Indiana lags behind nation in policy efforts to prevent and reduce tobacco use

American Lung Association report reveals best and worst states for tobacco control policies, outlines steps to reduce burden of tobacco in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana earned mostly failing grades for policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use, according to the american Lung association’s 21st annual “State of Tobacco Control” report, released on Wednesday.

The “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates state and federal policies on actions taken to eliminate tobacco use and recommends proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies to save lives. This is critical, as tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in america and takes the lives of more than 11,000 Indiana residents each year.

“Indiana lags behind when it comes to tobacco control policies, and as a result, we have higher than average adult smoking rates at 17.3% and 22.9% of high school students use a tobacco product,” said Tiffany Nichols, director of advocacy for the american Lung association in Indiana. “This gives us an important opportunity to improve the health of our state through proven policies, such as increasing the funding for the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Commission.”

Indiana’s Grades

The “State of Tobacco Control” report grades states and the District of Columbia in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use and save lives. In the 2023 report, Indiana received the following grades:

• Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade F

• Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws

– Grade C

• Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade F

• Coverage and access to Services to Quit Tobacco – Grade D

• Ending the Sale of all

Flavored Tobacco Products

– Grade F

This year’s report noted the need for Indiana policymakers to focus on enacting legislation that allocates $30 million biennially to the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Commission and enacting legislation to increase the cigarette tax by at least $2.

An investment in prevention is especially important given the ongoing youth vaping epidemic. Despite receiving $536 million from tobacco settlement payments and tobacco taxes, Indiana only funds tobacco control efforts at 12.7% of the level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Lung Association believes the funds should be used to support the health of our communities, and to prevent tobacco use and help people quit, and not switch to e-cigarettes. These programs are also critical for helping to end tobacco-related health disparities.

In addition, one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, not only among low-income individuals but also for youth, is to significantly increase the tax on all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Multiple studies have shown that every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes reduces consumption by about 4% among adults and about 7% among youth. Indiana should increase its tax by $2 per pack.

To learn more about this year’s “State of Tobacco Control” grades and take action, visit Lung.org/ sotc.