A new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute
shows death rates from cancer steadily declined from 1994 to
1998. But the rates have since leveled off. Lung cancer still
remains the number one cancer killer in America. The American
Cancer Society estimates that eight out of 10 lung cancer deaths
are due to smoking. Data from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention shows Kentucky not only leads the way in
percentage of smokers in the population, but also has the
highest lung cancer death rates in the country. The state health
department says it will spend $4.8 million on tobacco control
programs this year--an amount that still falls far short of the
$25 million recommended by the CDC for the state. This puts
Kentucky in 40th place overall for tobacco control spending.
Health officials say they are doing the best they can with the
funds available for tobacco control programs.