Lung Group's Smoking Report Card Flunks Kansas

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Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@kake.com

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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The American Lung Association flunks Kansas in its annual report card on smoking in three out of four categories. And the fourth was just a notch above an "F."

The group gave Kansas "F'' grades for money spent on educating current smokers; for the amount of smoke-fee air in the state; for a lack of state programs to help people quit smoking. Kansas won a "D'' for the 79-cent tax on each pack of cigarettes. The ALA thinks it should be more.

The report says tobacco use kills 3,900 Kansans a year, and almost 18% of Kansas adults smoke. The group also says smoke-related health problems cost Kansas $1.75 million annually.

The association says Kansas spends just over $2 million per year on tobacco control and prevention, while the Centers for Disease Control recommends spending $32 million.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Elizabeth Location: Wichita on Jan 14, 2009 at 10:14 AM
As a former smoker, I can testify to how hard it is to quit. I did it cold turkey, and with very little support from my family. The American Lung Assn. personnel needs to get involved one-on-one if a smoker wishes to quit. In other words, they need to put their money where their mouths are!

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 14, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Who cares what the ALA thinks. It is the smokers desion to smoke and all the programs and taxation of cigarettes will not make a smoker quit. They have to chose to quit on their own. So why is the ALA wasting money on some stupid survey or report.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 14, 2009 at 09:40 AM
Where, exactly, is the other $30 million supposed to come from? Kansas should spend an extra $30 million to prevent $1.75 million in health care costs? Doesn't seem like a very sound business decision. I'm pretty sure that smokers know the dangers of smoking, and they make a personal choice to light up. As a non-smoker, I would prefer to see my tax dollars go to the schools or to fix the roads.

Posted by: jeri Location: kansas on Jan 14, 2009 at 09:36 AM
please please tell me how you test the air for tobacco.is there some thing hanging in the air telling them that the air is from smokers

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