Posted on: Sunday, January 26, 2003

Hawai'i No. 5 in money spent on anti-smoking programs

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer

Hawai'i ranks fifth among the states for spending on programs to prevent smoking, up from No. 27 last year after increasing financing for educational efforts from $4.2 million last year to $10.3 million in 2003, says a national coalition.

The report, "Show Us the Money: An Update on the States' Allocation of the Tobacco Settlement Dollars," was released last week by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association and the SmokeLess States National Tobacco Policy Initiative.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that Hawai'i spend at least $10.78 million, and the state is spending $10.3 million. The report said Hawai'i' has made important progress in educating children about tobacco.

Clifford Chang, of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawai'i, said the organizations hope lawmakers will see the importance of the programs despite pressure to balance the budget by raiding special funds.

The coalition has produced the reports since 1998, when tobacco companies agreed to pay $206 billion over 25 years to 46 states to settle lawsuits. Four other states settled separately for $40 billion.

In Hawai'i, about 24.5 percent of high school students smoke, Chang said. Money from the tobacco settlement has been spent on programs that include: the Malama Kaua'i quit-smoking program for pregnant women and their families; the Department of Health's "Leave 'Em Where They're At" ad campaign targeted at children and teens; and retail store inspections and random checks to see if stores sell to minors.