RENO, NV -- Only 150,000 dollars a year is spent on tobacco prevention and cessation programs in Nevada, according to the “Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.”  This, despite us colleting an estimated 143 million dollars in tobacco-generated revenue from the 1998 nationwide settlement and tobacco taxes.

Tobacco program coordinator for the Nevada Department of Health, Karla Bee, says the legislature decides where the money goes.  “We have a lot of needs in the state right now, hunger being a major issue and that is the way that the money has been distributed right now. Tobacco still remains a priority issue that needs to be addressed and funding needs to be given to support that,” Bee said.

Bee says 40 percent of that money goes to the Kenny Guinn Millennium scholarship fund. The rest goes into the community for various health related services.

Lisa Sheretz, with the American Lung Association, believes every penny is needed to fight tobacco use in Nevada. “That will save us in the future from having these huge public health care costs from tobacco use and if we prevent, the less cessation programs we will need,” Sheretz said. 

Sheretz tells us they no longer provide any ongoing cessation programs because of lack of funding.  The same report estimates 6 million packs are sold in the state every year.  The best way to stay healthy, experts say, is to put your foot down.