Our state has again received failing grades by a national organization for not doing enough to end tobacco use and improve air quality.
The American Lung Association recently gave Pennsylvania F grades in Tobacco Prevention Funding, Access to Quitting Services, and Tobacco Taxes as well as a D in Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws.
The Association points out that smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death across the country. In Pennsylvania, the adult smoking rate held relatively steady at nearly 16% while the rate of high school tobacco use is nearly 27%. The Association encourages state lawmakers to pass a comprehensive law to eliminate smoking in all public places.
The 20th annual State of Tobacco Control report also gave the state a failing grade in the category of Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products which directly connects to the youth e-cigarette epidemic.