Iowa is receiving mostly failing grades from the American Lung Association for its efforts to curb smoking. The advocacy group is calling for some legislative fixes.
The only area in which the state receives an A from the Lung Association is in providing smoke-free air in many public places. But much of the rest of its report card is filled with Fs. Iowa drew one of the Fs for the level of state tobacco taxes. The senior regional director for the association, Pat McKone, says she’d like to see the tax on a pack of cigarettes go up by at least $1.50.
“This is by far the most effective strategy to reduce the harm from tobacco, period," she says. "It is the most effective strategy."
Iowa also received Fs for its funding for tobacco prevention programs and the minimum age for the purchase of tobacco products.
A critical care doctor from Des Moines, Michael Witte , says people need support to kick the smoking habit.
“We do have to look at it as an addiction," he says. "Gram for gram, tobacco or nicotine is ten times more addictive than heroin.”
Just under 17 percent of Iowa adults smoke. More than 5,000 Iowans die each year from illnesses caused by tobacco.