Recently the American Lung Association released the 2018 State Grades as it relates to tobacco control. In a “nonsurprising” determination, Mississippi, Virginia, Texas and North Carolina were considered the worst states in the nation. There are five areas that are looked at: tobacco program funding; smoke-free air (restrictions); tobacco taxes; access to cessation; and the minimum age to purchase.
So how did we do in those five areas? The report card would probably be reminiscent of the efforts put forth by Vinnie Barbarino, Juan Epstein and Arnold Horshack of “Welcome Back Kotter” fame: F, F, F, F and F. Of course, using the Robeson County school system method that the lowest grade that can be given is a 69, had we gotten just a 75 in one area, we could have had an overall passing grade of 70.
When you have the fifth lowest cigarette tax in the country, you provide 5 percent of the recommended funding for tobacco control, you have smoking restrictions only in restaurants, bars and governmental buildings and tobacco can be purchased at age 18, you will always pale in comparison. I was amazed to see that South Carolina actually got one C to go along with the “Fs” — although they provide about the same amount of money for cessation services as North Carolina, with a much smaller population it turns out to be more per person and thus a better grade.
Here is the most amazing figure: North Carolina provided $2.1 million for tobacco control programs and the feds provided $3.3 million for a total of $5.4 million. Compare this to the tobacco revenue realized in this state alone, which is $450 million. I guess we give a nod to prevention, but genuflect to Big Tobacco. And, actually, us receiving an F is to their favor, not that they really needed it.
