American Lung Association: Florida receives 'F' for tobacco prevention and cessation funding

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and in Florida. To address this enormous toll, the American Lung Association in Florida calls for the following three actions to be taken by our elected officials: 

1. Substantially increase the costs of tobacco products including electronic smoking devices; 
2. Strengthen Florida's smokefree air law by removing the exemption for stand-alone bars; and
3. Increase tobacco control funding to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recommended levels.

During the 2016 legislative session, the American Lung Association in Florida was able to protect funding for Tobacco Free Florida and increase the total budget for the program to $67,753,019. The American Lung Association in Florida will continue to ensure that the allocation of these dollars follows CDC's Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs, are competitively procured, and that rigorous performance measures are included in any contracts managed by the Florida Department of Health.

Florida's program continues to be committed to provide people who smoke a wide variety of services free of charge. In addition to the $14.3 million allocated for quitline services, the program dedicates an additional $7.6 million for in-person cessation counseling. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, over 20,000 tobacco users received tobacco cessation services from the in-person option. 

The American Lung Association in Florida is the lead agency of the Florida Tobacco Cessation Alliance, whose goal is to educate employers on the health and economic benefits of providing tobacco cessation coverage for their workforce. In partnership with the Florida Department of Health, the Alliance maintains an educational website and works statewide, as well as with the 67 county tobacco-free partnerships, on this important health initiative. The Alliance launched a business recognition program which provides an award for employers who provide tobacco cessation coverage through their health plans. 

During 2017, the American Lung Association in Florida will continue to ensure the state has a highly effective and well-funded tobacco prevention and control program, vigilantly work to improve the Clean Indoor Air Act and work to significantly increase the cost of tobacco products.

Adult smoking and tobacco use data come from CDC's 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. High school and middle school smoking rates are taken from the 2015 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey. Current high school tobacco use rates are not available for the state.

Health impact information is taken from the Smoking Attributable Mortality, Morbidity and Economic Costs (SAMMEC) software. Smoking attributable deaths reflect average annual estimates for the period 2005-2009 and are calculated for persons aged 35 years and older. Smoking-attributable health care expenditures are based on 2004 smoking-attributable fractions and 2009 personal health care expenditure data. Deaths and expenditures should not be compared by state.

To Get Involved, Contact:

• American Lung Association in Florida, West Palm Beach 2701 N. Australian Avenue, Suite 100
  West Palm Beach, FL 33407
  T: (561) 659-7644 
  E: alafse@lungse.org
• American Lung Association in Florida, Tampa 100 South Ashley Drive, Suite 275
  Tampa, FL 33612
  T: (813) 712-2307 
  E: alafgc@lungse.org
• American Lung Association in Florida, Tallahassee 539 Silver Slipper Lane, Suite A
  Tallahassee, FL 32303
  T: (850) 386-2065 
  E: alafnw@lungse.org
• American Lung Association in Florida, Orlando 851 Outer Road, 
  Orlando, FL 32814
  T: (407) 425-5864 
  E: central@lungse.org
• American Lung Association in Florida, Jacksonville 6852 Belfort Oaks Place, 
  Jacksonville, FL 32216
  T: (904) 743-2933 
  E: alaf@lungse.org
• American Lung Association in Florida, Ft. Myers P.O. Box 07142 , 
  Ft. Myers, FL 33919
  T: (239) 908-2680 
  E: alafgcfm@lungse.org
• American Lung Association in Florida, Ft. Lauderdale 2020 South Andrews Avenue, 
  Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
  T: (954) 524-4657 
  E: alafsouth@lungse.org

Tags: Healthcare