The Oklahoma Profile: A review of Oklahoma's tobacco prevention and control program

Oklahoma’s tobacco control program has made progress despite the challenges of inadequate program funding, an unsupportive political climate, and the pro-tobacco norm of its citizens. They have benefited from strong tobacco control leadership, a supportive network of tobacco control partners, and advances in secondhand smoke policy. These characteristics along with the strong commitment of the tobacco control community will continue to improve and expand Oklahoma’s tobacco control efforts. In fiscal year 02, Oklahoma dedicated approximately $3.8 million ($1.10 per capita) to tobacco control, meeting 17% of CDC’s lower funding estimate. Community programs received nearly half of the funding, while enforcement and chronic disease programs received no funding from the tobacco control program. The establishment of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund (Trust) and securing funding from other sources, such as the CDC and the American Legacy Foundation, were viewed as financial successes. Significant challenges to the program were the lack of funding for the tobacco control program and the delay in the disbursement of the Trust money. Partners agreed that the goals were appropriate due to their synergism and ability to impact a large number of people. Although attempts to repeal preemption had been unsuccessful, the Board of Health’s Secondhand Smoke Rules Partners identified the following strengths and challenges of Oklahoma’s tobacco control program: • The dedication of tobacco control professionals and advocates was identified as a major strength of the program. • The cooperation and coordination of the tobacco control network was viewed as a strength, but many partners believed that the network could be stronger. • The lack of adequate funding was a huge impediment to the tobacco control program. • A lack of awareness about the importance of tobacco control and lack of support from the public was a barrier. • Major political barriers were the influence of the tobacco industry and the lack of legislative support for tobacco control.