U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: New Jersey

Last updated December 05, 2012

  FY2013 FY2012
State Rank 51 43
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $0 $1.2 million
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($119.8 )		 0.0% 1.0%

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that New Jersey spend $119.8 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program.  New Jersey does not currently allocate anything for tobacco prevention and cessation and as a result it ranks 50th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs.  New Jersy collects an estimated $997 million in tobacco-generated revenue each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Background and Recent Developments: In the past, New Jersey’s tobacco prevention and cessation program was funded primarily by tobacco tax revenues.  Fiscal challenges have led to cuts in many New Jersey state programs. In FY2011, state funding for the New Jersey Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program (CTCP), once a national leader among statewide tobacco prevention and cessation programs, was slashed from $7.6 million to just $600,000 (a 92% cut). Program funding was increased to $1.2 million in FY2012, only to be totally eliminated in FY2013.

New Jersey is receiving $2.6 million in federal funds dedicated to tobacco prevention and control:

  • $1.3 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 12-month grant for the period beginning April 2012 (from annual appropriations).

  • $508,958 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law for the period beginning August 1, 2012. 

  • $817,802 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.