American Lung Association Gives Texas A Failing Grade

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - The American Lung Association gave Texas a failing grade in their annual State of Tobacco Control report.  The report looks at how well states helped smokers quit and what they did to keep new smokers from starting. Each state was graded on their tobacco control laws and regulations that were in effect as of January 1, 2011.

The U.S. Surgeon General says there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke.

Texas got a grade of "F" for the amount it spends on anti-smoking campaigns, an "F" for smoke-free air, and an "F" for not including cessation programs in Medicaid.

Only five states – Arkansas, Maine, Montana, Oklahoma and Vermont -  got all passing grades although Oklahoma barely passed with straight D. "Sadly, most of our states are failing miserably when it comes to combating tobacco-caused disease," American Lung Association President and CEO Charles D. Connor is quoted as saying on lungusa.org. "Despite collecting millions of dollars – and in some cases billions – in tobacco settlement dollars and excise taxes, most states are investing only pennies on the dollar to help smokers quit."

According to the American Lung Association, nearly 450,000 people die each year from tobacco-related illnesses and secondhand smoke exposure. In addition, smoking costs the economy more than $193 billion in healthcare costs and lost productivity.

Apparently lawmakers have taken notice of the cost to Texas taxpayers. The proposed state budget includes charging state employees and retirees who smoke a $30-a-month "tobacco user monthly premium surcharge.

According to 2009 data from the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 17.9 percent of adult Texans smoke, 21.2 percent of Texas high school students are lighting up and there are more than 24,000 deaths in the state that are attributed to smoking.