The past year has seen states slash funding for tobacco prevention programmes by over 15%, despite receiving record amounts of money from tobacco taxes, including the 1998 state tobacco settlement.

John R. Seffrin, Chief Executive Officer of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, in a news release today said: 'Fully funded tobacco prevention and cessation programs stop addiction before it starts, and improve the health of our nation's communities. States must do better at funding programmes that help reduce tobacco use and protect the health of children, 3,500 of whom try their first cigarette every day'.

Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said in the release, that states collecting huge amounts of money from tobacco taxes should spend more in fighting the problem, as there is increasing evidence tobacco prevention programmes help in reducing smoking and saving lives, including reducing tobacco-related health-care costs.

Amongst the findings of other groups involved in the release of the report titled 'A Broken Promise to Our Children: The 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 11 Years Later', such as, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, are: "

In the past year, there have been $103.4-million (15.4%) state cuts for tobacco prevention programmes, with the largest cut of $25.2-million (31%) by the state of New York. This despite the state having a successful programme that has reduced smoking to well below the national rate. Some of the other states to have made large funding cuts to tobacco prevention programmes, include Colorado, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington. "

States are expected to collect $25.1-billion in revenue from tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes in fiscal year 2010, but will spend just 2.3% ($567.5-million) on tobacco prevention and cessation programmes, with many states expected to hike tobacco taxes next year. " Of all the states, North Dakota is the only one currently funding a tobacco prevention programme at levels recommended by the U. S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Nine states are funding at half the CDC-recommended level, with 31-states and the District of Columbia providing less than one-quarter of recommended funding. "

For every dollar spent for discouraging tobacco use, tobacco companies spend $20 for marketing their products. According to the Federal Trade Commission, a total of $12.8-billion a year is spent by tobacco companies for marketing their products.

Recent surveys show the decline in numbers of people smoking has plateaued, with the CDC reporting the adult smoking rate in 2008 to be 20.6%, compared with 20.9% of 2004. While the number of high school smokers had declined from 1997's high of 36.4%, 20% of high school students continue to smoke, with the rate of decline slowing in recent years.

The new report, along with asking states to increase funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programmes, also asks the Congress to ensure health-care reform legislation provides adequate funding for anti-tobacco programmes, making it mandatory for Medicaid and other health insurance programmes to cover medications and counselling for people trying to give up smoking.