Little Rock—Arkansas ranks seventh among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for appropriate spending of tobacco settlement funds, according to a report released today by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. The non-governmental entity focuses nationwide on protecting children from tobacco addiction and secondhand smoke.

According to the extensive report, five states are spending the amount recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for each state. At seventh place, Arkansas has budgeted $16.39 million for tobacco prevention in the next fiscal year, 91.5 percent of the minimum $17.91 million suggested by the CDC.

"Obviously, we are very pleased with the findings of the report and want to thank Governor Huckabee and the Legislature for their leadership with the Initiated Act and their willingness to plan for the future health of Arkansans," Dr. Fay Boozman, Arkansas Department of Health Director, said. "Successful tobacco prevention and cessation programs in other states show that Arkansas is doing the right thing with the settlement dollars."

According to the report, Florida's tobacco prevention program cut smoking rates by 47 percent among middle school students and by 30 percent among high school students in three years. Oregon reduced smoking among eighth graders by 41 percent since 1997 while Maine has cut smoking among high school students by 36 percent.

According to Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 35.8 percent of Arkansas' high school students smoke and 10.2 million packs of cigarettes are sold each year to children throughout Arkansas. The group estimates that if the current smoking trend among Arkansas youths continues, 53,000 children now under the age of 18 will die from smoking.

Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States, claiming more lives every year - 400,000 - than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, murders, suicides, illegal drugs and fires combined, according to the report. It is estimated that $604 million is spent annually for health care in Arkansas directly related to tobacco.

"Tobacco use is a major problem for Arkansans. The CDC has reported that our state is the third worst in terms of annual deaths related to smoking," Dr. Boozman said. "Arkansas' tobacco prevention program will have an enormous and positive long-term impact on the state, its citizens and health care costs."  

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