The budget crisis has been forcing states to cut budgets across the board, and sadly things have gotten bad enough to where states are cutting tobacco-prevention programs.
States have cut their combined smoking prevention budget to the lowest its been since 1999.
“There’s a risk of a setback,” Center for Disease Control Director Thomas Frieden said of the funding cutbacks. “The data are very clear. The more we invest in tobacco control, the fewer people smoke, and that prevents illness, disability, deaths and healthcare costs.”
These cutbacks mean that parents need to make every effort to educate their kids themselves. We can’t let smoking rates go back up!
[Image via AP Images.]