CDC’s Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco

Control Programs–2014

Recommended 

National 

Investment

Total

State and 

Community 

Interventions

Mass-Reach

Health 

Communication 

Interventions

Cessation

Interventions

Surveillance &

Evaluation

Infrastructure, 

Administration, & 

Management

Total Level

(dollars in 

millions)

Minimum: 

$2,325.3

Recommended:

$3,306.3

Minimum: $856.7

Recommended:

$1,071

Minimum: $370.1

Recommended: 

$532

Minimum: $795.1

Recommended: 

$1,271.9

Minimum: $202.6

Recommended:

$287.7

Minimum: $100.8

Recommended: $143.7

Per Person 

(based on 

total state 

population)

Minimum: $7.41

Recommended: 

$10.53

Minimum: $2.73

Recommended: 

$3.41

Minimum: $1.18

Recommended: 

$1.69

Minimum: $2.53

Recommended: 

$4.05

Minimum: $0.65

Recommended: $0.92

Minimum: $0.32

Recommended: $0.46

2014

CS243954G

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 

Office on Smoking and Health 

Defines the specific annual investment needed for state comprehensive tobacco control programs 

to implement what we know works to reduce tobacco-related disease and death. 

Tobacco Control Investments Work

Investing in Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs: 

• Prevents initiation among youth and young adults

• Promotes quitting among adults and youth

• Eliminates exposure to secondhand smoke

• Identifies and eliminates tobacco-related disparities

Comprehensive tobacco control 

programs work and are a public 

health “best buy.” For example, 

California’s tobacco control 

program yielded a $55:$1 

return on investment during 

1989–2008, and its lung cancer 

incidence is declining four 

times faster than the rest of the 

country.

State Funding For Tobacco Prevention and Control 

Although tobacco control is a “best buy,” many states have 

experienced severe cuts to state and local tobacco control 

funding. In 2010, states appropriated only 2.4% of their tobacco 

revenue for tobacco control. 
Considerations For Funding Levels

The funding levels in Best Practices–2014 are reflective of several 

developments since Best Practices–2007: 

• Additional state experiences in implementing comprehensive 

tobacco control programs.

• Enhanced scientific evidence base for effective tobacco 

prevention and control interventions. 

• A changing tobacco control landscape, including new federal 

activities such as the Affordable Care Act and the U.S. Food and 

Drug Administration’s authority to regulate tobacco products.

• Greater efficiency in certain component areas (e.g., lower costs 

for media buys).

• Greater efficiency in integrating activities into a larger 

framework of state and community interventions (e.g., 

incorporating youth access law enforcement and school 

prevention activities as part of broader community mobilization 

efforts).

These changes enable tobacco control programs to work more 

efficiently and see even greater return on investments.

CDC’s Best Practices–2014 includes two funding levels:

• Minimum: The lowest amount of funding needed to implement 

a comprehensive tobacco control program.

• Recommended: The ideal investment for comprehensive tobacco 

control programs. Programs funded at the recommended level 

see the greatest return on investment.

California’s tobacco control 

program yielded a $55:$1 

return on investment during 

1989–2008, and its lung 

cancer incidence is declining 

four times faster than the rest 

of the country.