NC ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2012 CONTACT: Peg O’Connell 919-208-5226 poconnell@fuquaysolutions.com

NC ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH URGES INCREASED SUPPORT FOR TOBACCO USE

PREVENTION AND CESSATION PROGRAMS A Statement by Pam Seamans, Executive Director

“We appreciate that these are difficult budget times for our state, and that Governor Perdue weighed

many competing priorities as she completed her budget adjustment for this fiscal year. But recommending

just $10 million for tobacco use prevention and cessation programs, out of the $17.3 million that is

required to sustain current efforts, is unfortunate given the fact that the state has access to Master

Settlement Agreement (MSA) funds which are specifically intended to help states address the health and

financial toll of tobacco use. According to the Attorney General’s office, this year alone, NC received

$141 million thanks to the settlement with tobacco companies. The Alliance is seeking a recurring

appropriation of $17.3 million to sustain current efforts to keep our youth from stating to smoke. Thanks

to the MSA dollars, there are funds available to make a recurring appropriation of $17.3 million for these

programs a reality, not only for this fiscal year but for years to come.

“Every year, North Carolina spends more than $2.5 billion treating tobacco and smoking related illness.

$769 million of that is paid by Medicaid directly. This is a public health tragedy and a tremendous waste

of our state’s resources. The funds that we have invested in tobacco use prevention and cessation over the

past decade have been an effective use of the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) funds.

Because of this investment, we have been able to make a meaningful difference in the health outlook for

our state. We now have the lowest youth smoking rates in our state’s history and 53,000 fewer young

people have become smokers. However, based on the experience of other states that have reduced

funding for these programs, progress to reduce teen tobacco use in North Carolina will likely stall and

then climb to previous levels if the effort is not sustained.

“Furthermore, the successful efforts to reduce youth smoking rates must be sustained over time given the

addition of over 100,000 new sixth graders every year in North Carolina. The need for education of our

youth around the dangers of tobacco seems unending when compared to the tremendous marketing efforts

mounted by the tobacco industry and the youth that need to be educated year after year.”

“The NC Alliance for Health and the nearly 70 organizations that have signed on in support of funding for

these important health programs will continue our efforts to convince the General Assembly to keep

funding for these important programs in the budget—not just this year, but for the long term. The

economic vitality of our state is directly connected to the health and well-being of our people, particularly

our youth. These tobacco-use prevention programs will help guarantee a healthier future.

[A copy of the full list of supporters is available at www.ncallianceforhealth.org ]

“Despite the success of these programs, tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in

North Carolina. Without action to appropriate funds by the General Assembly during the upcoming

legislative session, funding for these programs will expire on June 30th and the programs will be

disbanded.”

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North Carolina Alliance for Health: The North Carolina Alliance for Health is an independent, statewide coalition of public, private, professional and nonprofit organizations advocating for obesity and tobacco use prevention policies before North Carolina's legislative and executive branches. Alliance members and partners include the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, NC Pediatric Society, NC Prevention Partners, Local Health Directors Association,, March of Dimes, National African American Tobacco Prevention Network, the Covenant with NC’s Children, the Council of Churches, and many others.