New Report: Tobacco Use Is the Leading Cause of Preventable Death in Arkansas; Ensuring Coverage of Cessation Services Could Save Thousands of Lives

Arkansas lags behind nation for tobacco control policies in American Lung Association’s annual “State of Tobacco Control” report; Organization outlines steps to prevent disease and death

According to the American Lung Association’s “State of Tobacco Control” report, released today, Arkansas continues to lag behind the rest of the country in policy efforts to prevent and reduce tobacco use. The state received three failing grades, out of five, in this year’s report.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Arkansas and across the country, claiming the lives of 5,790 state residents each year. 15% of adults in Arkansas currently use cigarettes, which is higher than the national average. 26.3% of adults use tobacco products, which includes e-cigarettes.

Additionally, 20% of high school students use tobacco products, potentially setting kids up for a lifetime of nicotine addiction.

In the 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report, Arkansas received the following grades:

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

The findings underscore the need for Arkansas lawmakers to focus on ensuring the state covers all FDA-approved quit smoking treatments and services to reduce the overwhelming human and financial burden of tobacco use.

Arkansas lawmakers can help residents quit tobacco by covering all quit smoking treatments in its Medicaid program and for state employees. This includes access to all seven U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved tobacco cessation medications and all three forms of counseling without barriers, such as copays and prior authorization. This year's report calls on lawmakers to ensure continued access to tobacco use treatment services for everyone who wants to quit smoking, including comprehensive coverage for such services under Medicaid.

“The tobacco industry has deployed increasingly aggressive tactics to addict a new generation to tobacco and hinder proven public policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use,” said Laura Turner, Arkansas director of advocacy at the Lung Association. “Here in Arkansas, we are seeing tobacco industry lobbyists at the local level working to stop or weaken proven tobacco control policies. 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.”

Turner added: “This year, our policymakers must focus on ensuring the state covers all FDA-approved quit smoking treatments and services, allocating state funding of $14.6 million for the Arkansas Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program and ensuring that funding is spent according to CDC best practices, and repealing state preemption of local tobacco control authority.”

The “State of Tobacco Control” report, released annually since 2002, evaluates states and the federal government on laws and policies that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use and save lives.

At the national level, 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, including federal grades, and to 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.

For more information, contact:

Victoria O'Neill
(312) 273-5890
[email protected]

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