14-03-2025
Ohio receives F for tobacco control: lung association
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The American Lung Association has released its 2025 State of Tobacco Control Report and Ohio didn't make the grade.
This year, the Buckeye State received a failing grade for its efforts in tobacco prevention. The report evaluates factors like tobacco control funding, cessation programs, and overall policies aimed at reducing tobacco use.
For nearly 25 years, the American Lung Association (ALA) has graded states on their tobacco control efforts. The latest report from the ALA gives the state of Ohio an F in tobacco prevention and cessation funding, tobacco taxes, and flavored tobacco products.
The report also gives the state a thumbs down for decreasing state funding for its tobacco control program by more $7 million each of the last two fiscal years.
Dr. David Carbone, director of The James Thoracic Oncology Center at the Ohio State University, said the rating is disappointing to hear and more needs to be done to keep Ohioans healthy.
'I think, without your health, not a lot else matters,' Carbone said. 'I think that health care should have a very high priority and it historically has not reached that level in Ohio.'
According to the Center for Disease Control, 16 million Americans are living with at least one serious smoking-related disease and tobacco product use remains a leading cause of preventable disease and death.
To read the full State of Tobacco Control report, click here.
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