Report: Pa. Struggling with Tobacco Control

January 31, 2025

Pennsylvania is among the states nationwide that has received a poor grade in the American Lung Association’s State of Tobacco Control Report.

The report, released earlier this week, evaluates how well states support smoking cessation and public policies that curb tobacco use. In Pennsylvania, the adult smoking rate is nearly 15 percent and there are 22,010 smoking-attributable deaths per year, the report notes.

 Here’s what you need to know:

• About the report:  The report evaluates states and the federal government for their efforts to eliminate tobacco use, which is the nation’s leading cause of preventable death.
• Pennsylvania’s poor performance:  Pennsylvania received “D” grades for smoke-free air and access to cessation services, and “F” grades for tobacco prevention and cessation funding, low tobacco taxes, and allowing flavored tobacco products.
• Call to action:  The report notes ways the state can improve its performance, including protecting funding for comprehensive tobacco prevention and control programs; closing loopholes in Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act; and ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products.
• Best and worst:  California and Massachusetts were among the top performing states, while Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas rated the worst, scoring “F” grades in all five categories. Maryland was the most-improved state, marking progress in several key measures.
• Quotable:  “According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey, youth tobacco use is at the lowest level it has been in 25 years; however, the number of middle and high school students who still use tobacco products—2.25 million—is too high. In addition, 36 million adults in the U.S. still smoke cigarettes,” said Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, in a statement.   

The full report and state-specific analysis are available online.