Feb 10, 2025 - Politics
Massachusetts anti-smoking funding earns an F
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Massachusetts is spending one-fifth of what the feds suggest it should on anti-tobacco efforts, a new report says.
Why it matters: Cigarette smoking remains the country's leading cause of preventable deaths, causing one in five of all U.S. deaths, per the CDC.
State of play: Massachusetts allocated $11.3 million on smoking cessation efforts in fiscal 2025 — less than 20% of the $66.9 million recommended by the CDC, according to the American Lung Association.
- Massachusetts was one of 40 states that earned an F from the ALA for anti-smoking funding.
- Massachusetts earned higher marks for smoking restrictions, taxes, access for cessation services and banning flavored tobacco.
- Zoom out: Only one state — Maine — is funding its anti-tobacco initiatives at or above the CDC's recommended level.
What they're saying: Harold Wimmer, ALA's president and CEO, said that recent data showing youth tobacco use at a 25-year low is a big win.
- Yes, but: "The number of middle and high school students who still use tobacco products — 2.25 million — is too high," he said in a statement.
- 36 million adults in the U.S. still smoke cigarettes.