The money is still coming into states from the landmark 1998 tobacco settlement and increased revenue from cigarette taxes. But little of that money is being used to fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs. That’s according to an annual study by Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.
Danny McGoldrick, vice president of research at the D.C. group, says despite taking in more than $700 million dollars from settlement funds and tax revenue, Wisconsin spends less than one percent on prevention and less than ten percent of C.D.C recommendations.
McGoldrick says the Badger State will end up “paying the price” in health care costs and tobacco-related deaths.
Wisconsin’s state-by-state ranking at 30th remained about the same as last year when the state was 29th.