Semi smoke-free

California continues to lead the nation in curtailing tobacco use, but there’s plenty of room for improvement in locations such as Butte County. That’s a major conclusion touted by the American Lung Association in its annual State of Tobacco Control report, released last Wednesday (Jan. 30). California joined Alaska, Hawaii, Maine and Massachusetts as the top five states—with the District of Columbia rating high as well—for regulations and programs. Each earned grades of A and B for preventing and reducing tobacco use (i.e., smoking, vaping and chewing); on the flip side, Mississippi, Missouri, Texas and Virginia got all F’s. Similarly, when breaking down California by jurisdiction, half of the population lives in cities with overall grades of D or F—including nine in 10 Butte County residents. Here’s how our communities graded out.

Biggs: F

Chico: D

Gridley: D

Oroville: C

Paradise: D

Unincorp.: F

Source: lung.org