Davis Gets Graded on Tobacco Control

Davis received a B grade from the American Lung Association’s State of Tobacco Control report. That’s the highest grade in the region.

The study looks at smoke-free outdoor environments, smoke-free housing, and reductions in the tobacco sales. More information is below, but you can read the full report here.

In 2011, the cities of Elk Grove and Live Oak made advances in protecting their residents from secondhand smoke by restricting smoking in outdoor areas.  Grades were mixed for the Sacramento region with Davis receiving a B grade, the highest overall grade in the region. The municipalities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Grass Valley, Nevada City, and Riverbank all received an overall C grade. In order to protect residents from the harmful effects of tobacco, more needs to be done at the local level to pass policies and raise the grade. The American Lung Association is working to increase public knowledge about local policies that protect residents, recognize leadership where steps have been taken, and continue to encourage leadership and political will where improvement is needed.

Once a national leader in tobacco control policies, California’s efforts are now lagging. The state received an F for failing to adequately fund tobacco prevention and control programs and a D for its low cigarette tax. California currently ranks 33^rd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for its $0.87 per pack tax, far below the national average of $1.46. While California earned an A for smokefree air policies, the state received another F for poor coverage of smoking cessation and treatment services.

Both the state and local grades demonstrate the need for California to pass the California Cancer Research Act on the June 2012 ballot. “Now is the time for California to raise the grade,” said Jane Warner, President and CEO, American Lung Association in California. “The California Cancer Research Act is an historic opportunity for California voters to provide more than $855 million annually to fund research for cancer and other tobacco-related diseases as well as proven tobacco prevention, education, and law enforcement efforts which will prevent 228,700 kids in California from becoming addicted smokers.” The California Cancer Research Act is strongly supported by the American Lung Association in California, the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association. More information can be found at www.californiansforacure.org.

The California Cancer Research Act ballot measure would increase the state’s tobacco tax by $1.00 per pack and dedicate revenues to the treatment, prevention and, ultimately, cures for lung disease, heart disease and stroke, cancer and other tobacco-related illnesses. The measure also would triple state funding for tobacco prevention and cessation efforts.

In 2011, a total of 45 cities and counties adopted new tobacco control policies to protect their citizens from the harmful effects of tobacco. While many jurisdictions took action to adopt strong policies and improve their grades, a total of 355 cities and counties – 66 percent of all jurisdictions in the state – received an F for their overall tobacco grade.

“The Sacramento region has made important advances in protecting people from secondhand smoke and keeping tobacco products out of the hands of kids,” said Chris Halm, Chair of the Leadership Board of the American Lung Association in California – Sacramento. “But this year, elected officials and all California voters can do even more to raise the grades and save lives by passing the California Cancer Research Act.”

About the American Lung Association

Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is “Fighting for Air” through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visitwww.lung.org/california.