Louisiana Highlights

 

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

  1. Ensure smokefree protections for all bars and casino workers in all municipalities;
  2. Strengthen the existing statewide smokefree law to include bar and casino worker protections; and
  3. Sustain tobacco prevention and cessation funding.
While not a surprise, the Louisiana legislative session in 2022 was not without a challenge from the tobacco industry. House Bill 899, introduced by Representative Beau Beaullieu, would have removed the ability of local communities to take meaningful action to reduce tobacco use. The legislation, if passed, would have prohibited local regulations on the sale and marketing of tobacco products and left these regulations to the state undermining tobacco control policies. The Lung Association and our public health partners were able to keep this bill from being considered.

There continues to be support within local municipalities for public health protections from secondhand smoke. The cities of New Iberia, Campti Town and Farmerville passed comprehensive smokefree air ordinances in 2022. Casino and bar workers in these communities are now protected from the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure. Approximately 30.39% of Louisiana residents are now fully protected by a comprehensive smokefree air ordinance.

Louisiana has had significant success with cessation efforts through Quit with Us, LA and the Smoking Cessation Trust. Quit with Us, LA is the free statewide cessation program offering telephone and online services to Louisiana residents aged 13 and older who are ready to quit. The Smoking Cessation Trust ("SCT") is the result of a 2011 court judgment in a class action lawsuit that established a 10-year smoking cessation program to benefit Louisiana residents who smoked a cigarette before September 1, 1988. The program provided no cost cessation services, including medications, individual and group cessation counseling or telephone quit-line support. As of July 11, 2022, enrollment for new SCT members has ceased. Members previously enrolled will be able to access cessation services for up to 5 years.

In 2023, the American Lung Association in Louisiana will join our tobacco control partners to educate state legislators about the health and economic benefits of strong tobacco control policies, including a comprehensive statewide smokefree air law. The Lung Association will also continue to work with partners in the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Louisiana to ensure successful passage and preservation of comprehensive local smokefree ordinances.

Louisiana Facts
Healthcare Costs Due to Smoking: $1,891,666,196
Adult Smoking Rate: 19.50%
High School Smoking Rate: 8.40%
High School Tobacco Use Rate: 29.70%
Middle School Smoking Rate: 3.80%
Smoking Attributable Deaths per Year: 7,210
Adult smoking data come from CDC's 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. High school smoking and tobacco use rates are taken from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Middle school smoking rate is taken from the 2017 Youth Tobacco Survey.

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.

Louisiana Information

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

State Grades Report Laws & Policies