As one of the states participating in recent lawsuits against the tobacco industry, West Virginia will be receiving billions of dollars in settlement money. That money has been designated for two purposes. Some is to compensate the state for tobacco-related health expenses such as those incurred by Public Employees Insurance (PEIA), and could go a long way toward addressing PEIA's problems.

But equally important is to use this money for prevention, which in the long run will be the most effective way to keep down costs to taxpayers. Other states have recognized this. In Florida, one of the first states to benefit from the tobacco settlement, $40 million was used to fund an intense media campaign aimed at children and teenagers. As a result, Florida saw a 17% reduction in its teen smoking rate in one year. A statewide media blitz aimed at kids would be costly, but tobacco settlement funds are specifically meant for that purpose. Legislators must be convinced to use the money for this purpose.

Unfortunately West Virginia has a history of not supporting tobacco prevention, nor has Gov. Underwood made prevention a priority. In fact, West Virginia spends absolutely no money on the prevention of smoking. If we are to spare our children a future of tobacco-related illness and our state taxpayers the continued burden of paying for those illnesses, that must change.

The governor and the legislature should work with responsible advocacy groups like the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free West Virginia to spend tobacco settlement monies wisely. And currently West Virginia is one of only nine states with no tax on snuff and cigars. A tobacco tax would increase the amount of money available for treating tobacco-related illnesses.