Recommended Policy for the Utilization of Indiana Tobacco Settlement Funds

The award of tobacco settlement funds to the state of Indiana provides an opportunity for legislators and other stakeholders to formulate health policies that will prevent tobacco-related diseases and promote primary health care to Indiana’s adults and children. Nurses can be active participants in helping to develop, implement, and evaluate effective health policies surrounding tobacco settlement funds. The authors identify social, economic, ethical, and political aspects of the tobacco settlement funds and recommend several policy alternatives that are possible when considering the use of the funds for health-related programs. Each policy alternative is evaluated based on cost, political, and other criteria. The ultimate goals of any policy should be to prevent further use of tobacco-related products, implement smoking-cessation programs to reduce risks for future health problems, and provide primary health care to people who have chronic debilitating conditions related to tobacco use.