Hawaii’s Smoking Grades Fall as Tobacco Funds Decrease According to ALA
Progress Made Over Past 10 Years in Jeopardy
The American Lung Association released its report card grades on the states today, an annual assessment of how well tobacco prevention programs are being implemented across the nation.
Hawaii received good grades in two of the four categories in the report –Cigarette Tax (B) and Smoke-free Air (A). But the B Hawaii received in the 2008 report for Tobacco Prevention and Control Spending fell to a D. Hawaii continues to receive a grade of F in the category that assesses the overall effort to support smoking cessation programs.
The annual report card is a vital measure of Hawaii’s progress in combating death and disease caused by tobacco use. In this battle, the stakes are extremely high. “Although the report card gives grades for the adequacy of tobacco control programs, this exercise isn’t academic,” said Jean Evans, Executive Director of the American Lung Association in Hawaii (ALA Hawaii). “The consequences of success or failure are life or death.”
Evans explained that Hawaii received its D because spending for tobacco control and prevention fell dramatically in 2009 from 74% to 58% of the amount recommended from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The lower spending level is partly due to the reduction made by the 2009 Hawaii Legislature in the amount of master tobacco settlement agreement funds that go to the Tobacco Prevention and Control Special Fund.
According to Evans programs to create a healthy, smoke-free Hawaii are working. From 2000 to 2007, Hawaii’s teen smoking rate dropped from 24.5% to 9.7% (2007 Hawai'i Youth Tobacco Survey.) The adult smoking rate also dropped from 19.7% to 15.4% in 2008 (CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance, 2008 Prevalence Data). States that have cut tobacco programs have seen smoking rates jump back up. “We know these programs work, save lives and save money and they must continue” said Evans.
Hawaii received its F because it lost points in scoring on how well Medicaid and State employee health insurance plans cover smoking cessation programs. It is expected that this grade will increase next year when comprehensive smoking cessation programs will be included in all QUEST plans.
Hawaii was awarded an A grade for Smoke-free Air primarily because of its laws that prohibit smoking in government and private worksites, schools, child care facilities, restaurants and bars, retail stores and recreation/cultural facilities. The B grade for Cigarette Tax was granted because Hawaii has a $2.60 per pack tax on cigarettes, which is the fifth highest tax in the nation. States with taxes of $2.68 and higher received an A. Hawaii’s cigarette tax is scheduled to increase to $2.80 in July 2010.
Evans noted Hawaii fares better than 49 states in deaths attributable to smoking per 100,000 population (based on average annual estimates for 2000-2004). That broad category has three components – Smoking Attributable Respiratory Disease Deaths, Smoking Attributable Lung Cancer Deaths and Smoking Attributable Deaths (for all other smoking-related deaths).
“We all can be grateful for our relatively good standing among the states in these categories, but Hawaii can do better,” Evans said. “The annual grading provides a reality check on how we can improve, and the American Lung Association in Hawaii won’t be satisfied until the state makes straight A’s.”
The ALA Hawaii website has more information: www.ala-hawaii.org
