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American Lung Association Report Gives New Mexico Mixed Grades for Tobacco Control Policies

American Lung Association report reveals best and worst states for tobacco control policies, outlines steps to reduce burden of tobacco in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, NM | January 25, 2023

New Mexico receives mixed grades – included two ‘F’s when it comes to 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 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 2,630 New Mexico residents each year.

“New Mexico lags behind when it comes to tobacco control policies, and as a result, we have higher than average adult smoking rates at 13.3% and 37.5% of high school students who use a tobacco product,” said JoAnna Strother, senior director of advocacy at the American Lung Association in New Mexico. “This gives us an important opportunity to improve the health of our state through proven policies, such as dedicating more funding for tobacco prevention and control programs, closing loopholes in the Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air Act, and removing preemption so that local cities can tackle tobacco control issues on the local level.”  

New Mexico’s 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, New Mexico received the following grades: 
1.    Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade F
2.    Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – Grade B
3.    Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade D
4.    Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco – Grade B
5.    Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – Grade F

This year’s report noted the need for New Mexico 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 $133.3 million from tobacco settlement payments and tobacco taxes, New Mexico only funds tobacco control efforts at 29.9% 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. 

 
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.
 
For more information, contact:

New Mexico Media Contact

[email protected]

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