Connecticut’s State Of Tobacco Control Report Card Among Worst In Nation

EAST HARTFORD — The American Lung Association’s (ALA) national annual State of Tobacco Control Report Card released January 13 continues to demonstrate an alarming trend in Connecticut’s efforts to control tobacco use. The complete report including federal and state grades is available at stateoftobaccocontrol.org

Throughout the six-year history of this report card, Connecticut has consistently received high grades for its cigarette excise tax and smoke-free air law and failing grades for underfunding tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

Over the past decade, the state has received more than $1 billion in funds from the landmark Master Settlement Agreement. Yet, virtually none has been spent for the purpose for which it was intended, namely tobacco treatment, despite the fact that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that the state spend at least $43.9 million annually for an effective tobacco treatment program.

Tobacco Prevention And Control Spending: F

This year, with $12 million originally proposed for the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund, the state took a giant step toward comprehensive tobacco control. However, Governor M. Jodi Rell now plans to raid the fund and instead transfer the $12 million into the general fund. Some of Connecticut’s grades are as follows:

Smoke-free Air: C — This grade has fallen over the years since there are still a number of exemptions to the smoke-free workplace law, most notably smoking is still allowed in casinos. The ALA calls on the state legislature to pass legislation that protects all workers, including those who work in casinos. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Cigarette Tax: B — The Campaign for Sensible Tobacco Policy is proposing a $1 per pack tax increase on cigarettes. While this is an important public health strategy for tobacco prevention and cessation, it is a strategy that is far more effective when coupled with prevention and cessation programs. It is a tax placed on the backs of smokers who get no return in terms of assistance with quitting.

Cessation Coverage: F — Connecticut is one of just six states that does not cover smoking cessation treatment for Medicaid recipients. Seventy percent of current smokers want to quit. “If the state legislature has any notion that they are saving money by not providing comprehensive treatment for smokers who want to quit, their thinking is flawed,” said David Hill, MD, chair of the Connecticut Leadership Board, American Lung Association of New England.

“We know that for every [single dollar] spent on tobacco prevention and treatment, $14 is saved on health care costs. In a state that has historically prided itself on implementing good public health policy, in the area of tobacco control, we fail. This failure translates into nearly 5,000 deaths in our state each year. Tobacco use is at the heart of a crisis plaguing America’s health and economy and it must be a priority for our state leaders, “ he added.

The American Lung Association of New England is part of the American Lung Association, the oldest voluntary health organization in the United States. It was established in 1904 to combat tuberculosis. For more information, visit www.lungne.org.