The battle between the state and preventionists over funding for the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation has resulted in collateral damage, with programs shutting down as their foundation funding runs dry.

The Akron Beacon-Journal reported July 13 that Summit County, Ohio recently canceled its free stop-smoking classes for smokers because the money from the tobacco settlement is in limbo.

"During the first half of this year, we saw a dramatic increase of people contacting us," said Jill Oldham, director of the county's Tobacco Prevention Coalition. "To turn people away who are ready to make a quit attempt is very disheartening."

The court battle over the foundation's endowment arose from an attempt by Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland to seize the money and use it to pay for an economic stimulus package. After the foundation board defied Strickland's attempt, he ordered the smoking-prevention charity shut down and its assets transferred to the state. The foundation currently is challenging that order in court.