Utah slips slightly in its funding of tobacco prevention programs

Though still close to the top third, Utah has slipped slightly in its funding of tobacco prevention programs, according to a national report released Wednesday.

The Beehive State ranks 18th in the nation in terms of funding anti-smoking programs with funds from the Master Tobacco Settlement, according to the study by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Utah receives $85.4 million annually through funds from the Master Tobacco Settlement and taxes on tobacco products. Of that, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that the state spend between $15.2 million and $33.4 million on tobacco prevention efforts.

In fiscal year 2007, state lawmakers have appropriated $7.2 million to anti-tobacco programs. That amount has remained the same for the past four years, while Utah's ranking in the annual survey has continued to drop. Last year, the state ranked 17th, down three spots from its 14th-place ranking in 2004.

Released in conjunction with the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association, the study reports that states in 2007 will spend 2.7 percent of the overall $21.7 billion in tobacco-generated funds on anti-smoking campaigns and programs.

States are expected to collect an estimated $246 billion from the 1998 legal settlement with big tobacco companies over the course of 25 years.

Nationwide, Wednesday's report finds that states have "modestly increased" funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Combined, states allocated $595.4 million for fiscal year 2007, up from $551 million in 2006.

Still, only three states — Maine, Colorado and Delaware — fund their anti-smoking campaigns at or above the CDC's minimum-recommended levels. A former top spender, Mississippi, dropped to dead last in the nation on anti-tobacco spending, tied for 51st place with Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire and Tennessee.

Since Utah began receiving tobacco settlement funds, smoking rates have dropped across the board, including a 17 percent decline for adults and a 38 percent cut in the youth smoking rate. Also, the number of Utah children exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes has been cut in half, according to a September study from the Utah Department of Health.

Also on Wednesday, the health department announced a new anti-tobacco advertising campaign designed to target Utah's Hispanic and Latino population, which continues to have higher rates of smoking in department studies.

"Our work with leaders in the Hispanic community has shown that, despite our efforts, tobacco use is still high," said Lena Dibble of the state's Tobacco Prevention and Control Program.

The Spanish-language television, radio and print ads debuted in mid-November. The health department also has set up a Spanish Quit Line at 1-877-629-1585.

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E-mail: awelling@desnews.com