Report Ranks W.Va. 29th in Tobacco Education

Source from:  Dec 25, 2007 herald-dispatch.com The Herald-Dispatch 12/27/2007

West Virginia ranks 29th in the nation in funding programs to protect children from tobacco, according to a national report released Friday by a coalition of public health organizations. The state currently spends $5.7 million a year on tobacco prevention programs, which is 40 percent of the minimum amount of $14.2 million recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. West Virginia actually spent slightly more than last year's $5.4 million, but dropped in the rankings as other states picked up the pace. Ohio ranks 14th in the country, spending $44 million or about 72 percent of the recommended level. Kentucky was ranked 44th, spending only $2.4 million or only about 9.4 percent of what the CDC recommends. The report titled "A Broken Promise to Our Children," was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the American Lung Association. The report showed that tobacco companies spend $132 million a year on marketing in West Virginia, more than 23 times what the state spends on tobacco prevention. West Virginia this year will collect $186.4 million from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend just 3 percent of it on tobacco prevention. "While West Virginia has made a modest investment in tobacco prevention, it continues to spend less than half the minimum amount recommended by the CDC," said William V. Corr, executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "It is critical that West Virginia increase its investment in tobacco prevention because the tobacco companies are spending huge sums to market their deadly and addictive products, often in ways that appeal to kids." The report found that generally states are providing less than half what the CDC recommends, with only three states -- Maine, Delaware and Colorado -- funding prevention programs at CDC minimum levels. Enditem