Most states, including S.C., receive failing marks for funding tobacco prevention plans

NEW YORK -- Most states have failed to pay for tobacco-prevention programs and protect people from secondhand smoke despite receiving billions of dollars in settlement money to take such measures, according to a report.

The American Lung Association's report, released Tuesday, gave 38 states grades of F for failing to fund tobacco prevention and control programs. Thirty-five states received Fs for their smoke-free air laws.

South Carolina received an F in the report, in part, because the Legislature failed to pass a cigarette tax increase last year that would have funded Medicaid programs, said Greg White, vice president of American Lung Association of South Carolina.

White said the state now spends less money on programs to prevent tobacco use. He says his group will fight for the cigarette tax increase, which is expected to be debated again this year, and passing smoke-free workplace legislation.

The annual report also found that 23 states received failing marks because of their inability to keep tobacco out of the hands of minors.

"How many more preventable deaths must occur and how many more children must become addicted to cigarettes before we say enough?" ALA chief executive John L. Kirkwood said.

The report said there were some bright spots. Fifteen states received grades of A in at least one of the four categories, and five states -- California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine and Rhode Island -- got A's in two categories. New York was the only state to receive A's in as many as three areas.

The American Lung Association says that 440,000 people die each year from tobacco-related illnesses, while smoking costs the United States about $75 billion in direct medical costs and $82 billion in lost productivity each year.

On the Net: American Lung Association, http://www.lungusa.org

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