State of Tobacco Control: Not so Good

States backsliding, but Obama Administration makes progress

Posted by: Editor | Jan 19, 2012

Most states are doing an "abysmal" job in protecting children from tobacco and curbing tobacco-related diseases, a new report from the American Lung Association says.

In 2011, states drastically cut the prevention programs that keep kids from smoking and help smokers quit, while failing to enact the smoke-free laws and higher tobacco taxes that that are proven to reduce tobacco use — with New Hampshire even cutting its tax.

In its annual review of state and federal tobacco-control policies, the Lung Association assessed states' progress on four critical tobacco-control measures: Funding for prevention and cessation programs, comprehensive smoke-free laws, higher tobacco taxes and expanded insurance coverage of treatments to help smokers quit.

Key findings include:

• Forty-three states and the District of Columbia earned an "F" for failing to fund tobacco prevention programs at needed levels.
• Six states — Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia — received "Fs" in all four categories.
• Only four states — Delaware, Hawaii, Maine and Oklahoma — received a passing grade in all categories.
• No state received straight "As."

The federal government stepped in to fill some of the void with strong, graphic warning labels that are supposed to begin appearing on cigarette packs in September, and other steps taken to implement the landmark law that gives the Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco products. In addition, the Obama administration took steps to expand coverage for treatment to help smokers quit under the federal employees' health plan and Medicaid.

"Today's report calls out states for their failures to protect children," says lung association president Charles D. Connor. "If states completely retreat, it will result in even more tragic human consequences across America."

To continue making progress against tobacco use, the nation's number one cause of preventable death, elected officials at all levels must step up implementation of the proven strategies that are the subject of today’s report.

Read the full report and get the grades for each state.