Tobacco wars cost millions in isles
Hawaii improves its no-smoking posture against big artillery
Hawaii rose to seventh place in the nation from last year's 14th place ranking in funding programs to protect kids from tobacco, according to a national report.
The state is spending $9.1 million a year on such programs -- 84 percent of the minimum $10.8 million recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the report said. Last year, Hawaii spent $5.8 million on tobacco prevention, it said.
Hawaii's improved ranking is among findings in the annual report, "A Broken Promise to Our Children," released yesterday by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and American Lung Association.
Tobacco companies are spending more than $48.2 million a year to market their products in the islands, which is five times what the state spends on tobacco prevention, the report pointed out.
It said the state will collect $126.6 million from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes this year but will spend only 7.2 percent of it on tobacco prevention.
In Hawaii, the report says: 16.4 percent of high school students smoke; 1,700 more kids become regular smokers every year; tobacco use costs the state $336 million in health care bills annually and results in 1,200 deaths.
William V. Corr, executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a news release, "Hawaii is making important progress in reducing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke with its new smoke-free workplace law and a solid commitment to funding tobacco prevention programs.
"It is more important than ever that Hawaii increases tobacco prevention funding to CDC-recommended levels because the tobacco companies are spending record amounts to market their deadly and addictive products, often in ways that appeal to kids."
Only Maine, Delaware and Colorado are funding tobacco prevention programs are CDC's recommended levels.