American Lung Association to Release 19th Annual ‘State of Tobacco Control’ Report

DALLAS, TX - The American Lung Association is releasing the results of its 19th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report, an annual “report card” that tracks federal and state efforts to protect its residents from adverse impacts of tobacco. The report will grade Texas’s tobacco control measures in five areas, including funding for state tobacco prevention programs, state tobacco taxes, smoke-free workplace laws, coverage of and access to services to quit tobacco and a new category for 2021 - ending the sale of flavored tobacco products. The report will also touch on the impacts of flavored tobacco on the youth vaping epidemic, communities of color, LGBTQ Americans, pregnant women, and persons with lower incomes.

The American Lung Association’s 19th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report shows that even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure remain major public health threats, and smoking can cause more severe symptoms from COVID-19. Passage of the proven policies called for in the report, like increased tobacco taxes and making public places and workplaces smoke-free is now more critical than ever.

New findings from the “State of Tobacco Control” report for Texas will be live on Lung.org/sotc following the launch. Embargoed report findings and embargoed interviews are available upon request prior to the report launch.

The embargo on “State of Tobacco Control” 2021 lifts on Wednesday, January 27 at 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time.