The Vermont Quits program, a smoking cessation program, is one such
program that is also facing budget cuts. This program provides smokers
with counseling (in person, on the web and by phone) and nicotine
replacement therapy. It also provides smoking cessation classes and
education for students to keep kids from experimenting with tobacco.
The program is funded by money from the federal tobacco settlement. A
portion of the annual money received goes into a trust fund so that in
25 years, when the tobacco settlement funds end, the state will have a
ready pool of money to continue the program.
The program is 10 years old and during its decade of operation, tobacco
use in Vermont has dropped to 17 percent. In 2000, 22 percent of
Vermonters used tobacco.
It makes good sense to help smokers quit tobacco before their addiction
causes expensive health problems such as cancer and emphysema. This is
money well spent. Just as it makes sense to provide children with
medical care when they need it because it costs less for a doctor visit
and antibiotics to treat an ear infection than it does to pay for
special educational aides for a child who lost his/her hearing due to
an untreated ear infection.
Consider the fact that a heroin addict in Vermont will receive free
treatment, free counseling, free methadone and other services. And that
is treatment for addiction to an illegal drug.
Consider the fact that through the end of the Vietnam War soldiers were
regularly given cigarettes as part of their daily rations. Do we not
have some obligation to them?
Belts have been tightened all over the state and part of the budget
battle that has been waging is the question of what services are
essential and what can be cut. Funding tobacco cessation programs costs
money today but, like health care for children, saves proportionately
far more money in the future.
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