The American Lung Association gives Connecticut a failing grade for raiding $5 million from the fund earmarked for tobacco prevention and control to balance the state budget.
However, the association’s State of Tobacco Control 2010 report released Thursday gives Connecticut an “A” for its $3-a-pack cigarette tax — one of the nation’s highest — that discourages youth smoking and encourages others to quit.
Connecticut’s mixed grades in the ninth annual report illustrates how much room for improvement remains in its efforts to help citizens lick the tobacco habit and clear the air of second-hand smoke, association officials say.
“This report clearly demonstrates that much work needs to be done to protect our residents from the dangers of tobacco,” said pulmonologist David Hill, M.D., a past chair of the American Lung Association Leadership Board in Connecticut. “As the recent Surgeon General’s report on the devastating health impacts of smoking clearly indicates, we can and must do more to prevent people from smoking and help those who wish to quit.”
The lung association yearly grades all 50 states in their tobacco-cessation and prevention efforts.
In Connecticut, state lawmakers’ raid in fiscal 2010 of the tobacco settlement fund left only $400,000 for prevention and control efforts, the lung group said. By the end of fiscal year 2010-2011 there will be no funds remaining in the trust fund.
Even with nearly $1.4 million received from the federal government, Connecticut falls short of the Center for Disease Control’s recommendation of $43.9 million in spending for tobacco prevention programs and received an “F” in this category, the association said.
Connecticut received a “C” for its comprehensive smokefree air initiatives. The association says it plans to revive two smokefree measures in the upcoming legislative session that fell short in the last one.
One would ban smoking in workplaces with fewer than five employees.  The second would ban smoking on the grounds of child day care centers/group day care homes and family daycare homes during business hours. Â
