Human Services News

From U.S. Newswire Releases:

The following is a statement by Matthew L. Myers, president, Campaign for Tobacco- Free Kids, on the decision to cut funding for North Carolina's youth tobacco prevention ad campaign:

The citizens of North Carolina should be outraged that, just weeks after learning that North Carolina's tobacco prevention ad campaign, Tobacco Reality Unfiltered (TRU), is working to protect kids from tobacco, the Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission and Governor Mike Easley suddenly reversed course and reduced planned funding for the campaign. These cuts are a win for the old time tobacco company special interests at the expense of North Carolina's children. Tobacco prevention, including programs like the TRU campaign, is a smart and fiscally responsible investment that reduces smoking, saves lives and saves money by reducing smoking-caused health care costs. The decision to cut funding for this program is shortsighted and will cost the state thousands of lives and millions of dollars in healthcare costs for years to come. We urge Governor Easley and the Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission to consider the health of North Carolina's kids and restore funding for this critical program that is working to protect them from tobacco.

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