Reduced smoking saves state money

Ohio once had a model tobacco-prevention and cessation program that helped reduce smoking rates among adults and children in Ohio.Currently, more than one-fifth of Ohio adults smoke. About the same percentage of children smoke and 17 percent use other tobacco products.

The new state budget will destroy Ohio’s program, since it does not fund prevention programs, enforcement of the Smoke Free Workplace Act, or Ohio’s successful Quit line.

Ohio currently collects more than $800 million in cigarette taxes each year. None of that money is invested in tobacco prevention and cessation or enforcement of the Smoke Free Ohio law.

Funding tobacco cessation saves lives and money. Lawmakers should consider making the tax on cigars, snuff and chewing tobacco equal to the tax rate on cigarettes. This could provide funding for tobacco-prevention and cessation programs.