U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: North Dakota

Last updated November 29, 2011

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that North Dakota spend $9.3 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program.  North Dakota currently allocates $8.1 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation.  This is 87.0% of the CDC’s recommendation and ranks North Dakota 2nd among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs.  North Dakota’s spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 14.2% of the estimated $57 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Recent Developments: North Dakota’s tobacco settlement payments have been governed by a 1999 law that placed 45 percent of the money into a Water Development Trust Fund, 45 percent into a Common Schools Trust Fund, and 10 percent into a Community Health Trust Fund. On November 4, 2008, North Dakota voters approved a ballot measure to allocate the tobacco settlement strategic contribution funds to the state's tobacco prevention and cessation program at the CDC-recommended level, which is $9.3 million a year. North Dakota has had a slight decrease in state funding for FY2012 to $8.1 million. When federal funds are added, North Dakota’s tobacco control program is funded at CDC-recommended levels.

In addition, North Dakota is receiving $1.2 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 12-month grant for the period beginning April 2011 (from annual appropriations).