29-01-2025
American Lung Association releases 2025 'State of Tobacco Control' report
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) – The American lung Association released its annual 'State of Tobacco Control' report Wednesday, and the grades weren't ideal in Pennsylvania.
'We received an F here in Pennsylvania by the American Lung Association for the amount of money that we put towards prevention and control programs,' Elizabeth Hensil, Pennsylvania's advocacy director for the American Lung Association, said.
The state is spending around $21 million on those programs. The CDC says the Commonwealth should be spending around $140 million.
However, tobacco has a rich history in Lancaster County.
'The history dates back 150-plus years,' Greg Seamster, the senior vice president for Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Company, said.
The company says the county generates around $50 million in revenue annually on tobacco. Some farmers rely on the crop to make a living.
'It's the most profitable product they can grow on their farm per acre,' Seamster said.
Fertile soil makes Lancaster County a growing hot spot.
'The soil here is very unique and rich and produces good yields for the farmer,' Seamster said.
The tobacco raised by farmers in the county is used all over the world according to Seamster.
Lancaster Leaf supplies many of the major cigar manufacturers in the U.S. with filler, binder, and wrapper from the U.S. and other origins. In addition to domestic supply, Lancaster exports filler, binder, and wrapper to international cigar manufacturers.
The Lung Association says tobacco products – some unregulated by the Federal Drug Administration – have become an addiction for kids. Most of the use being e-cigarettes and vapes.
'One thing that is really striking is that the high school tobacco use rate in Pennsylvania right now is 19.7%,' Hensil said.
The Lung Association is hopeful to get legislation passed that would end smoking inside places like casinos.
'We really have concerns about the employees that are working at these places and the casino workers that really have nowhere to go,' Hensil said.
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