Tobacco sales to minors in Oklahoma have more than doubled over the past four years. That could be problematic for hundreds in need of substance abuse services.
Statewide, the noncompliance rate with laws against underage tobacco sales is 14.1 percent. Four years ago, it was 6.8. Jeff Dismukes with Oklahoma Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services said if noncompliance goes above 20 percent, the state could lose up to 40 percent of its federal funding for substance abuse services.
"We have a waiting list of 900 Oklahomans on a daily basis who are looking for treatment, so to lose the federal funding would make a bad situation that much worse," Dismukes said.
Oklahoma’s current federal grant is $17.1 million a year. 1992 federal legislation from former Oklahoma congressman Mike Synar requires noncompliance rates under 20 percent in order for states to receive their full shares of funding.
"Store owners who ignore the law and make these sales to children are putting their profits ahead of our kids' health," Dismukes said. "The vast majority of retailers are abiding by the law. That's even more of a reason why there's not excuse for these others who choose to break the law."
State officials conduct random checks to determine the noncompliance rate.
