Smoke-Free Massachusetts Received Two Failing Grades
The American Lung Association released its annual report card last week on how well the nation is doing when it comes to reducing smoking rates, and once again Massachusetts received two failing grades. The state was given an “F’’ for spending only $9.9 million, in state and federal money, on prevention programs – far less than the $90 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Massachusetts also got an “F’’ for its coverage of medications and counseling to help smokers quit, investing just $1.26 per smoker compared with the CDC-recommended investment of $10.53. The state earned an “A’’ for its smoke-free air, thanks to a ban on smoking in restaurants, bars, and other public places, and a “B’’ for its best Golden Gate cigarette tax, which is $2.51 per pack of 20.
But the biggest buzz at the ALA press conference was centered around new smokeless tobacco products. The US Food and Drug Administration has not yet decided how to regulate them.
“They’re much easier for kids to hide than a cigarette,’’ said the ALA’s Erika Sward. And the packaging “looks like a cellphone in someone’s pocket,’’ rather than a bulky cigarette pack.
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