Letter to the Editor: Fund the NJ Tobacco Control Program

New Jersey is in the limelight on tobacco funding, and unfortunately, it is because we are dead last among all states at an allocation of zero. Our state used to be leader in tobacco control, yet our legislators have decided that it is no longer a priority in the contest for budget dollars. Whether or not one believes that tobacco is an issue that needs our attention, the fact remains that the high cost of health care is largely due to the lack of tobacco funding which in turn translates into sky high costs for treating its effects: most notably heart disease, cancer, and strokes.

These three major categories of disease would decline if our state funded tobacco control effectively. In fact, funding tobacco is perhaps the smartest move New Jersey could make to lower our health care costs.

There was a time when the state funded tobacco control at $30 million a year. The program consisted of media outreach, coalitions to educate the public about the harm of tobacco, a youth oriented anti-tobacco group, and treatment through “Tobacco QuitCenters” that provided individual and group evidence-based smoking cessation counseling. Other resources included a web-based “QuitNet,” and telephone counseling via the “New Jersey QuitLine.”  

Pretty comprehensive, right? Budget cuts came along each fiscal year resulting in funding at reduced levels, minimal levels actually, until there was nothing left to cut and it was reduced to zero. Today, the QuitLine is the only vestige of the former comprehensive program.

Lack of funding of the NJ Tobacco Control Program means that critical needs are unmet. Inadequate funding makes it nearly impossible to reach the most vulnerable populations, as well as prevent youth initiation to smoking. It is much easier to prevent an addiction than it is to break one.  Be sure that health care costs to treat these individuals when ill will far exceed the cost of supporting a tobacco control program now. This is the time to reconsider our stance on disregarding those who use tobacco. Reinstate tobacco funding in the upcoming budget.  

-Donna Drummond
New Brunswick, N.J.