FRANKFORT, KY. – Right now, the budget conference committee is meeting to finalize the state’s budget. The conference committee must prioritize funding for tobacco prevention and cessation efforts, as Kentucky has the second highest adult smoking rate in the country.
The following is a Statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Government Relations Director Doug Hogan:
“Kentucky is losing ground when it comes to preventing youth from using tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. Currently, more than 20% of high school students in Kentucky use tobacco products. Additionally, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Kentucky, including 37.2% of cancer deaths, and Kentucky has the second-highest smoking-attributable cancer death rate in the country. The need for robust investments in tobacco prevention and cessation programs in the Commonwealth has never been greater.
“The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges the conference committee to make tobacco prevention and cessation a priority by directing $1.2 million annually from JUUL settlement general fund dollars to youth tobacco prevention and cessation. This investment will help protect kids from starting to use e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. ACS CAN also seeks $4 million in the budget to allow additional programming and resources to help Kentucky adults be successful in their efforts to quit using addictive tobacco products.
“A well-funded, fact-based tobacco control program is needed to counteract the $251 million per year that tobacco companies are spending on marketing their deadly and addictive products in the Commonwealth.”