The American Lung Association’s 2025 ‘State of Tobacco Control’ report states that the tobacco industry has increased its opposition to policies aimed at reducing tobacco use.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Report Highlights Industry Opposition to Regulations – The American Lung Association’s “State of Tobacco Control” report states that the tobacco industry is ramping up efforts to challenge policies aimed at reducing tobacco use, including proposed bans on menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products.
- Youth Tobacco Use Declines, but Concerns Remain – According to the report, youth tobacco use is at its lowest level in 25 years, but 2.25 million middle and high school students still use tobacco products, raising concerns about emerging nicotine products and marketing tactics.
- State and Federal Efforts Receive Mixed Grades – The report evaluates government efforts to regulate tobacco, with high marks for federal anti-tobacco media campaigns but failing grades for tobacco taxes and state-level restrictions on flavored products.
According to the American Lung Association’s newly released 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report, the tobacco industry is taking more aggressive actions at the federal and state levels to stop policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use. The 23rd annual “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates state and federal efforts to eliminate tobacco use.
“According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey, youth tobacco use is at the lowest level it has been in 25 years; however, the number of middle and high school students who still use tobacco products—2.25 million—is too high. In addition, 36 million adults in the US still smoke cigarettes,” says Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, in a release. “The American Lung Association has been working for more than 50 years to implement policies that are proven to reduce the death and disease that results from tobacco use. Unfortunately, we have constantly faced opposition, misinformation, and discriminate targeting from the tobacco industry. As a result, nearly 500,000 people lose their lives each year from tobacco use, and some communities face significant and devastating chronic disease caused by tobacco.”
The report highlights what the American Lung Association describes as increasingly aggressive actions by the tobacco industry to oppose policies aimed at reducing tobacco use. The organization cites several examples, including:
- The effort by the tobacco industry to stop the Biden White House from finalizing the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that would end the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.
- Tobacco industry lobbyists at the state level working to stop or weaken tobacco control policies such as restrictions on flavored tobacco products.
- Introduction of new products by the tobacco industry that appeal to youth like e-cigarettes that mimic smartphones, kid-friendly flavors, and flavored nicotine pouches that are heavily marketed by social media influencers, similar to previous Juul promotions.
- Confusing messaging promoting smoking cessation for products that aren’t FDA approved to help people quit smoking.
Federal Grades Overview
In the “State of Tobacco Control” report, the American Lung Association identified five key actions for the Trump administration and Congress to take in 2025 to reduce tobacco-related deaths and disease:
- Congress must at least maintain current funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health to ensure dissemination of the “Tips from Former Smokers” campaign and resources for states and territories to prevent youth tobacco use;
- Congress must protect both standard Medicaid and Medicaid expansion, to ensure that people with the highest smoking rates can access quit tobacco treatments;
- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the US Department of Justice, and other members of the multi-agency task force must act to remove all illegal tobacco products from the marketplace. To support these efforts, Congress must pass legislation requiring e-cigarette manufacturers to pay user fees, providing the FDA with the resources needed for stronger oversight and enforcement;
- The FDA must propose and finalize regulations to implement “track and trace” technology on all tobacco products to prevent an illicit market, counterfeit, and smuggling activities; and
- The FDA must improve and expand options for tobacco cessation medications and help all people, including youth, in the US end their addiction to tobacco products.
The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report grades the federal government in five areas:
- Federal Regulation of Tobacco Products – Grade C
- Federal Coverage of Quit Smoking Treatments – Grade D
- Level of Federal Tobacco Taxes – Grade F
- Federal Mass Media Campaigns to Prevent and Reduce Tobacco Use – Grade A
- Federal Minimum Age of Sale for Tobacco Products to 21 – Grade A
State Grades Overview
The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report grades states and the District of Columbia in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use and save lives:
- Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – 11 states and Washington, DC earned “A” grades
- Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – 46 states earned “F” grades
- Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – 40 states and Washington, D.C., earned “F” grades
- Level of State Tobacco Taxes – 31 states earned “F” grades
- Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco – 20 states and Washington, D.C. earned “A” or “B grades
Best Graded States
- California: Tobacco Program Funding: C, Smokefree Air: B, Tobacco Taxes: C, Access to Cessation: A, Flavored Tobacco Products: B
- District of Columbia: Tobacco Program Funding: F, Smokefree Air: A, Tobacco Taxes: A, Access to Cessation: A, Flavored Tobacco Products: A
- Massachusetts: Tobacco Program Funding: F, Smokefree Air: A, Tobacco Taxes: B, Access to Cessation: B, Flavored Tobacco Products: A
Worst Graded States
- Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas rated the worst in the nation, scoring Fs in all five categories.
- New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Wyoming received four Fs and 1 D grade.
Most Improved State
- Maryland increased its Tobacco Taxes grades from a C to a B and its Smokefree Air grade from a B to an A due to passing a cigarette tax increase and adding e-cigarettes to its smoke-free workplace law.
In the “State of Tobacco Control” report, the American Lung Association calls on federal and state lawmakers “to resist the pressure from this more aggressive tobacco industry and pass the proven public policies called for in the report.” The report also urges Congress to provide additional funding to the FDA so the agency can enforce against and remove illegal e-cigarettes.
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