assault by drivers
U.S. News // 8 hours ago
20 women sue Lyft alleging sexual assault by drivers
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Twenty women who say they were sexually assaulted or raped by Lyft drivers have filed a lawsuit against the rideshare company, their attorney said.

Tennessee governor says he won't intervene in Lee Hall's execution
U.S. News // 10 hours ago
Tennessee governor says he won't intervene in Lee Hall's execution
Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said Wednesday he will not intervene in the case of blind death row inmate Lee Hall who is scheduled to be executed Thursday.

Fuji Food Products recalls ready to eat sushi for potential listeria contamination
U.S. News // 13 hours ago
Fuji Food Products recalls ready to eat sushi for potential listeria contamination
Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Fuji Food Products announced a voluntary recall of ready to eat sushi and other pre-packaged foods due to potential listeria contamination.

Trending Stories

Trump administration unveils rule dropping 688,000 from food stamp program
Trump administration unveils rule dropping 688,000 from food stamp program
Old Man Winter's next blow to come in form of major storm
Old Man Winter's next blow to come in form of major storm
Tennessee governor says he won't intervene in Lee Hall's execution
Tennessee governor says he won't intervene in Lee Hall's execution
3 killed, including gunman, in Pearl Harbor shipyard shooting
3 killed, including gunman, in Pearl Harbor shipyard shooting
Watch live: SpaceX tries again for cargo launch with robot aboard
Watch live: SpaceX tries again for cargo launch with robot aboard

Photo Gallery

 
Moments from the 15th UNICEF Snowflake Ball
Moments from the 15th UNICEF Snowflake Ball

Latest News

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asks for articles of impeachment against Trump
Nearly 4,000 Americans per year injured while using cellphones, study finds
Jennifer Beals: 'L Word' sequel has more inclusive, diverse cast
Weekly U.S. jobless claims come in well below expectations at 203,000
Fireball streaks across night sky in the Midwest
 
Back to Article
/
Back to top
About UPI Contact Feedback Advertisements Submit News Tips
Copyright © 2019 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UsePrivacy Policy