HARRISBURG, PA — A shocking report was published today by the American Lung Association in its 22nd annual “State of Tobacco Control” study. With three F grades and two Ds, Pennsylvania’s efforts towards preventing and reducing tobacco use fell short of commendable.
The report highlighted the urgent need for the Commonwealth’s policymakers to pay attention to and address the glaring flaws of Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act. It also underscored the importance of increased funding towards tobacco prevention and cessation programs that could potentially save lives.
Tobacco use continues to be the chief cause of death across Pennsylvania and the nation at large, claiming approximately 22,010 lives in the Keystone State annually. Aimee Van Cleave, the American Lung Association’s Director of Advocacy in Pennsylvania, noted that the tobacco industry’s pursuit of profit often outweighs the value of Pennsylvanian lives.
The report calls upon Pennsylvania’s policymakers to amend the Clean Indoor Act, proposing a comprehensive smokefree law to safeguard all workers, including those in bars and casinos. This move is critical as the U.S. Surgeon General has deemed there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs is also a subject of concern. Despite receiving a whopping $1.54 billion from tobacco settlement payments and taxes, Pennsylvania only funds these life-saving efforts at a mere 13.4% of the recommended level by the CDC.
Interestingly, the report also underscored the importance of halting the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, citing their attractiveness to young people and the severe health disparities these products are causing among Black communities.
The “State of Tobacco Control” report’s grades were no less than alarming. Paired with President Biden’s failure to finalize rules to end menthol cigarettes and flavored cigar sales, one cannot help but recognize the urgent need for substantial policy changes at not only the state but also the federal level.
Pennsylvania’s disheartening performance in the report should serve as a stark wake-up call for its residents, especially those in the legislative arena. The American Lung Association urges all to take part in the mission to save lives from the deadly grip of tobacco – a mission that must start with solid policy amendments and increased funding towards prevention and control programs.
Staying silent on this matter equates to putting a price tag on the lives of Pennsylvania’s residents, a reality Pennsylvanians can no longer afford to accept.
One of the ways to get involved and rally behind the American Lung Association’s mission includes participating in the upcoming Fight For Air Climb events in Philadelphia on April 6, 2024, and in Pittsburgh on March 23, 2024.
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