State Expenditures for Tobacco-Control Programs and the Tobacco Settlement

Abstract

Gross et al. (Oct. 3 issue)¹ provide a timely study of the effects of the November 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with tobacco companies. Unfortunately, their summary of state efforts does not include Arkansas, a state with one of the highest rates of tobacco-related deaths in the nation, minimal previous expenditures on tobacco control, and low per capita income.^2,3 Despite the findings of Gross et al. that these characteristics are associated with decreased funding of tobacco-control efforts, Arkansas allocated all funds from the Master Settlement Agreement to new health programs and prioritized funds according to guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.³