West Virginia Near Bottom of Ratings for Smoking Prevention

The American Lung Association has given the federal government at least one good mark for its work toward curbing tobacco use, although it isn't impressed by West Virginia's efforts.

The U.S. got an "A" for its decision to give the Food and Drug Administration responsibility for regulating tobacco. The lung association said that the regulation was a good first step but more work needed to be done. It said that not enough had been done on the federal or state level in raising the federal cigarette tax to $2.68/pack (the association's goal), providing assistance to help smokers quit or ratifying an international tobacco control treaty that has already been approved by 168 nations.

"Our leaders in Washington have made a strong start in confronting the tobacco epidemic and taking steps that ultimately will save millions of lives and hundreds of billions of dollars for the American economy," said American Lung Association president/CEO Charles D. Connor. "Ending the epidemic, however, will require more hard work."

The lung association said that smoking-related illnesses are the most preventable cause of death in the United States. More than 393,000 people die every year and it costs $193 million a year to the U.S. economy. Secondhand-smoke kills another 50,000 Americans every year.

The lung association isn't as happy with West Virginia's efforts. The state received an "F" in its 2009 report card: Tobacco Prevention & Control Spending; Smokefree Air; Cigarette Tax; and Cessation Coverage.

West Virginia's tobacco control program funding in 2009-10 is $6.8 million, compared to a Centers for Disease Control & Prevention best-practices rate of $27.8 million.

The state prohibits smoking in public schools and restricts smoking in government workplaces and childcare facilities, there are no statewide provisions for private workplaces, restaurants, bars, casinos and gaming establishments, or recreational or cultural facilities. There are penalties but not enough enforcement, the lung association said.

The state's 55-cent per pack tax on cigarettes didn't meet the lung association's muster. Neither did its state-covered cessation programs in either the state Medicaid, state employee health plans or a mandate for private insurance.

Neighboring Ohio and Pennsylvania also received failing grades for some of the categories, though not uniform "F"s. Pennsylvania was praised for raising the cigarette tax but slashing tobacco-control funding by more than 25%.