North Carolina youth urge lawmakers to provide steady funding source for tobacco prevention programs after fund was eliminated last year; North Carolina Alliance for Health to host more than 250 youth tobacco use prevention advocates Thursday

Michelle Rivera

RALEIGH, North Carolina , February 16, 2012 (Associated Press) – Young people are gathering at the North Carolina Legislature to highlight successes in reducing teen smoking rates while urging lawmakers to provide a steady funding source again for prevention programs.

The North Carolina Alliance for Health prepared to host more than 250 youth tobacco use prevention advocates Thursday at the Legislative Building.

The event is designed to celebrate how smoking rates among students have dropped since 2003. Health lobbyists attribute the drop to tobacco prevention programs funded by the Health and Wellness Trust Fund, which held a portion of North Carolina's share of the national tobacco settlement.

The fund was eliminated last year. The state budget directed some settlement money could go to teen tobacco prevention efforts this year.

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