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Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and in Connecticut. To address this enormous toll, the American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Connecticut’s elected officials:

  1. Protect and increase funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs;
  2. Defend the state’s indoor air laws protecting residents from secondhand smoke; and
  3. Reduce youth access to tobacco through local flavor ordinances and zoning regulations in cities and towns.
After a very promising year in the 2022 Connecticut General Assembly, the 2023 session had mixed results when it comes to tobacco control policy. Advocates were discouraged that the initial Governor’s budget proposed a 50% cut to the year’s allocation to the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund, before the first deposit established the previous year was even available to spend. However, champions in the legislature demonstrated a dedication to ensuring the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund (THTF) could get off the ground and level funded the THTF for Fiscal Year 2024 at $12 million.

The legislature also passed bills requiring the Juul settlement funds be used towards youth tobacco prevention work and that the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund dollars be dispersed according to the CDC Best Practices. Unfortunately, the legislature also passed a law that will allow cigar bars back into the state. While somewhat limited in the number and location, public health advocates are very concerned about what this will mean moving forward, especially considering proponents of the bill specifically stated they see this as a pilot program with the hope for growth in coming years.

In addition, during the 2023 legislative session, many groups worked to remove flavored tobacco products from the marketplace. Because the proposed policy failed to include all products and protections for all people, the Lung Association could not support this legislation. The Lung Association will continue to build community partnerships and educate community leaders about the detrimental role flavors play in attracting youth to nicotine addiction with the goal to eventually remove all flavored commercial tobacco products from the market.



In June 2023, the reconstituted Tobacco and Health Trust Fund Board met for the first time. Advocates are looking forward to the expenditure of funds towards best practice programs and a robust and sustainable investment in combatting the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the state. The Lung Association and our community partners will continue to advance proven policy issues with heightened efforts to enhance our partnerships and amplify the voices of people disproportionately burdened by tobacco use. The Lung Association looks forward to advancing Connecticut’s tobacco control policy and working towards a healthier Connecticut in 2024.

Connecticut Facts
Healthcare Costs Due to Smoking: $2,038,803,314
Adult Smoking Rate: 10.00%
High School Smoking Rate: 1.30%
High School Tobacco Use Rate: 10.60%
Middle School Smoking Rate: N/A
Smoking Attributable Deaths per Year: 4,900
Adult smoking data come from CDC's 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. High school smoking and tobacco use rates are taken from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. A current middle school smoking rate is not available for this state.

Health impact information is taken from the Smoking Attributable Mortality, Morbidity and Economic Costs (SAMMEC) software. Smoking attributable deaths reflect average annual estimates for the period 2005-2009 and are calculated for persons aged 35 years and older. Smoking-attributable healthcare expenditures are based on 2004 smoking-attributable fractions and 2009 personal healthcare expenditure data. Deaths and expenditures should not be compared by state.

Connecticut Information

Learn more about your state specific legislation regarding efforts towards effective Tobacco Control.

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