Tobacco Use is the Leading Cause of Preventable Death in District of Columbia; New Report Urges Proven Policies to Save Lives

American Lung Association “State of Tobacco Control” report releases District of Columbia grades for tobacco control policies, outlines steps to reduce burden of tobacco

A new report from the American Lung Association urges District of Columbia policymakers to focus on providing support to implement the law to remove all flavored tobacco products from the market to reduce the overwhelming human and financial burden of tobacco use. The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates state and federal policies on actions taken to eliminate tobacco use and recommends proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies to save lives.

The “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. In the 2025 report, District of Columbia received the following grades:

  1. Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade F
  2. Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – Grade A
  3. Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade A
  4. Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco – Grade A
  5. Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – Grade A

“In addition to grading the District’s tobacco control policies, this year’s ‘State of Tobacco Control’ report examines the tobacco industry’s increasingly aggressive actions to addict a new generation to tobacco and hinder proven public policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use. Here in the District, we are seeing tobacco industry lobbyists at the local level working to stop or weaken proven tobacco control policies,” said Aleks Casper, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in the District of Columbia.

“The tobacco industry is also introducing new products 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. In 2025, policymakers in the District must focus on providing support to continue to implement the law to remove flavored tobacco products from the market, and funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs at the level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” said Casper.

The District passed a law to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products, and now lawmarkers must provide support to implement the law removing all flavored tobacco products from the market and ensure one agency within the District has oversight for tobacco enforcement.

Federal Grades Overview

The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report grades the federal government in five areas:

  • Federal Government 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

The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report urges Congress to provide additional funding to the FDA so they can enforce against and remove all illegal e-cigarettes the tobacco industry has introduced to the market. To learn more about this year’s “State of Tobacco Control” grades and sign the petition, visit Lung.org/sotc.

State grades in “State of Tobacco Control” reflect actions taken by elected officials and do not reflect on the hard work of state tobacco control programs or advocates.

Media Resources:

For more information, contact:

Valerie Gleason
717-971-1123
[email protected]

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