American Lung Association Report Shows State Fails to Protect Public Health with Proven Tobacco Policy.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers FORT LAUDERDALE Fort Lauderdale (lô`dərdāl), residential, commercial, and resort city (1990 pop. 149,377), seat of Broward co., SE Fla., on the Atlantic coast; settled around a fort built (c.1837) in the Seminole War, inc. 1911. , Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2004 Florida Receives an "F" Grade for Virtually Eliminating a Successful Program to Curb Teen Smoking In the past year, Florida has virtually eliminated all funding for important tobacco prevention and cessation programs, failing to protect children and adults throughout the state from disease and death caused by tobacco, according to the second annual American Lung Association The American Lung Association (ALA) is a non-profit organization that "fights lung disease in all its forms, with special emphasis on asthma, tobacco control and environmental health". State of Tobacco Control 2003 report. In addition to the failing grade in funding tobacco prevention and control, Florida also received an "F" in cigarette excise taxes. At only 33.9 cents per pack, Florida ranks 41st, one of the lowest levels of tax in the country. Florida also received a "D" in its youth access to tobacco law. One bright spot of the report is in the area of smoke-free air. Florida received a "B" for improving its Clean Indoor Air Act through the citizen's initiative, Smoke-Free for Health. "How many more preventable deaths must occur and how many more children must become addicted to cigarettes before we say enough?" asked Andrew Cuddihy, Director of Lung Disease lung disease Pulmonary disease Pulmonology Any condition causing or indicating impaired lung function Types of LD Obstructive lung disease–↓ in air flow caused by a narrowing or blockage of airways–eg, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis; Prevention for the American Lung Association - South Area. "This report card highlights that tough laws save lives and protect our children." The American Lung Association of Florida Overview Founded in 1916 to fight tuberculosis, the American Lung Association of Florida (ALAF) is the lead organization in the state working to prevent lung disease and promote health. calls on Governor Bush and the legislature to stand up for public health, stand up for our children and bring back the youth tobacco control program that was decimated in 2003. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. , tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in this country and is directly responsible for most cases of emphysema emphysema (ĕmfĭsē`mə), pathological or physiological enlargement or overdistention of the air sacs of the lungs. A major cause of pulmonary insufficiency in chronic cigarette smokers, emphysema is a progressive disease that commonly and bronchitis, and 87 percent of lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. cases. Smoking kills more than 30,100 Floridians each year. Tobacco use also puts a burden on Florida's economy. The CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation estimates the total smoking attributable costs in Florida over $11 billion in 2002, with approximately $595 million in Medicaid expenditures for treatment of the diseases caused by tobacco use. In addition to advocacy efforts to help protect everyone's health the American Lung Association of Florida offers programs for those who want to quit smoking as well as educational programs to prevent children from starting to smoke. For more information on the many programs and services offered by the American Lung Association of Florida - South Area call 954-524-4657. Copies of the American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control Report 2003 report card is available at www.lungfla.org. Improving Life, One Breath at a Time |
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