The American Lung Association released a new report this week, giving New York mixed grades on its tobacco policies.
According to the American Lung Association, the 16th annual “State of Tobacco Control” grades states and the federal government on policies proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use. Jeff Seyler , Executive Vice President for the Northeast Region, says that while New York has taken significant steps to reduce tobacco use, including the recent inclusion of electronic cigarettes in the state’s Clean Indoor Air Act, more than 28,000 New Yorkers will die this year from tobacco use. "Despite the progresses made, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in this country, killing almost half a million American each year and causing more than $289 billion in health care costs and lost productivity. The reality is that our fight is still far from over. More than 1 in 5 high school students still uses tobacco products in this country. While cigarette use may be decreasing, e-cigarette use and hookah use continue to increase."
Seyler says New York’s inconsistent grades show that progress is a moving target: "In this year's State of Tobacco Control report, New York received an 'A' for smoke-free air and a 'B' for our tobacco taxes. But what continues to cause us the most concern and what thwarts our overall effort to save lives is the 'F' grade New York received for tobacco prevention and control program funding. We saw slight improvement on the access to cessation services, which improved from a 'D' to a "C' and New York again received a 'D' grade for minimum age. Taken together, these grades illustrate that despite once having been a leader in tobacco control, New York remains stalled in its commitment to save lives and reduce health care costs from tobacco in New York."
The report calls on elected officials to do more to fight tobacco use disparities by increasing funding to the Tobacco Control Program.
Thomas Carr, Director of National Policy for the American Lung Association and the chief author of the report, urges Governor Andrew Cuomo to pass a comprehensive, statewide law to raise the age of sale for all tobacco products. "No states received all 'A' grades. 4 states received all 'F' grades. Five states with the best grades overall include New York's neighboring states of Massachusetts and Vermont. Close to 95 percent of smokers try their first cigarette before age 21, so the Lung Association wants these states to adopt laws to increase tobacco sales age to 21."
Carr adds that 28 states and the District of Columbia including New York have passed comprehensive smoke-free laws eliminating smoking in virtually all public places and workplaces.
Despite the mixed report card, the ALA applauds state and local lawmakers for efforts to include e-cigarettes in smoke-free air laws. More than 57 percent of the state now requires tobacco purchasers to be 21, and Rockland County became the first in New York to prohibit the sale of tobacco in pharmacies.
Michael Seilback is Vice President of Public Policy & Communications at the American Lung Association. "...only with a strong state law will New York receive an 'A' grade in this category. So local laws that have been approved already show there's significant grass-roots support for this type of legislation. A statewide law would strengthen the laws set by municipal leaders and remove geographical gaps, again helping to shrink tobacco disparities throughout the state."
Grades were mixed in neighboring states. Massachusetts got an 'F' in Tobacco Prevention and Cessation funding along with a pair of 'A''s when it comes to smoke-free air and tobacco taxes.
Connecticut fared poorly, with no 'A' rankings, earning two 'F''s: one for Tobacco Prevention and Cessation funding and the other for work to raise the minimum age for tobacco purchases to 21.
Vermont also scored 'F' on that front but received an 'A' for smoke-free air and a pair of 'B''s in Tobacco Taxes and Access to Cessation Services.
