U.S. Progress in Reducing Smoking At Risk Unless States Increase Funding For Tobacco Prevention Programs, Report Warns ; Report by Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and American Lung Association.

(From US Newswire)

Byline: KATHLEEN MILLER

To: National Desk

Contact: Joel Spivak of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 202-296-5469

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 /U.S. Newswire/ -- With smoking rates at a standstill after nearly a decade of decline, the nation's progress in reducing smoking is at risk unless states significantly increase funding for programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit, warns a report released today by a coalition of public health organizations.

The annual report, which assesses whether states are keeping their promise to use proceeds from the 1998 state tobacco settlement to fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs, finds that only three states -- Maine, Delaware and Colorado -- currently fund tobacco prevention programs at minimum levels recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Other findings include:

-- Only 14 other states fund tobacco prevention programs at even half the CDC's minimum amount.

-- Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia are spending less than half the CDC minimum, while five states -- Michigan, Mississippi,…