U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Arkansas

Last updated November 29, 2011

  FY2012 FY2011
State Rank 17 11
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $7.4 million $11.8 million
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($36.4 million)		 20.5% 32.4%

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Arkansas spend $36.4 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program. Arkansas currently allocates $7.4 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation. This is 20.5% of the CDC's recommendation and ranks Arkansas 17th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs. Arkansas' spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 2.6% of the estimated $292 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Recent Developments: Arkansas' tobacco settlement funds are governed by a ballot initiative approved by voters in November 2000 that allocated 31.6 percent of the state's tobacco settlement funds to tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

Arkansas' total state spending on tobacco prevention and cessation for FY2012 is $7.4 million. Arkansas is spending minimal amounts on tobacco prevention despite the fact that the state is receiving more tobacco-generated revenue than ever before as a result of a 56-cent cigarette tax increase in 2009, bringing Arkansas' cigarette tax to $1.15 a pack.

In addition, Arkansas is receiving $2.0 million in federal funds dedicated to tobacco prevention and control:

  • $1.1 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 12-month grant for the period beginning April 2011 (from annual appropriations).

  • $91,895 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law.

  • $832,010 from the Food and Drug Administration for enforcement of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, including the provision regarding tobacco sales to minors.