New Report: Tobacco Use is the Leading Cause of Preventable Death in Florida; Ensuring Access to Medicaid Cessation Coverage Could Save Thousands of Lives

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

According to the American Lung Association’s “State of Tobacco Control” report, released today, Florida 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 Florida and across the country, claiming the lives of 32,300 state residents each year. 10.5% of adults in Florida currently use cigarettes, and 17% of adults use tobacco products, which includes e-cigarettes. Additionally, 14.8% 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, Florida 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 D
  5. Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – Grade F

The findings underscore the need for Florida lawmakers to focus on ensuring access to comprehensive quit tobacco coverage with no barriers to care for Medicaid recipients to reduce the overwhelming human and financial burden of tobacco use.

Florida 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 all those who want 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 Ashley Lyerly, senior director of advocacy at the Lung Association in Florida. “Here in Florida, we are seeing tobacco industry lobbyists 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.”

Lyerly added: “This year, our policymakers must focus on ensuring access to comprehensive quit tobacco coverage with no barriers to care for Medicaid recipients, reinstating local control of the marketing, sale and delivery of tobacco and nicotine products to local government and instituting strong regulation and licensing of all tobacco retailers, including electronic cigarette retailers, with annual compliance and enforcement.”

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.

“We’re encouraging Floridians to join our efforts to create a tobacco-free future,” said John Hunt, advocacy chair of the Lung Association’s Central Florida Leadership Board. “Make your voice heard by signing the Lung Association’s petition at Lung.org/sotc. Because when you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.”

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. To learn more about this year’s grades, including federal grades, and to sign the petition, visit Lung.org/sotc.

Get involved and help the mission of the American Lung Association. The Fight For Air Climb Orlando is returning to City National Bank Tower on Saturday, March 8. Learn more at ClimbOrlando.org.

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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