Putting Tobacco Prevention Best Practices to Work:
Implementing a Statewide Comprehensive Program
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in Nebraska, each year claiming more than 2,200 lives and costing an estimated $537 million in health care bills (including 10 percent of Nebraska’s annual Medicaid expenditures). Smoking- and tobacco-related diseases put a tremendous burden on the private and public health care system in the state.
Preventing these health problems isn't a mystery. We know what works. Experience and lessons learned from other states and within Nebraska as well provides guidance for what we can do here to prevent the health problems associated with smoking and other tobacco use and to help those who want to quit to succeed.
For nearly 20 years, Tobacco Free Nebraska has been implementing efforts to reduce tobacco use in our state. The program has been nationally recognized, and bases its efforts on recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Nebraska spend $21.5 million per year on a comprehensive program dedicated to state and community interventions, health communication, cessation, surveillance and evaluation and administration and management.
How does Nebraska compare? View a presentation about the importance of having a well-funded program to help promote tobacco free kids and help adults quit smoking and quit tobacco use.
Preventing these health problems isn't a mystery. We know what works. Experience and lessons learned from other states and within Nebraska as well provides guidance for what we can do here to prevent the health problems associated with smoking and other tobacco use and to help those who want to quit to succeed.
For nearly 20 years, Tobacco Free Nebraska has been implementing efforts to reduce tobacco use in our state. The program has been nationally recognized, and bases its efforts on recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Nebraska spend $21.5 million per year on a comprehensive program dedicated to state and community interventions, health communication, cessation, surveillance and evaluation and administration and management.
How does Nebraska compare? View a presentation about the importance of having a well-funded program to help promote tobacco free kids and help adults quit smoking and quit tobacco use.
Promoting a Comprehensive Program in NebraskaComprehensive Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Programs Work
Evidence-based, statewide tobacco use prevention and control programs that are comprehensive, sustained, and accountable have been shown to reduce smoking rates, as well as tobacco-related deaths and diseases. Nebraska’s Program Has Been Very Successful Tobacco Free Nebraska has been nationally recognized for its program and has seen positive attitudinal and behavioral changes regarding tobacco use during the past five years. Smoking rates among both adults and youth in Nebraska are declining. At the same time, support and knowledge and about smoke-free environments both at home and at work are increasing. Nebraskans Support Helping Smokers Quit and Keep Kids from Starting A full 90.5 percent of Nebraskans support using a portion of Nebraska’s Tobacco Settlement Funds for smoking and tobacco use prevention programs. Tobacco Prevention Efforts Should be the First Priority of Tobacco Settlement Payments Currently, the Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund’s only source of revenue is the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement payments. Nebraska receives revenue from two tobacco-specific sources: payments from the state's settlement with the tobacco industry and taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products. Prioritizing spending of tobacco-related revenue on preventing tobacco use just makes sense. It is a great opportunity for Nebraska to effectively address the devastating impact of tobacco related death and disease in Nebraska. More of Nebraska’s Tobacco Revenue Should be Spent Helping Tobacco Users Quit and Keeping Kids from Starting For tobacco use prevention and cessation, Nebraska currently dedicates 2.8 percent of the $106.4 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state receives each year in tobacco settlement payments and cigarette and other tobacco tax revenue. This current appropriation is just 12 percent of the CDC’s recommended spending level for Nebraska of $21.5 million. It places Nebraska 23rd in the United States. | What are We
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