Health advocates say the New England states have failed to deliver on a pledge to use money from the tobacco settlement for prevention programs, with most states funding programs at only 20 percent of recommended levels.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids released a report Monday, saying Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island are funding tobacco prevention programs at less than 20 percent of the Center for Disease Control’s recommendations.
The report says Maine and Vermont are the only New England states funding tobacco prevention at half the CDC’s recommended levels.
Officials say New England states will spend only 2.3 percent of the $1.8 billion in tobacco settlement and tax revenue on tobacco prevention programs this year.