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Many States Receive Failing Grades in Lung Association Report on Anti-Tobacco Efforts | The Partnership at Drugfree.org

By Join Together Staff | January 19, 2012 |

(http://www NULL.drugfree NULL.org/join-together/prevention/many-states-receive-failing-grades-in-lung-association-report-on-anti-tobacco-efforts?utm_source=Join+Together+Daily&utm_campaign=6de209870e-JT_Daily_News_Many_States&utm_medium=email)Many states received failing grades on the latest American Lung Association report card rating tobacco control efforts. Forty-three states and the District of Columbia earned an “F” for funding smoking-prevention programs at less than half the levels recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Alaska was the only state that funded tobacco programs at the CDC’s recommended levels, Bloomberg Businessweek (http://www NULL.businessweek NULL.com/news/2012-01-19/tobacco-policies-abysmal-in-u-s-states-lung-association-says NULL.html) reports. Overall, states’ collective spending on anti-smoking programs dropped 11 percent last year, and only Vermont and Connecticut raised cigarette taxes. Eight states rejected cigarette tax proposals, while New Hampshire decreased its cigarette tax 10 cents per pack, according to the report, the State of Tobacco Control.

“At a time when our country is trying to get a handle on health-care spending, this is an enormous expense that could be avoided by investing in effective tobacco-prevention and cessation programs and policies,” said American Lung Association (http://www NULL.stateoftobaccocontrol NULL.org/) President and Chief Executive Officer, Charles Connor.

via Many States Receive Failing Grades in Lung Association Report on Anti-Tobacco Efforts | The Partnership at Drugfree.org (http://www NULL.drugfree NULL.org/join-together/prevention/many-states-receive-failing-grades-in-lung-association-report-on-anti-tobacco-efforts?utm_source=Join+Together+Daily&utm_campaign=6de209870e-JT_Daily_News_Many_States&utm_medium=email).