Advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN) delivered around 900 petitions and organizational support letters from various state health associations to Gov. Jim Justice’s office at the Capitol on Wednesday, asking him to prioritize funding to address tobacco use in the state during a rumored upcoming special legislative session.
The West Virginia Medical Association, the West Virginia Hospital Association and the West Virginia Dental Association all signed on to the organizational support letter, according to the network’s Government Relations Director Doug Hogan.
“The petitions, as well as the organizational support letters, were all in response to our request for an additional investment in tobacco prevention funding,” Hogan said. “We think there’s an opportunity with the anticipated special session coming up late next month for the governor to include tobacco prevention funding as part of his call for that special session.”
West Virginia is ranked 50th for funding critical programs to reduce tobacco use and has the highest adult and teen smoking rates in the nation.
“What we’re looking for is an initial investment of around $4.5 million,” Hogan said. “That money would go for youth prevention strategies…We would also be able to provide additional resources for adults who want to kick the habit, tobacco products.”
An annual report from the American Lung Association (ALA), released in January, notes the need for policymakers to use tobacco settlement money and taxes to reduce tobacco use in West Virginia.
Hogan said these strategies could not only improve the overall health of West Virginia but save the state money in health care costs.
“We want to continue to work with those individuals and come up with strategies again, that will help protect their kids from E-cigarettes, will provide resources to adults who want to quit, and will also save the state quite honestly, millions upon millions of dollars by reducing health care costs, and also reducing business costs associated with having smokers on the payroll,” Hogan said.
Tobacco use is the leading cause of death in West Virginia, taking an estimated 4,280 state residents each year, according to the ALA.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
