If this were a report card, the state of Florida would get a big fat "F" for its efforts to cut out smoking, the American Lung Association says.
That's compared to the United States getting an over all "C" from the group in its annual nationwide report, released Thursday.
In general, the group says every state needs improvement. Already, the Food and Drug Administration has banned flavored cigarettes form stores and is making plans to unveil graphic warnings to be added to cigarette labels next year.
On top of that, the health reform law requires insurance plans cover efforts to quit smoking. But what are individual states doing? The American Lung Association says not enough.
Local
23 states have no comprehensive smoke-free air laws banning smoking in work and public spaces. Some states have raised cigarette taxes but most are not putting that money into helping smokers kick the habit.
“If people continue to smoke it’s extremely costly to state Medicaid programs as well as to health insurance programs overall not to mention terribly devastating for their health,” says Dr. Cheryl Healton of the American Legacy Foundation.
Interestingly enough, reports show smoking rates in general on the decline. However more recently that's stalled when it's come to kids who smoke.
Follow Brent Solomon on Twitter at @solomonreports.
