The North Dakota Medical Association supports the forward steps represented by Engrossed SB 2380 in establishing a mechanism within the ND Health Department for developing an adequately funded, comprehensive tobacco prevention and treatment dependency program in our state.
Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States and in North Dakota.
Not only would a comprehensive program diminish the individual family tragedies associated with tobacco-related disease and death, but would also help stem the rising cost of health care for families and businesses in North Dakota. However, the evidence shows that those programs must also be adequately funded to be effective. Engrossed SB 2380 includes an unspecified amount that represents the receipt of federal funds. Using the CDC Best Practices as guidance as to minimum recommendations for an effective tobacco prevention program, the Medical Association proposes three alternative amendments to Engrossed SB 2380, which suggest various approaches for allocating additional funds to the tobacco prevention program. For future bienniums, the proposed amendments would allocate one-third of the tobacco settlement funds for the tobacco prevention fund and allocate the interest from the community health trust fund to the tobacco prevention fund, subject to future appropriations.