Tobacco Free Kids, December 8 2015
Since the states settled their lawsuits against the major tobacco companies in November 1998, our annual reports have assessed whether the states are keeping their promise to use a significant portion of their settlement funds – estimated at $246 billion over the first 25 years – to attack the enormous public health problems caused by tobacco use in the United States. In addition to their settlement funds, the states collect billions each year in tobacco taxes.
This year, the report once again finds the states are spending only a minuscule portion of their tobacco revenues to fight tobacco use.