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Report Finds West Virginia Needs To IncreaseTobacco Prevention Efforts
By: Associated Press
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A new report says West Virginia isn't investing enough in its efforts to help smokers quit and prevent kids from smoking.
The report released Thursday by a coalition of public health groups says West Virginia has the second highest rate of adults who smoke in the nation at 28.6 percent. About 19 percent of high school students smoke.
But the report ranks West Virginia 19th in the nation in tobacco prevention funding.
According to the report, the state will receive $231 million this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes. But only 2.5 percent of the revenue will be used for tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
The report says most states aren't providing adequate funding for these programs