State gets nearly all F’s in annual tobacco control report
The American Lung Association’s 2018 State of Tobacco Control report, which grades states on policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use, shows that Nevada lags in anti-tobacco measures.
The 16th annual report graded states in five categories, with Nevada receiving four F’s and a C. It received an F in tobacco prevention and control program funding, tobacco taxes, access to cessation services and minimum age. The state got a C in the Smoke Free Air category.
“It’s not one of our best qualities for sure,” said Will Rucker, director of programs for the American Lung Association in Nevada. “The grades we received is nothing new — we’ve not done well in the past.” Will Rucker, director of programs for the American Lung Association in Nevada
Nevada’s leading cause of preventable death is tied to tobacco use, with 4,050 deaths attributed to smoking between 2005 and 2009, the study showed. The state sees $1.08 billion in health care costs due to smoking each year.
Some geographic areas and population groups — such as people who live in rural areas, those with mental illness and minorities — face the greatest risk for tobacco-related death and illness, Rucker said.
“That goes to the health care question, because these people don’t have access to the health care system in the way that other groups do,” he said. “Everyone deserves a chance to be fully healthy and have access to great health care.”
The report urges Gov. Brian Sandoval and state lawmakers to pass comprehensive smoke-free laws and increase funding for tobacco prevention and control programs. In 2017, Nevada earmarked
“One of the reasons we have not made much progress on the areas we’re focusing on is simply lack of funding.”