Program Overview
March 2008
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death
and accounts for a substantial share of taxpayer medical expenditures.
Tobacco-related diseases kill about 8,000 people every year in
Washington State, more than AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes,
murders, suicides, and fires combined.
The Washington State Department of Health
greatly expanded its tobacco prevention program in 2000 with funding
from the Master Settlement Agreement, which settled a lawsuit against
tobacco companies. The Tobacco Prevention and Control Program works with
local health agencies, tribes, schools, and community organizations to
deliver integrated activities to all Washington residents. The
activities are based on comprehensive, proven, and cost-effective
strategies.
Community and
tribal programs
The state Tobacco Program funds tobacco prevention and control
activities through local health departments and community organizations
in all 39 Washington counties. In addition, the Tobacco Program funds
anti-tobacco activities in 25 tribes and five community-based
organizations serving higher-risk populations.
School programs
All nine of the state’s Educational Service Districts receive funding to
help schools improve and enforce tobacco-free policies, provide
intervention services for students, deliver research-based curricula,
train teachers and staff, and provide information to families.
Quit programs
The Department of Health’s Washington Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUIT-NOW)
provides residents with free one-on-one counseling, tobacco quit kits, and
referrals to local stop-smoking programs. The Tobacco Program promotes
changes in the healthcare system so more people get help quitting and more
healthcare providers encourage their patients to quit.
Policy and
enforcement
The Department of Health
works with the state Office of the Attorney General, Liquor Control
Board, and local law enforcement to enforce state and federal laws
restricting tobacco sales and advertising to kids, and with local health
departments to enforce the statewide ban on indoor smoking.
Public awareness
and marketing
The Tobacco Program’s advertising campaign
uses traditional media, such as television and radio advertising, to
help adults quit smoking and prevent teens from starting. The program
also uses innovative approaches to reach youth, young adults, and other
high-risk populations targeted by tobacco industry marketing.
Assessment and
evaluation
The Tobacco Program regularly collects and
analyzes information on tobacco use among adults and youth in
Washington, then measures the program impact by comparing results to
data collected before the program began.
Funding
The Tobacco Prevention and Control Program’s
annual budget from 2002 through 2008 has been relatively stable at about
$29 million per year, which includes:
-
Master Settlement Agreement - $17.5 million
-
January 2002 increase in the sales tax on tobacco
products - $8.75 million
-
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -
$1.56 million
-
Fees paid by tobacco retailers
- $900,000
Washington State ranks 10th nationally in per
capita spending on tobacco prevention and control.
For a brief overview of the Tobacco Program’s
funding history, see the Program Funding History
fact sheet.
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