Policy Statements

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Members and partners of the Washington Breathes coalition collaborate to develop policy statements and fact sheets aligned with our Vision and Mission. Some statements are circulated for endorsement by organizations and individuals, while others are developed by our expert workgroups and reviewed by our Steering Committee.

Washington Breathes provides these statements and fact sheets as educational tools to explain current challenges and recommend effective policy solutions.

Restoring Comprehensive Funding

Reinvesting in a Comprehensive Commercial Tobacco Prevention & Treatment Program is Critical [2-page PDF]

This position statement explains why Washington needs an adequately funded, comprehensive prevention and cessation program to protect our communities. This is crucial for reducing disparities in populations most targeted and affected by the commercial tobacco industry.

The statement was developed in 2023 through a collaborative process of our coalition members and partners. It includes a list of organizations who have supported reinvesting in a comprehensive approach that was effective in the past.

Data & sources for the statement (English)

Washington Invests Too Little in Preventing & Treating Nicotine Dependence [1-page PDF]

This fact sheet provides more information about current state investments in nicotine prevention and cessation programs. These amounts are compared to the recommended state spending levels. Components of an effective comprehensive statewide program are also summarized.

This fact sheet was developed in 2023.

Eliminating Flavored Products

Menthol & Flavored Tobacco Products [2-page PDF]

This position statement explains the need to end the sale of all flavored commercial tobacco products - including those with menthol. Flavors make it easier to start using nicotine products, harder to quit, and are a major driver of health disparities.

This statement also outlines key components of a comprehensive and equitable policy to prohibit flavored tobacco, like focusing enforcement actions on the tobacco industry and not the individual.

This statement was developed by the coalition's Policy Workgroup and approved by the Steering Committee in June 2024.

Data & sources for the statement (English)

Menthol & Nicotine Cessation [2-page PDF]

This fact sheet explains how mentholated commercial tobacco products make it easier to start and harder to quit. The tobacco industry uses menthol to target people of color, leading to higher use rates among Black individuals, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian, Latine, LGBTQ, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, women, those with lower incomes, and those with mental health conditions.

This fact sheet was developed by the coalition's Cessation Treatment Workgroup and approved by the Steering Committee in February 2024.

Data & sources for the fact sheet (English)

Supporting Healthy Youth

Supporting Healthy Youth fact sheet [2-page PDF]

This fact sheet explains critical policy actions to help combat the youth vaping epidemic, like eliminating flavored tobacco products and funding tribal, local, and school-based programs for youth prevention and cessation. It also provides Healthy Youth Survey data (2023 & historical) on commercial tobacco use and disparities in use by race/ethnicity and sexual orientation.

This fact sheet was developed by the coalition's Supporting Healthy Youth Workgroup and approved by the Steering Committee in September 2024.

Data and sources for the fact sheet (English)

Improving Cessation Treatment

Equitable Cessation Services Statement [2-page PDF]

This position statement was developed by the coalition's Improving Cessation Treatment Workgroup and approved by the Steering Committee in September 2023.