Our state has again received very low 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 and Tobacco Taxes as well as a D in Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws and Access to Quitting Services.
The Association points out that smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death across the country. In Pennsylvania, the adult smoking rate dropped slightly to just over 14% while the rate of high school tobacco use held steady at nearly 27%. The Association encourages state lawmakers to close loopholes in the Clean Indoor Act.
The 21st 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.
