State-sponsored smoking cessation programs facing elimination

Local tobacco prevention and cessation programs in Ohio report receiving notifcations from the Ohio Department of Health will not be able to fulfill contracts entered into by the Ohio Tobacco Prevention and Control Foundation (Source: "Community tobacco prevention, cessation programs snuffed out statewide," Wilmington News Journal, June 6, 2008).

According to these programs and their advocates, this loss of funding could result in increased rates of smoking in Ohio.  To support this claim they cite a recently published study by the University of Wisconsin and RTI International.  This study found a dramatic decrease in intention of Florida teens to not smoke within the first year after Florida cut backs its tobacco control funding.

The Investing in Tobacco-Free Youth Coalition has proposed an alternative method of raising funds for tobacco prevention and control activities.  They recommend raising the tax rate on "other tobacco products" to the rate it is for cigarettes.

Cresha Auck-Foley, Advocacy Director for the American Heart Association, Ohio Valley Affiliate states that “The Ohio Department of Health needs the resources to fund these programs. State lawmakers can give them the funds necessary and at the same time reduce use of cheap, candy-flavored tobacco products by correcting the inequity between the “other tobacco products” tax and the cigarette tax.”