Some states have made more strides than others against tobacco use, which kills an estimated 1,200 Americans each day. The American Lung Association's annual report, State of Tobacco Control: 2007, released earlier this month, ranks all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico according to how well the government of each is doing in efforts to stem tobacco use. Thomas Carr, the report's lead author, says his team judged each state in four areas—smoke-free-air laws, legislation that limits youth access to tobacco, funding of tobacco prevention and cessation programs, and cigarette taxes. Here are the best-performing ones (with some ties).
1. Maine
2. New York
3. Hawaii
3. Vermont
3. Washington State
6. Minnesota
6. Montana
8. Delaware
9. Alaska
9. Arizona
The ALA report also identified these 10 states as those with the worst tobacco control policies. And, as U.S. News recently reported, the dangers of tobacco lurk not only in cigarettes but also in hookah pipes.
