State fails to protect its citizens

To the Editor:

Missouri failed to protect children from Big Tobacco’s marketing tactics by neglecting to invest in programs and policies proven to reduce tobacco use according to the American Lung Association’s “State of Tobacco Control 2013” report released Jan. 16.

The Lung Association’s “State of Tobacco Control” report tracks progress on key tobacco control policies at the federal and state level, assigning grades based on whether laws are adequately protecting citizens from the enormous toll tobacco use takes on lives and the economy.

The 11th annual report shows how money is often at the root of the leading cause of preventable death, as state and federal policymakers are failing to battle a deep-pocketed, ever-evolving tobacco industry.

Missouri received the following grades for 2012: Tobacco prevention and control program funding (F), smokefree air (F), cigarette tax (F), cessation coverage (F).

Tobacco causes an estimated 9,584 deaths in Missouri annually and costs the state’s economy $4,755,871,000 in healthcare costs and lost productivity, a tremendous burden that our state can ill afford.

Although Missouri receives $242 million in tobacco-related revenue annually, it only invests a meager percent of what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends should be spent on tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

The failure of states to invest in policies and programs to reduce tobacco use has resulted in 3 million new youth and young smokers in the United States, according to the Surgeon General’s 2012 report.

The National Institute on Money in State Politics released a report today in conjunction with “State of Tobacco Control 2013” called “Big Tobacco Wins Tax Battles,” revealing preliminary data that tobacco manufacturers and retailers gave $53.4 million to state candidates for office, political parties and to oppose tobacco-related ballot measures during the 2011-2012 election cycle. This figure includes spending over $46 million to defeat California’s initiative to increase the cigarette tax by $1 per pack. Tobacco manufacturers and retailers gave significant amounts of money to candidates in the following states: California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana and Missouri.

Tobacco companies continue to introduce and promote new products, such as candy-flavored cigars and dissolvable tobacco products. Youth, people who are low income, Hispanics and LGBT who smoke cigars are more likely to smoke flavored cigars, according to a recent study in Nicotine and Tobacco Research. Meanwhile, the sales and popularity of these tobacco products have surged in large part due to their cheaper price. Each day, roughly 3,000 youth smoke a cigar for the first time. The American Lung Association, Plains-Gulf Region calls on Missouri to raise taxes on tobacco products other than cigarettes to achieve tax parity.

It’s time Missouri removes Big Tobacco’s welcome mat. Leaders in Jefferson City must provide smokers with the support they need to quit and adequately fund programs that help keep our kids off tobacco.

We can no longer allow the Show-Me State to be the tobacco industry’s playground. It’s going to take a great deal of political will, but we are confident our elected officials are up to the challenge. Our kids and current smokers are depending on them for help.

Sara Dreiling, CEO

American Lung Association,

Plains-Gulf Region