American Lung Association in California to Release 20th Annual ‘State of Tobacco Control’ Report on January 26

2022 report recognizes progress, work to be done to reduce tobacco use in California

SACRAMENTO, CA (January 18, 2022) – On Wednesday, January 26, the American Lung Association in California will release the 20th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report. Access to the embargoed report and embargoed interviews are available upon request.

WHAT: The American Lung Association’s 20th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report shows progress in reducing tobacco use over the past 20 years, reveals what factors are threatening that progress, and looks ahead to the significant amount of work that remains to be done. The annual “report card” tracks federal and state efforts to protect peoples from adverse impacts of tobacco. The report will grade California’s tobacco control measures in five areas, including funding for state tobacco prevention programs, state tobacco taxes, smokefree workplace laws, coverage of and access to services to quit tobacco and ending the sale of flavored tobacco products.

WHERE: New findings from the “State of Tobacco Control” report for California will be live on Lung.org/sotc following the launch.  Embargoed report findings and embargoed interviews (upon written email agreement to embargo) along with b-roll, graphics and more assets are available prior to the report launch.

WHEN: The embargo on “State of Tobacco Control” 2022 lifts on Wednesday, January 26 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time.

WHO: The following are available for media interviews on report findings and health impacts of tobacco use:

Erica Costa, Director of Advocacy, American Lung Association in California

Thomas Carr, report lead author, National Director, Policy, American Lung Association

Anne DiGiulio, lead tobacco cessation policy expert, National Director, Lung Health Policy, American Lung Association

Local and national medical experts in the field of lung health

WHY: Tobacco use results in 480,000 deaths per year, making it the nation’s leading cause of preventable death. The annual “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates states and the federal government on actions taken to eliminate tobacco use and save lives with proven-effective and urgently needed tobacco control laws and policies. 

HOW: To request embargoed report findings (agreement to embargo required in writing) or an embargoed interview, contact MediaWest@Lung.org.