The American Lung Association has recently assessed Illinois as far as smoking-related issues go, and the result has been a mixed bag of some good grades and some bad ones.

In the ALA's Tobacco Control Report, the state's grades, in the four designated categories, have ranged from A to F, with the Tobacco Prevention and Control Spending receiving the failing grade. As has been revealed by the body, in the financial year 2010, the tobacco control program funding of the state has been a little over $9 Million, as opposed to the recommendation of $157 Million put down by the Centres for Disease Control.

While stressing that tobacco and related products generate a lot of revenue for the state, but little has actually been spent, Vice President of Advocacy for the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, Kathy Drea said, "You have to consider all the cigarette tax money that comes in every year, too. We get a lot of money here in Illinois from both the tobacco settlement and from cigarette tax money, and other tobacco products' tax money; and very, very little of it is being spent to help people quit, and to keep people from starting to smoke".

For its cigarette tax, which currently stands at 98 cents, Illinois received a D, and a C was awarded to the state in cessation coverage.

As far as the Smoke Free Illinois Act that was implemented in 2008 goes, the state walked off with an A.