Lung Health News, Fall 2001 / Winter 2002
Less than 4 percent of the state’s share of California’s tobacco settlement funds were allocated to tobacco prevention programs in the 2001-2002 state budget, signed by Governor Gray Davis in July. Only $20 million of the state’s $475 million tobacco settlement payment went to tobacco prevention, far below the 20 percent funding level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. California is currently ranked 12th in per capita spending on tobacco control, even with its landmark tobacco prevention campaign funded by the Proposition 99 tobacco tax initiative.
The state receives about $1 billion a year from the nationwide settlement with tobacco companies in 1998, half of which is divided among California’s 58 counties and four cities that filed separate suits against the tobacco industry.
The American Lung Association of California joined forces with other tobacco control activists to form the Alliance for Tobacco-Free Families, which advocated for at least 20 percent to be invested in tobacco prevention and education programs. The Alliance includes the American Lung Association of California; American Cancer Society, California Division; American Heart Association, Western States Affiliate; Campaign for Tobacco- Free Kids; and Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights.
American Lung Associations around the state are also facing challenges securing local tobacco settlement dollars for tobacco prevention programs. And it seems they are not alone. Only about 5 percent of tobacco settlement funds across the nation are going to tobacco prevention programs, according to a recent report compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
