We've all seen commercials for months, trying to keep teens from starting to smoke.

But a report released today by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids suggests 41 states, including Utah should be doing more. News Specialist Sam Penrod reports.

Matt Myers - Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids: "FOR DECADES, STATES SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T DO TOBACCO PREVENTION BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD IT. NOW, THE ONLY REASON THAT WE'RE NOT DOING TOBACCO PREVENTION IS BECAUSE WE LACK THE POLITICAL WILL. STATE LEGISLATORS HAVE TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY KID WHO LIGHTS UP TOMORROW."

Utah has spent 12 million dollars the last two years for anti-tobacco campaigns, the Children's Health Insurance Program, drug courts and cancer research.

The rest of the 64- million dollars the state has received has gone into a trust fund.

State lawmakers are now discussing what to do with the tobacco money in the upcoming session.

Sen. Steve Poulton/Senate Majority Leader: "THERE IS GOING TO BE PRESSURE TO CHANGE THE FORMULA AND USE THE MONEY FOR IMMEDIATE NEEDS. I THINK IF WE HAVE IMMEDIATE NEEDS, LET'S USE THE GENERAL FUND RATHER THAN BORROWING FROM THE FUTURE."

Today's report shows that Utah is only spending 40 percent of what the Centers For Disease Control believes the state should be spending in anti-smoking campaigns.

Several other states are highly criticized in the report for spending little on prevention and instead using the tobacco money to erase budget deficits, improve roads or even build prisons.

Lawmakers believe the trust fund will ultimately benefit anti-tobacco programs in the future.

Sen. Steve Poulton/Senate Majority Leader: "THE PROBLEM WITH THE TOBACCO MONEY IS THAT IT HAS AN END. THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN IT WON'T BE THERE ANYMORE. WHEN THAT END COMES, HOPEFULLY WE HAVE THIS TRUST FUND BUILT UP TO WHERE THE REVENUE WON'T BE MISSED."

The author of the report hopes lawmakers take those budget decisions seriously.

The group insists the number of children who become addicted to cigarettes could be cut in half, if a majority of the settlement money was going to prevention.

For more information on the report, go to tobaccofreekids.org/reports/settlements/.