An 'F' for Minnesota's Tobacco Control Spending

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Jan. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Minnesota again earned an "F" for tobacco prevention and control spending in the annual State of Tobacco Control report issued today by the American Lung Association. The roughly $21 million the state spends annually on tobacco prevention and control measures is less than 36% of the level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the report says.

"While everyone is aware of the state's short-term budget problems this session, they may not know that Minnesotans pay more than $3 billion per year on medical expenses and lost productivity due to tobacco-related diseases," said Pat McKone, director of tobacco control for the American Lung Association in Minnesota. "Increasing tobacco prevention and control spending is a sound investment that will reduce our state's health care costs and benefit taxpayers."

In other categories of the report, Minnesota scored the same grades as last year, with one notable exception. It again was given a "C" for cigarette taxes and an "A" for smokefree air. In cessation, the state's "B" grade fell to a "D," based largely on the average $2.08 the state invests in cessation services and products per smoker. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends an investment of $10.53 per smoker.

A link to the full report is available online at www.stateoftobaccocontrol.org.

SOURCE American Lung Association in Minnesota