New England States Spend Little Tobacco Settlement Money on Prevention

Most New England states are funding tobacco-prevention programs at only 20 percent of recommended levels, despite receiving billions in tobacco-settlement money since 1998, the Boston Herald reported April 13.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids released a report showing that prevention spending by New England states will amount to only 2.3 percent of the $1.8 billion they will collectively receive this year from the nationwide settlement with tobacco companies. The states should be spending at least 10.5 percent of the funds on prevention, according to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The report showed that Maine and Vermont are the only New England states funding tobacco-prevention programs at even half the CDC’s recommended level.