Kansas Health Institute | Information For Policy Makers. Health for Kansans.

According to a recent report released from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Kansas ranks 37th in the nation in funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs for kids and current smokers.

Out of the $160 million collected annually from tobacco-generated revenue in this state, only $1 million or 0.6% is being spent on tobacco prevention. What is even more appalling is that for every dollar in tobacco revenue, Kansas is spending less than a penny to fight tobacco use. We must make a change in this state!

At a time when our state-budget is tight, we are spending more than $900 million in tobacco-related healthcare bills — and why? Because tobacco use in this state claims 3,800 lives annually.

This is an alarming report and Kansans should be embarrassed we are spending so little to discourage a habit that takes lives and has significant economic impacts on our healthcare costs and our state’s overall budget.

Kansas lawmakers should consider allocating more of that $160 million to fund more tobacco prevention programs in Kansas. They can do this without adding a single penny to the state budget.

This simple shift could have a profound impact on today’s youth and simply save lives!

— Mary Jayne Hellebust is the executive director of the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition. The opinions in the columns solely reflect those of the author. They aren't endorsed by the Kansas Health Institute, which seeks a broad range of opinion to stimulate discussion.