Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Programs work; however,their funding may be "going up in smoke." Who is deciding thepayout of the Master Tobacco Settlement Fund? State funding of theIndiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program was decreased bythe Indiana General Assembly from $32.5 million per year to $10.8million per year for 2003 and 2004. Funding for 2005 is anyone'sguess. The federal government recommends spending this entiresettlement fund from the lawsuits filed against big tobaccocompanies to fight smoking, as it was awarded for. But as the moneyfilters down to the local level, it's divvied up, with politiciansand state bureaucrats fighting for a share each step of the way,and with the program that the money is intended for to receive lessthan 30% of those funds. �Progress that has been made todiscourage our youths from smoking and helping people "kick thehabit" could be jeopardized by any further cutbacks in the state'sallocation of the Master Tobacco Settlement Fund. �In thethree years that Indiana has had these programs in place, we haveseen a dramatic decline in youth smoking rates, an increase ofhealth benefits by protecting our children and co-workers fromsecondhand smoke, and money saved in health care costs forsmoking-related illnesses. In 2002 Indiana was one of only fourstates recognized for their outstanding comprehensive tobaccocontrol programs. �Why is it that when you do somethingright does the funding get cut? It is clear, that without restoringthe original funding, programs will end. �But who shouldsuffer, your town, your county, your child or mine?
Michelle Prevost
Lebanon, IN
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