MEDIA ALERT: American Lung Association 2019 'State of Tobacco Control' Report Finds FDA Failing to Protect Kids from E-cigarettes, States Not Funding Proven Tobacco Prevention Efforts

WHAT: The American Lung Association is releasing the results of its 17th annual “State of Tobacco Control”report, which tracks progress on key tobacco control policies at the federal and state level, assigning grades based on whether laws are protecting citizens from tobacco-caused death and disease. This year’s report finds that the federal government is failing to act to protect kids from e-cigarettes and a lifetime of addiction to tobacco and its associated death and disease. The report also found no state is funding its tobacco prevention efforts at levels recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), despite billions in revenue from tobacco taxes and ongoing payments from the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in November 2018. The report identifies ways to protect everyone, including kids and those historically targeted by the tobacco industry, from the harms of tobacco use and secondhand smoke.

WHERE: Lung.org/sotc detailing “State of Tobacco Control” 2019report will be updated with new data at 12:00 a.m. ET on January 30, 2019

WHEN: Prior to the public release on January 30, 2019, at 12:00 a.m. ET, embargoed interviews may be requested.

WHO: Thomas A. Carr, American Lung Association National Director Policy and lead author of “State of Tobacco Control”; Erika Sward, American Lung Association Assistant Vice President of National Advocacy

HOW: To request more information or an embargoed interview, contact Allison MacMunn, [email protected] or 312-801-7628.

WHY: Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States, killing 480,000 people each year. Effective strategies to prevent and reduce tobacco use have been identified, and the annual “State of Tobacco Control” report serves as a roadmap to save lives, and grades states and the federal government on efforts to reduce and prevent tobacco use and save lives.