Massachusetts Named One of Best in Nation for Policies to Prevent and Reduce Tobacco Use, with One Glaring Exception: Tobacco Program Funding

American Lung Association report reveals best and worst states for tobacco control policies, outlines steps to reduce burden of tobacco in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is listed as one of the states with the best policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use, according to the American Lung Association’s 21st annual “State of Tobacco Control” report, released today. The state earned mostly A and B grades on this year’s report with one “F” for its Tobacco Program Funding. 

The “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. This is critical, as tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in America and takes the lives of 9,300 Massachusetts residents each year.

“Massachusetts is a national leader with its tobacco control policies; from being the first in the nation to eliminate the sale of all flavored tobacco products, to developing an incentive program for those trying to quit a menthol tobacco product, and ensuring smokefree air for residents,” said Daniel Fitzgerald, Director of Advocacy at the American Lung Association in Massachusetts. “This is important progress, however, there are still too many Massachusetts residents who are impacted by tobacco use, like the 10.6% of adults who smoke and the 37% of high school students who use tobacco.”

Massachusetts Grades 
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 2023 report, Massachusetts 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 B
  4. Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco – Grade B
  5. Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – Grade A 
This year’s report noted the need for Massachusetts policymakers to focus on increasing funding for tobacco prevention and quit smoking programs. An investment in prevention is especially important given the ongoing youth vaping epidemic. Despite receiving $686 million from tobacco settlement payments and tobacco taxes, Massachusetts only funds tobacco control efforts at 12% of the level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Lung Association believes the funds should be used to support the health of our communities, and to prevent tobacco use and help people quit, and not switch to e-cigarettes. These programs are also critical for helping to end tobacco-related health disparities. 

Additionally, Massachusetts must increase tobacco taxes. One of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, not only among low-income individuals but also for youth, is to significantly increase the tax on all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Multiple studies have shown that every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes reduces consumption by about 4% among adults and about 7% among youth. Massachusetts has not significantly increased its tobacco tax since 2013 and should increase its tax by $1.00 per pack.

Federal Grades Overview
The report also grades the federal government on their efforts to eliminate tobacco use. This year, there were new steps taken by the government to prevent and reduce tobacco use, including proposed rules to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, Congress passing a law requiring the FDA to regulate tobacco products made with synthetic nicotine, and increased federal enforcement of the Tobacco Control Act. As a result of these steps forward, the federal government’s grade for “Federal Regulation of Tobacco Products” improved from a “D” grade last year, to a “C” grade in the 2023 report.

The 2023 “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 – Incomplete
FDA is overdue in publishing the final Tobacco 21 regulations as required by statute, which is why it earns an “incomplete.”  

To learn more about this year’s “State of Tobacco Control” grades and take action, visit Lung.org/sotc.

Media Resources available by request: [email protected]
 
For more information, contact:

Jennifer Solomon
(516) 680-8927
[email protected]

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