Alabama Ranked 49 in Tobacco Protection

Source from:  MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Thursday December 20 12/21/2007

Report: Alabama 49th in Funding to Protect Kids From Tobacco Alabama ranks 49th in the nation in funding programs to protect children from tobacco, providing less than 3 percent of the minimum amount recommended by federal health officials, according to a new report. The report released Thursday by groups seeking to curb the use of tobacco shows Alabama has fallen from ranking 44th in 2005 and 46th in 2006. Alabama currently spends $767,000 a year on tobacco prevention programs, which is 2.9 percent of the minimum amount of $26.7 million recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the report. It was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and American Lung Association. Among its findings: Tobacco companies spend more than $265 million a year on marketing in Alabama, or more than 345 times what the state spends on tobacco prevention. "By failing to provide adequate funding for tobacco prevention, Alabama's leaders have once again let down the state's kids and taxpayers," said William V. Corr, executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, in a news release. Enditem