Report: W.Va. Makes Little Progress on Tobacco Control

  The American Lung Association says West Virginia isn’t making much progress on tobacco control.

An annual report released Wednesday by the association gives the Mountain State failing grades for tobacco prevention and control program funding, access to cessation services and tobacco taxes.

West Virginia received a D for smoke-free air.

The lung association says in a news release that West Virginia spends 25 percent of the funding level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for tobacco prevention and cessation. State funding for these programs has fallen from $6.5 million in fiscal 2012 to about $4.8 million fiscal 2015.

The lung association says West Virginia should increase this funding, along with the state excise tax on cigarettes.