The multi-state tobacco settlement that came out in November 1998 was made with the objective to make smokers quit their bad habit.
The different states in USA, in line with the multi-state tobacco settlement act, pledged to channelize significant amounts of settlement funds into eradicating this bad habit of smoking.
Tobacco smoking in USA has led to the rise of a huge number of public health threats and that is why the authorities came up with the multi-state tobacco settlement.
The main purpose of the multi-state tobacco settlement was to fund smoking cessation programs in USA.
The approximate amount behind the tobacco prevention program funding is estimated to be around $ 246 billion in the 1st twenty five years! Each and every year, the different states receive billions of dollars thanks to the November 1998 multi-state tobacco settlement.
Apart from this, billions of dollars are being stored in the state treasuries (collected) in the form of tobacco taxes every year.
According to the findings of The December 2009 report, something close to $ 25.
1 billion was collected in 2009 alone in the form of tobacco revenue which is a record amount by any standard.
But has it ever occurred to anyone whether the tobacco prevention program funding is being spent in a proper manner for the purpose it was meant to serve? An annual report has made the following horrific revelation that there are only 3 states in USA namely, Mississippi, Delaware and Maine which have continued with the smoking cessation programs as recommended by the multi-state tobacco settlement, but unfortunately, only by the lowest recommended levels as stipulated by the U.
S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is heart wrenching to see all this money going down the drain.
You won't believe it but many states have reduced their tobacco prevention program funding by fifteen % or even more during the past 1 year! The main idea was to spend this money on quit smoking and stop smoking programs.
The plans also included funding for smoking cessation programs that would assist habitual smokers to quit smoking and prevent kids from picking up this awful habit.
There is only 1 state in USA currently that sticks to the stipulated levels and recommendations of tobacco prevention program funding as suggested by CDC or U.
S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
States like Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arkansas Vermont, and Hawaii spend more than 50% funding on smoking cessation programs as recommended by CDC.
Close to 31 states spend only 25% or even less money from the given funds on smoking cessation programs.
There are more than a dozen states which spend less than 10% only!