New Hampshire Highlights

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

The 2023 session of the General Court of New Hampshire was focused on educating lawmakers on the need to proactively address the tobacco use rates in the state and on evidenced-based policy solutions.

Despite the New Hampshire Tobacco Prevention program being woefully underfunded at only approximately 10% of the level recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the level of state funding was only slightly increased in 2023. Significantly increasing funding for New Hampshire’s tobacco prevention and treatment efforts remains the top priority for the 2024 session. New Hampshire along with dozens of other states has received funding as a result of a settlement with the e-cigarette company Juul. It is imperative that the funding the state has received be allocated to New Hampshire’s tobacco prevention program to address the youth vaping epidemic.

The most significant policy victory in 2023 was the reauthorization of the New Hampshire Medicaid expansion program – Granite Advantage ensuring continued access to healthcare and tobacco treatment and cessation for New Hampshire residents enrolled in the program.

The American Lung Association in New Hampshire will continue to work with our coalition partners including the Tobacco Free New Hampshire Network, New Hampshire Public Health Association, the American Heart Association, Breathe New Hampshire, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and others to advance tobacco control and prevention efforts. As the legislature begins its work in 2024, we will continue to educate policy makers, Granite State residents and business leaders and the media of the importance of the Lung Association's goals to reduce tobacco use and protect public health.