This week, the American Lung Association released its latest “Up in Smoke” report, a national look at how states are doing when it comes to reducing tobacco use and protecting people from secondhand smoke.
Arizona’s grades are mixed. While we’ve made progress in some areas, we still have serious gaps to address.
The report grades states in five areas: funding for tobacco prevention, smokefree air laws, access to cessation services, tobacco taxes, and flavored tobacco product restrictions.
Arizona earned a C in smokefree air laws and a B in cessation services, but we scored a failing grade—an F—for tobacco taxes and flavored tobacco product regulations. That’s deeply concerning.