Article written by Michael Fine, Communications Specialist for Smoke Free Apt LA
The City of Los Angeles barely makes the grade in its anti-tobacco efforts according to the latest “State of Tobacco Control” report released by the American Lung Association (ALA). The annual report, now in its 15thyear, provides assessments of tobacco reduction efforts at the city, state, and federal levels.
While Los Angeles received an overall passing grade “C” for its tobacco control legislated policies, the city received its highest marks (an “A”) for its work on reducing sales of tobacco to youth but received its lowest marks (an “F”) on smoke-free housing. The low ranking score for smoke-free housing is consistent with research findings by the (Center) showing that nearly 80 percent of Los Angeles apartments are not protected by nonsmoking provisions.
“This report confirms what we have seen in our work with the Los Angeles tenant and landlord communities. The current rental market in Los Angeles does not provide nearly enough protections for its residents against secondhand smoke where they live,” said Peggy Toy, Director of the Center’s UCLA-SAFE REACH Project. “Furthermore, studies have shown this issue disproportionately affects those living in low income communities, where residential tobacco use is more prevalent.”
Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) remains a major public health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 41,000 nonsmoking adults die as a result of SHS every year. CDC statistics also show that nationwide more than one in three nonsmoking renters are exposed to SHS.
American Lung Association National President and CEO Harold P. Wimmer reinforced secondhand smoke as a public health priority in comments made in conjunction with the report’s release. “In 2022, the American Lung Association will be working to defend the gains that have been made to combat tobacco use and we will push federal and state leaders to summon the courage to enact policies that will save lives – funding tobacco prevention programs, helping smokers quit and protecting everyone from secondhand smoke,” Wimmer said.
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