Wednesday, the American Lung Association released its 14th annual State
of Tobacco Control report that finds that in 2015 Wisconsin remained
stagnant, earning two good grades and two poor ones. The report also
finds that the high level of youth use of tobacco products other than
cigarettes threatens to undermine the overall progress in the fight
against tobacco-caused death and disease.
The State of Tobacco Control report assigns grades based on whether federal and state laws protect Americans from the enormous toll tobacco use takes on lives and the economy.
Wisconsin’s mixed grades show that progress has been, although even more needs to be done by our Governor and State Legislature to pass proven policies that will reduce tobacco use and save lives:
- Tobacco Prevention and Control Program Funding – Grade F
- Tobacco Taxes - Grade B
- Smokefree Air - Grade A
- Access to Cessation Services - Grade F
“While we celebrate successes such as Wisconsin’s smoke free air law, we must also face the reality that young people are using tobacco products like e-cigarettes and little cigars is at an all-time high,” said Linda Witucki, Executive Director of the American Lung Association in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s high school smoking rate has fallen to the historic low of 10.7 percent, however other very troubling trends have emerged over the past five years:
- Almost an equal number of students now use smokeless tobacco, cigars, cigarillos and little cigars.
- 8 percent of Wisconsin students use e-cigarettes, tripling in the last two years.
- A quarter of a million youth who have never smoked have tried e-cigarettes, including an estimated 4,569 Wisconsin kids.
These “other tobacco products” are not only cheaper than cigarettes, but they also come in candy and fruit flavors increasing their attractiveness to kids. E-cigarettes, often marketed as “safer” than cigarettes, are anything but. A recent Marquette University study uncovered high levels of two common chemicals proven to cause irreparable and often fatal lung damage in six leading e-cigarette flavors.
As of January 31, 2016, the Obama Administration had not yet given the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight authority over all tobacco products including cigars, e-cigarettes, little cigars and hookah.
In Waukesha County, the Tobacco Free Community Partnership works to combat the hazards associated with tobacco use. The coalition strives to create tobacco-free communities through education, advocacy and promotion of tobacco-free living in order to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco related disease. To learn more about the coalition, or to become involved visit www.Lung.org/tobaccofreedjw.
About the American Lung Association in Wisconsin: Our mission is 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 visit www.Lung.org.
The State of Tobacco Control report assigns grades based on whether federal and state laws protect Americans from the enormous toll tobacco use takes on lives and the economy.
Wisconsin’s mixed grades show that progress has been, although even more needs to be done by our Governor and State Legislature to pass proven policies that will reduce tobacco use and save lives:
- Tobacco Prevention and Control Program Funding – Grade F
- Tobacco Taxes - Grade B
- Smokefree Air - Grade A
- Access to Cessation Services - Grade F
“While we celebrate successes such as Wisconsin’s smoke free air law, we must also face the reality that young people are using tobacco products like e-cigarettes and little cigars is at an all-time high,” said Linda Witucki, Executive Director of the American Lung Association in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s high school smoking rate has fallen to the historic low of 10.7 percent, however other very troubling trends have emerged over the past five years:
- Almost an equal number of students now use smokeless tobacco, cigars, cigarillos and little cigars.
- 8 percent of Wisconsin students use e-cigarettes, tripling in the last two years.
- A quarter of a million youth who have never smoked have tried e-cigarettes, including an estimated 4,569 Wisconsin kids.
These “other tobacco products” are not only cheaper than cigarettes, but they also come in candy and fruit flavors increasing their attractiveness to kids. E-cigarettes, often marketed as “safer” than cigarettes, are anything but. A recent Marquette University study uncovered high levels of two common chemicals proven to cause irreparable and often fatal lung damage in six leading e-cigarette flavors.
As of January 31, 2016, the Obama Administration had not yet given the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight authority over all tobacco products including cigars, e-cigarettes, little cigars and hookah.
In Waukesha County, the Tobacco Free Community Partnership works to combat the hazards associated with tobacco use. The coalition strives to create tobacco-free communities through education, advocacy and promotion of tobacco-free living in order to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco related disease. To learn more about the coalition, or to become involved visit www.Lung.org/tobaccofreedjw.
About the American Lung Association in Wisconsin: Our mission is 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 visit www.Lung.org.
Resource: http://www.brookfieldnow.com/userstoriessubmitted/368062131.html
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