New Report: Tobacco Use Is the Leading Cause of Preventable Death in Louisiana; Increasing Tobacco Tax Critical to Preventing Death and Disease

Louisiana lags behind nation for tobacco control policies in American Lung Association’s annual “State of Tobacco Control” report; Organization outlines steps to reduce burden of tobacco

According to the American Lung Association’s “State of Tobacco Control” report, released today, Louisiana 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 Louisiana and across the country, claiming the lives of 7,210 state residents each year. 15.7% of adults in Louisiana currently use cigarettes, which is higher than the national average. 25.4% of adults use tobacco products, which includes e-cigarettes.

Additionally, 25.5% 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, Louisiana 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 C
  5. Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – Grade F

The findings underscore the need for Louisiana lawmakers to focus on increasing the tax on all tobacco products to reduce the overwhelming human and financial burden of tobacco use.

Increasing taxes on all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, especially among youth. Studies have shown that every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes reduces consumption by about 4% among adults and about 7% among youth. Louisiana should increase its tax on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack and make the tax on other tobacco products equal to the cigarette tax.

"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 Eric Weinzettle, Louisiana director of advocacy at the Lung Association. “Here in Louisiana, 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.”

Weinzettle added: “This year, our policymakers must focus on increasing the tax on all tobacco products, strengthening the existing statewide smokefree law to include bar and casino worker protections, and sustaining tobacco prevention and quit tobacco funding.”

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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