U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Tennessee

Last updated December 05, 2012

  FY2013 FY2012
State Rank 45 44
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $222,267 $200,000
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($71.7 )		 0.3% 0.3%

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Tennessee spend $71.7 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program.  Tennessee currently allocates $222,267 a year for tobacco prevention and cessation.  This is 0.3% of the CDC’s recommendation and ranks Tennessee 45th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs.  Tennessee’s spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 0.04% of the estimated $581 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Background and Recent Developments: Tennessee allocated $222,267 in state funds for tobacco prevention and cessation programs in FY2013. All 95 county health departments provide tobacco cessation counseling and referrals to the Tennessee Tobacco Quitline. This funding level is slightly higher than the FY2012 appropriation and nearly equal to that of FY2011, but just a small fraction of the CDC-recommended amount. 

Tennessee did not dedicate state funds to tobacco prevention until FY2008, when the budget passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Phil Bredesen (D) allocated $10 million for tobacco prevention programs. However, due to a budget crisis, state funding for tobacco prevention was cut in half to $5 million for FY2009. Additional cuts mean the state is now spending minimal amounts on tobacco prevention and cessation.   

In addition, Tennessee is receiving $1.9 million in federal funds dedicated to tobacco prevention and control:

  • $1.2 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).

  • $510,286 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law for the period beginning August 1, 2012. 

  • $253,266 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.