News
Nebraska Receives Poor Grades in Tobacco Control Report, Kansas Fairs Slightly Better
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Nebraska.TV (NTV)
The American Lung Association released their State of Tobacco Control report Wednesday that ranked Nebraska as failing in most categories.
Nebraska received the following grades for 2012.
Tobacco Prevention and Control Program Funding: F
Smokefree Air: A
Cigarette Tax: F
Cessation Coverage: F
The report claims that Nebraska has failed to protect children from tobacco companies' marketing tactics by not investing in programs and policies that have been proven to reduce tobacco use.
According to the Surgeon General's 2012 report on Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults, 3 million new youth and young people have begun smoking due to many states' failure to invest in policies and programs to reduce tobacco use.
"It's time Nebraska removes Big Tobacco's welcome mat," said Sara Dreiling, Chief Executive Officer of the American Lung Association, Plains-Gulf Region. "Leaders in Lincoln must provide smokers with the support they need to quit and adequately fund programs that help keep our kids off tobacco."
The report shows Kansas getting grades only slightly better than Nebraska. Kansas received the following grades for 2012.
Tobacco Prevention and Control Program Funding: F
Smokefree Air: A
Cigarette Tax: D
Cessation Coverage: F
Dreiling adds, "Kansas must make it a priority to invest in programs that keep kids off tobacco and to help smokers quit."
http://www.nebraska.tv/story/20613238/nebraska-receives-poor-grades
