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Don’t hold your breath for the 2009 tobacco control report

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The American Lung Assn.’s 2009 report: People smoke, close to the same rate as they did last year, and six states do nothing to help Medicaid recipients quit. Funny, that sounds a heck of a lot like some of the 2008 conclusions.

Yawn-worthy as it is, there are some highlights:

-- The FDA can now regulate tobacco products.
-- Congress passed a 62-cent hike in the federal cigarette tax.
-- Forty states (plus the District of Columbia) received an “F” for their prevention and control programs.

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Also, it’s worrisome that in these rough economic times, states are leaning on tobacco taxes while cutting back on tobacco prevention programs. Obviously, the states are more concerned about their bottom lines than about your health. That part may be up to you.

If you’re looking for help quitting yourself, check out the National Cancer Institute’s website, Smoke Free.

-- Amina Khan

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