U.S. states have not lived up to their commitment to devote a major portion of their huge legal settlement with the tobacco industry a decade ago on anti-smoking efforts, health advocacy groups said on Tuesday.
In the 10 years since the landmark deal, the states have received $79.2 billion of the settlement and another $124.3 billion from tobacco taxes, but have spent only about 3 percent of it — $6.5 billion — on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, the groups said in a report.
The deal, which restricted cigarette advertising practices, requires tobacco companies to make annual payments to the states in perpetuity, with total payments estimated at $246 billion over the first 25 years.
The report was issued by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
No state currently is funding tobacco prevention programs at the levels recommended by the U.S. government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and only nine are funding such efforts at even half the recommended level, according to the report.
In November 1998, 46 states settled their lawsuits against the major tobacco companies to recover tobacco-related healthcare costs, joining four states — Mississippi, Texas, Florida and Minnesota — that had reached earlier, individual settlements.
And as of yet, most of the cash has not been spent where it was suppose to be. That in return should be a lawsuit challenging the lawsuit.
You’re right, what did happen to all those anti-smoking programs? I’m seeing more and more kids under 15 taking’ up smoking, too. It’s really a sad shame. And I can’t stand smoking. I was even bombarded by cig smoke at the Prop 8 rally last weekend. We were standing right up front to hear the speeches, and people were lighting up right next to us. Of course, they didn’t bother to step away, or walk to the outskirts of the rally. The protest was about asking for some dignity and respect, so come on! Shouldn’t people in support of respect be respecting others themselves? Sorry to rant, but it’s one of my biggest pet-peeves. And I have many friends who smoke, but it drives me nuts.
Anyway, yes, back to the topic–I do wonder what happened to all that cash that was awarded after the settlements… I haven’t seen a whole lot o’ anti-smoking programs over the past five years or so…
Add me to your list…I am an old fart that has given up most of my vices, with the exception of smoking….eventually…back to the cash….in Mississippi it was suppose to be used to help pay medicare costs and anti-smoking programs…none of which is happening…just like the taxes from casinos was to be used for education, but has not made it there yet…typical southern BS.