Campaign Unavailable

The second annual American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control: 2003 report has been released. This national report card analyzes state tobacco control laws in four key areas;smokefree air, tobacco program funding, cigarette excise taxes and youth access to tobacco. Rhode Island scored grades of "F" in smokefree air and "F" in tobacco prevention and control spending.

In a bright spot, the state earned "A's" in both youth access to tobacco and for its cigarette excise tax. This report should be a wake-up call to the legislature and our governor about the status of tobacco control in Rhode Island. Our local smokefree air laws are weak. Approximately 200 non-smoking Rhode Islanders die from secondhand smoke each year. No one in Rhode Island should have to breathe toxic fumes when visiting or working in a public establishment The time is now to pass a smokefree law that will save lives.