Lung Association gives Pa. failing grades in reducing tobacco use

American Lung Association's 2022 Report Card

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 Matt Rourke / Associated Press

This Tuesday, July 15, 2014 photo shows the tobacco in cigarettes in Philadelphia.

Airdate: Thursday, February 10, 2022

The American Lung Association’s annual “State of Tobacco Control” report indicates Pennsylvania is not doing enough to reduce smoking and tobacco use.

In a report card format, the Lung Association gave the state F grades in four of five categories including funding for tobacco prevention, level of state tobacco taxes, access to services to quit tobacco and ending the sale of flavored tobacco products. The strength of smoke-free workplace laws was graded with a D.

The report pointed out that “despite receiving $16,001,000 from tobacco settlement payments and tobacco taxes, Pennsylvania only funds tobacco control efforts at 13.1% of the level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

We’ll learn about the report’s findings on Thursday’s Smart Talk from Molly Pisciottano, Advocacy Director, American Lung Association.