IDAHO, USA — The American Lung Association (ALA) released their annual State of Tobacco Control report Wednesday, providing state-by-state data on tobacco control and cessation services.
States receive grades in five categories: Tobacco prevention and cessation funding, smoke-free air, tobacco taxes, access to cessation services and flavored tobacco products. Following research and data collection from each state, the ALA then assigns a letter grade to each of the categories.
Idaho received three F grades on the report. Idaho is seen as failing in tobacco prevention and cessation funding, tobacco taxes and flavored tobacco products. It is reported by the ALA that state tobacco-related revenue is hitting $71.3 million, however the spend for tobacco control programs is only $3.8 million. The CDC Best Practices State Spending recommendation is $15.6 million, leaving a near $12 million gap.
Tobacco taxes in the Gem State are less strict than some neighboring states. Idaho does not tax little cigars, large cigars, smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco or e-cigarettes, resulting in a F grade from the ALA.
In regard to flavored tobacco products, the ALA reports that the restrictions on flavored tobacco products don't exist, resulting in an F grade.
However, Idaho's smoke-free air grade was a passable C. With smoking prohibited in several areas around the state, such as government workplaces, private workplaces, schools and restaurants, smoke-free air is pretty accessible. However, with the exclusion of e-cigarettes in Idaho state laws, the state received the average grade of a C. Idaho has previously gotten a B in this category in 2017 and 2018.
The highest grade Idaho received was a B for the category of 'access to cessation services.' Under the state Medicaid Program, all seven cessation control medications are covered but minimal counseling is covered. Barriers of accessing coverage is minimal. For state employee health plans, the same seven medications are also covered, with more counseling services available.
The ALA writes on their site, "The American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Idaho's elected officials to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke":
- Increase funding for tobacco prevention and control work in Idaho.
- Treat electronic smoking devices consistent with other commercial tobacco products in all areas under state law.
- Implement tobacco retail licensure fees at a level that supports enforcement of the legal sale age.
Other highlights from the report include statistics on adult smoking rate, which in Idaho is 11.9%. Idaho high school smoking rate is 3.8% but tobacco use as a whole among high school students is 18.5%.
In the state of Idaho, smoking attributable deaths per year are approx. 1,800.
"Action is needed to reduce youth access to tobacco and e-cigarette products and create parity between electronic cigarettes and commercial tobacco products, including taxing electronic devices equivalent to commercial tobacco products. Similarly, work is needed to set the tobacco retail licensure fee at a level that supports required enforcement checks. The American Lung Association in Idaho will continue to work with partners in 2024 towards these goals and to support local communities in passing policies that protect residents from the negative effects of tobacco and e-cigarette use and from breathing secondhand smoke and e-cigarette aerosol," the news release stated.
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