(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina has the lowest youth smoking rates in history and it is also among the lowest in the country. Recently, the Health and Wellness Trust Fund, which used tobacco settlement funds to provide teen smoking prevention intiative, was cut by the legislature. But, Peg O'Connell with the North Carolina alliance for Health said some funds are still being used to meet that objective.

"Once the Health and Wellness Trust Fund was abolished, the legislature did send the money that was focused on the smoking prevention program to the Department of Public Health, the State Department of Public Health, so the programs are continuing," said O'connell.

Supporters of youth tobacco prevention met at the legislature this week to make their case for ongoing teen smoking prevention education programs.