IOWA’S AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION SAYS THE STATE’S GRADES HAVE NOT CHANGED FROM LAST YEAR ON THE NEW TOBACCO USE REPORT.
WHILE THE STATE STILL GRADES LOW, ASSOCIATION SPOKESPERSON KRISTINA HAMILTON SAYS THERE HAS BEEN ONE RECENT IMPROVEMENT IN TOBACCO PREVENTION:
TOBACCO1 OC……MEDICAID QUIT” :14
THE STATE RECEIVED AN F GRADE FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO SERVICES TO HELP PEOPLE QUIT TOBACCO PRIOR TO THE RECENT CHANGE.
THE REPORT ALSO GAVE IOWA AN “F” GRADE FOR ENDING THE SALE OF FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS, THE LEVEL OF STATE TOBACCO TAXES, AND THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING OF TOBACCO PREVENTION PROGRAMS.
TOBACCO2 OC……..STATE LEVEL” :25
THE ONE AREA WHERE THE STATE GETS AN A GRADE IS THE SMOKE FREE AIR LAW.
TOBACCO3 OC…….AND PATRONS”:18
HAMILTON SAYS THEY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE E-CIGARETTES DEFINED AND TAXED AS TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
SHE SAYS SMOKING RATES HAVE DROPPED FROM 25 PERCENT 20 YEARS AGO WHEN THEY FIRST DID THE REPORT TO BELOW 16 PERCENT NOW.
HAMILTON SAYS TOBACCO USE REMAINS OUR LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE DEATH AND DISEASE.
RADIO IOWA
