Health Policy Connection

Health Policy  /  Public Health and Prevention  /  Public Health and Prevention Fast Facts

Public Health and Prevention Fast Facts

 Binge alcohol consumption high for young people
Binge drinking accounts for more than 1/2 the alcohol consumption by adults in the United States, and 15 percent of the population reported doing so in 2009. Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more alcoholic drinks on one or more occasion for women and five or more for men. Men had the higher rate, with 20 percent reporting binge drinking with an average of 4.6 episodes. Young people ages 18-24 were the highest rated age group with 25.6 percent reporting binge drinking in 4 episodes.
Source:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Federal grants for tobacco prevention
Federal grants have helped to cushion the impact of state funding cuts, but some of that funding is temporary and will run out this year. In fiscal year 2012, the federal government is providing $91.2 million in state and community grants to reduce tobacco use. States have also received $196.4 million in stimulus funds for tobacco prevention, some of which will be spent this year.
Source:  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Tobacco Marketing
Tobacco companies spend $23 to market tobacco products for every $1 the states spend to fight tobacco use. According to the latest data from the Federal Trade Commission, tobacco companies spend $10.5 billion a year on marketing.
Source:  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
State funding and CDC-recommended levels
Four states – Connecticut, Nevada, New Hampshire and Ohio – and DC have budgeted zero state funds for tobacco prevention this year.
Source:  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
State funding and CDC-recommended levels
Only four states provide even half the recommended funding, while 33 states and Washington, DC, provide less than a quarter.
Source:  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
State funding and CDC-recommended levels
Counting both state funds and federal grants, only Alaska and North Dakota currently fund tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels.
Source:  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
States and funding
States have cut funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs by $61.2 million (12 percent) in the past year and by $260.5 million (36 percent) in the past four years.
Source:  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Tobacco revenues can fund tobacco prevention
It would take less than 15 percent of total state tobacco revenues to fully fund tobacco prevention programs in every state.
Source:  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
States are falling short on tobacco prevention funding
Most states are falling far short of recommended funding levels for tobacco prevention programs set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The $456.7 million the states have budgeted is just 12 percent of the $3.7 billion the CDC recommends for all the states combined.
Source:  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Prevention and Public Health Fund
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) creates a new Prevention and Public Health Fund to assist state and community efforts to prevent illness and promote health. The Fund represents an unprecedented investment - $15 billion over 10 years - that will help prevent disease, detect it early, and manage conditions before they become severe.
Source:  HealthCare.Gov
Walking programs and heart disease
If one tenth of Americans began a regular walking program, $5.6 billion could be saved in the treatment of heart disease.
Source:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Chronic conditions and spending
In 2001, people with chronic conditions accounted for 83 percent of all health care spending
Source:  Johns Hopkins University
Staffing capacity for disease outbreak
Only three states and D.C. report not having enough staffing capacity to work extended hours in response to an infectious disease outbreak, such as novel influenza like H1N1.
Source:  Trust for America's Health
State public health funding is inconsistent
In fiscal year 2009-2010, state public health funding per capita ranged from a low of $3.40 per person in Nevada to a high of $171.30 per person in Hawaii.
Source:  Trust for America's Health
State public health funding is low
The median amount of state public health funding in fiscal years 2009-2010 was $30.61 per person.
Source:  Trust for America's Health
Funding for disease prevention is inconsistent
The amount of federal funding spent to prevent disease and improve health in communities ranged significantly from state to state, with a per capita low of $13.96 in Ohio to a high of $51.89 in Alaska.
Source:  Trust for America's Health
Federal public health spending is low
Federal public health spending through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) averaged out to $20.25 per person in FY 2010.
Source:  Trust for America's Health
Cuts to public health jobs
Approximately 23,000 public health jobs - totaling 15 percent of the local public health workforce - have been lost since January 2008.
Source:  Trust for America's Health
Cuts to public health funding
In January 2010, 53 percent of local health departments reported that their core funding had been cut from the previous year, and 47 percent anticipate cuts again in the coming year.
Source:  Trust for America's Health
Cuts to public health budgets
At state and local levels, public health budgets have been cut in recent years. Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia cut funding for public health from fiscal year 2008-2009 to 2009-2010, and 15 of these states cut funding for a second year in a row.
Source:  Trust for America's Health

My presentation builder (beta)

You have not collected any slides or slideshows for your presentation. Learn more about the presentation builder and search for slides on our website.