American Lung Association “State of Tobacco Control 2014” report

Calls on L.A. County to renew its commitment to eliminate tobacco-caused death and disease

The battle to reduce tobacco use has all but stalled in most cities in Los Angeles County. Those were the findings of the American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control 2014 report released today. Fifty years after the first Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health was issued on January 11, 1964, the Lung Association’s new report finds that our nation as a whole must renew its commitment to eliminate tobacco-caused death and disease.
Locally, several cities in Los Angeles County are leading the state with strong tobacco control policies. Baldwin Park, Calabasas, Compton, Glendale, Huntington Park, Pasadena, Santa Monica, and South Pasadena received the highest grades in the state with an overall tobacco control grade of A. In addition, the cities of Duarte and Glendale passed comprehensive policies in 2013 to protect their residents from the harmful effects of tobacco. Los Angeles and Long Beach, the two most populous cities in the region, received overall C grades for their tobacco control policies.
“We are proud of the work being done in Los Angeles County to protect residents from the harmful effects of tobacco,” Daniel Oh, MD, Chair, American Lung Association in California – Los Angeles Leadership Board. “However, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and illness in the U.S. We must renew our commitment to stopping tobacco from robbing another generation of their health,” Oh urged.
Once a national leader in tobacco control policies, California is now falling behind in protecting its citizens from tobacco. While the state earned an A grade for smokefree air policies, it received a D for its low cigarette tax, an F for failing to sufficiently fund tobacco prevention and control programs, and another F for poor coverage of smoking cessation and treatment services.
Many municipalities throughout California have passed local ordinances to protect their communities from the harmful effects of tobacco, despite the lack of action at the state level. In 2013, a total of forty cities and counties adopted new policies. However, while many communities took action to improve their grades, a total of 330 cities and counties throughout the state – more than 60% of all municipalities – received an F for their overall tobacco grade.
“The policies reflected in this report demonstrate the leadership at the local level to ensure that all Californians breathe clean and healthy air,” said Marsha Ramos, Chair, American Lung Association in California Governing Board. “No matter how big or small the city or county, local tobacco control policies saves lives. Tobacco use continues to take a toll on the lives of both adults and kids, so these grades represent real health consequences.”
In the 50 years since the first Surgeon General’s report, 8 million lives were saved because of tobacco control efforts. In 1964, the national smoking rate was at 42 percent, more than double today’s rate of 18 percent.
The three largest cigarette manufacturers—Altria, Reynolds American, and Lorillard—continued their aggressive expansion into tobacco products other than cigarettes in 2013. As cigarette use continues to gradually decline, these companies continue to maintain their stranglehold on America’s youth and reap profits from smokeless tobacco, cigars and now e-cigarettes.
“I urge everyone to join the American Lung Association in California and renew their commitment to preventing another 50 years of tobacco caused death and disease,” said Ramos.

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