Kansas gets ‘Fs’ from American Lung Association

The American Lung Association flunks Kansas in its annual report card on smoking in three out of four categories. And the fourth was just a notch above an “F.”

The group gave Kansas “F” grades for money spent on educating current smokers; for the amount of smoke-fee air in the state; for a lack of state programs to help people quit smoking. Kansas won a “D” for the 79-cent tax on each pack of cigarettes. The ALA thinks it should be more.

The report says tobacco use kills 3,900 Kansans a year, and almost 18 percent of Kansas adults smoke. The group also says smoke-related health problems cost Kansas $1.75 million annually.

The association says Kansas spends just over $2 million per year on tobacco control and prevention, while the Centers for Disease Control recommends spending $32 million.