(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina is in jeopardy of losing funding for programs that keep teenagers from turning to tobacco. The potential loss comes as the U.S. Surgeon General's Office releases a report urging Americans to take more steps to fight against youth tobacco use.

Matt Meyers is President of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and said the report makes two things clear. "The first is the tobacco industry's marketing continues to addict America's kids," said Meyers.  "It makes clear that while we know how to reduce use among our kids, our elected officials, especially in the states, are not doing enough to protect our children.  They've cut back the very programs that have been successful over the last decade."

Last year's budget in North Carolina eliminated the Health and Wellness fund, which foots the bill for tobacco prevention programs like TRU, or Tobacco Reality Unfiltered.  Lawmakers used money from the fund in other areas of the budget, where they were expecting shortfalls.