Each day, more than 1,100 kids become regular daily smokers1 and 1,200 people die from a tobacco-related illness.2
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Of the $96 million in state-level campaign contributions given during 2005 and 2006, the two largest tobacco companies Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds gave almost $90 million.5
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The American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control 2007 report tracks progress on key tobacco control policies at the state and federal level and assigns grades to tobacco control laws and regulations enacted as of January 1, 2008. In the federal section of the report, the U.S. government is graded on cigarette taxes, regulation of tobacco products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), cessation and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)—the international tobacco control treaty. The state section focuses on tobacco control and prevention spending, smokefree air, cigarette taxes and youth access to tobacco products.
Despite repeated studies that show that state tobacco prevention and cessation programs work, only six states fund these programs at or above the levels recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While many states have failed to make meaningful progress at protecting their most vulnerable citizens, the tobacco companies are spending billions of dollars annually marketing their deadly products.
Many states have hardworking tobacco control coalitions that continually encounter strong resistance from their state legislators and powerful tobacco interests. The grades given in this report in no way reflect the degree of effort expended by the public health community. Quite simply, the grades reflect how well a state’s tobacco control laws measure up to the best in the nation or goals set by federal agencies such as the CDC.
The public health community faces substantial opposition by the tobacco companies as it works to see strong and effective tobacco control measures implemented. A report issued by Common Cause and the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund found that the tobacco industry made almost $3 million in Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to federal candidates during the 2005–2006 election cycle, including more than $1.7 million in contributions directly to federal candidates.3 The Institute on Money in State Politics found that tobacco companies and retailers gave over $96 million to state-level candidates, committees and ballot measure campaigns during the 2005 and 2006 election cycle.4
Until the political will can be found to implement the proven and effective policies graded in this report, over 438,000 people each year will continue to die from tobacco-related diseases.6 Progress has been made in each of the six years since this report was first released, but the overwhelming human toll caused by tobacco adds urgency to the need for meaningful policy change. The American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control 2007 report is a call to Congress, the Bush Administration, state legislators and governors to save lives and protect public health by adopting strong and effective tobacco control policies.
