Most Kentuckians probably would not be the least bit surprised to learn that the state ranks near the bottom in spending for programs to persuade people to quit or to never start smoking. In fact, we suspect that there are many residents of this state where tobacco was once king who would be surprised to learn that there are actually 10 states that spend less on smoking prevention and cessation programs than the $3.9 million Kentucky spent during the fiscal year that ended June 30.
And Kentucky is at least moving in the right direction — albeit slowly — when it comes to investing in smoking prevention and cessation programs. Kentucky ranks 40th among the 50 states in the latest report on state anti-smoking spending released by the American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network, the American Lung Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. A year ago, Kentucky was 4lst.
However, the slight improvement in its ranking is not because Kentucky invested more of its money on smoking cessation and prevention programs. Instead, a federal grant for cessation programs accounted for the slight improvement.
For years, the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and other advocacy groups have been lobbying the Kentucky General Assembly to designate more money from the tobacco settlement fund to smoking cessation and prevention programs, but the bulk of that money has gone to help farmers develop alternative crops to compensate for their loss in revenue from tobacco.
That’s an appropriate use of the tobacco settlement funds. Kentucky farmers have lost their number one cash crop and helping them to develop new crops is a wise investment. Not only do the alternaive crops provide a new source of revenue for farmers, but they help to diversify Kentucky’s farm economy that for many years was far too dependent on tobacco.
However, money spent on smoking prevention and cessation programs that have proven to be effective also is a wise investment. As a state with one of the nations highest rates of smoking, Kentucky pays a high price in terms of the added health care costs caused by smoking. The entire state benefits when fewer Kentuckians smoke.
With legislators facing a grim budget picture, there is no chance the 2010 General Assembly will increase the small amount of money it spends on smoking cessation and prevention programs. But that does not mean more money would be a foolish expenditure; it simply means the money is not there to spend.
