Idaho fares poorly in tobacco report

Idaho's tobacco control report card isn't looking too good.

According to the American Lung Association's 14th annual State of Tobacco Control report released Feb. 3, the Gem State had mixed results on tobacco control policies, earning about the equivalent of a 1.0 GPA.

"This has been historically an issue in Idaho," Panhandle Health District public information officer Melanie Collett said Wednesday. "Tobacco has been an issue facing our society for decades. Nicotine addiction is complex because many times, users know it is bad for them, but still find it very difficult to quit. Tobacco cessation continues to be a priority for PHD because by addressing the behavior and providing resources for people to quit, we can help prevent tobacco-related deaths."

Idaho scored a D in "access to cessation services" and Fs in "tobacco taxes" and "tobacco prevention and control program funding." In contrast, the state received a B in "smoke-free air."

Along with the mixed grades, the report found that Idaho's youths are increasingly using tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and little cigars.

"While we celebrate successful tobacco control policies in Idaho, we must also face the reality that young people are using tobacco products like e-cigarettes and little cigars at an all-time high," Heather Kimmel, executive director of the American Lung Association in Idaho, said in a press release. "The 2015 Idaho Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 24.8 percent of Idaho ninth- and 12th-graders surveyed reported using electronic cigarettes in the last 30 days. It is essential that Idaho take aggressive action to reduce all tobacco use — the No. 1 cause of preventable death and disease in our nation."

Collett said e-cigs — electronic nicotine delivery systems — are relatively new and health officials are still learning about the potential health effects as studies are being conducted.

"We do know that nicotine is harmful to an adolescent brain," Collett said.

She said that in the fiscal year of 2015, 75 percent of teens in Idaho's Quit Classes were using e-cigs and most of those were dual users, using both tobacco and e-cigs.

"Some of the adults, teens and pregnant women that we work with through our tobacco cessation programs and classes have switched to e-cigs or are dual-users," Collett said. "More often than not, participants trying to quit say e-cigs have not helped. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is not sufficient evidence that e-cigs are an effective tool for quitting tobacco. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any electronic nicotine delivery system as a safe or effective method to help smokers quit."

The State of Tobacco Control report documents the progress and failures of the states and the federal government to address tobacco use. The grades are assigned based on whether federal and state laws protect Americans from the toll tobacco takes on people and the economy.

The American Lung Association in Idaho is calling for action to increase tobacco taxes as well as the state's investment in prevention programs.

Carrie Nyssen, vice president of the American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific, said that "sadly, Idaho is not alone in having a bad report card." Washington received an A for smoke-free air along with Fs for cessation services and prevention and control program funding and a C for taxes. Montana also received an A for smoke-free air but Ds in everything else.

Nyssen said no state received straight As.

"I just think it shows that we’re not doing enough," Nyssen said. "Tobacco is still the No. 1 cause of preventable death in our nation. We know what we need to do and we need the political will to make it happen."

PHD conducts classes throughout North Idaho to increase availability to people who want to quit. Collett said PHD works with Boise State University to conduct follow-up evaluations with class participants through phone calls and texts to meet the demands of younger generations.

"I hope we can continue to improve our efforts, strategies and resources to help more people in North Idaho live healthier lives," she said. "Our tobacco cessation programs have been successful — with 62 percent of participants reporting that they either quit or reduced their use."

PHD offers tobacco cessation classes designed especially for teens. PHD also offers tobacco-free education presentations for schools, youth organizations and to the public to prevent initiation of tobacco use. For info, call 415-5143 or visit www.panhandlehealthdistrict.org.

For info about the State of Tobacco Control and other information and resources from the American Lung Association, visit www.lung.org.