Food and Drug Administration officials on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 pledged a reset in the agency’s tobacco program, responding to criticisms that a lack of direction has hampered federal efforts to regulate cigarettes, vaping devices and other industry products. (Credit: AP Photo / Nam Y. Huh, File)

Washington, Idaho receive “F” grades for tobacco prevention programs

By Lauren Paterson
Food and Drug Administration officials on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 pledged a reset in the agency’s tobacco program, responding to criticisms that a lack of direction has hampered federal efforts to regulate cigarettes, vaping devices and other industry products. (Credit: AP Photo / Nam Y. Huh, File)
Food and Drug Administration officials on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 pledged a reset in the agency’s tobacco program, responding to criticisms that a lack of direction has hampered federal efforts to regulate cigarettes, vaping devices and other industry products. (Credit: AP Photo / Nam Y. Huh, File)

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Every year, the American Lung Association sends out a report called the State of Tobacco. 

Published this January, the report issues letter grades for state level policies like tobacco taxes and smokefree air. 

“Unfortunately, Washington and Idaho don’t fare well in this report, and both receive F grades when it comes to the state investment in tobacco prevention programs,” said Carrie Nyssen, the senior director of advocacy for the American Lung Association. 

The ALA lists three suggestions for Washington officials to curb tobacco use and secondhand smoke: Increase funding to help prevent tobacco use and help current users quit, end the sale of flavored tobacco products, and defend Washington’s Clean Indoor Air law. 

For Idaho, the ALA suggests increasing funding for tobacco prevention programs, treating electronic smoking devices the same as other commercial products, and better enforcing legal sale age with tobacco retailers. 

More funding for education and prevention efforts could help reduce teen nicotine use, Nyssen said. 

Tracking teen and young adult use has been challenging in the past few years partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nyssen said. 

“Regardless of the trends, we know that way too many youth are using these products,” Nyssen said. 

According to the latest National Youth Tobacco survey from the FDA, 10% of students nationally reported using tobacco.

Casie Jones is a health program specialist for Project Filter, Idaho’s tobacco prevention program. 

Her office is working on a program with the ALA to get students intervention education on nicotine addiction instead of being suspended if they’re caught using tobacco. 

“Instead of it going on their record or paying a citation, they could replace a punishment with this curriculum,” Jones said. 

Nyssen said flavors like strawberry and cotton candy mask the true taste of tobacco and nicotine. Coupled with the colorful marketing, kids are being drawn in.

In addition, Idaho has low taxes on tobacco and no taxes on vapes.

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