Featured Issues
What Are Cessation Products...And What Aren't?
Find evidence-based cessation resources on our Cessation/Quitting Support Services page.
Nicotine is addictive and traps people in a cycle of dependency, even when they want to quit. Nearly 70% of people who smoke want to quit. Of youth who vape, 68% have tried to quit, but almost two-thirds had no cessation support.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration reviews clinical data when it considers approval of a nicotine cessation product. FDA approved products include over-the-counter nicotine patches, nicotine gum, and nicotine lozenges. There are also approved prescription nicotine sprays and inhalers. Varenicline and bupropion are prescription cessation medicines that do not contain nicotine.
Despite sometimes confusing ad claims, none of the nicotine products marketed by the tobacco industry have been approved as cessation products by the FDA. E-cigarettes and oral nicotine products like Zyn have NOT been proven to help people successfully quit nicotine. These commercial nicotine products are not safe to use, even if they may have lower risks than deadly cigarettes.
The tobacco industry's deadly products are still the leading cause of preventable death in Washington and the U.S. They are also an environmental hazard: polluting our environment and forcing clean-up costs on state & local governments, schools, and businesses.
Cigarette butts and their plastic filters are the most littered item in the U.S., with more than 750,000 metric tons each year. The nicotine in oral pouches is toxic (i.e. a hazardous waste) and the synthetic pouches are not biodegradable.
E-cigarettes are not only plastic and contain toxic nicotine, but they have a lithium battery that can cause explosions or fires. Even if they're considered 'disposable,' they should not be tossed into the household garbage. In 2020, Keep America Beautiful counted nearly 900,000 littered e-cigarettes on U.S. roadways and waterways.
Tobacco Waste Pollution
Learn more about efforts to get the tobacco industry to clean up their mess on our Tobacco Waste page.
Preemption of Local Actions in Washington
Learn more about preemption on our Restore Local Authority page.
Currently, Washington State's laws on commercial tobacco regulation - including regulating e-cigarettes - block local authorities from passing stronger or different regulations. This preemption creates barriers to meeting community health needs. For example, a city cannot restrict the locations or numbers of vape shops to reduce youth access and exposure.
Washington is 1 of only 5 states with broad preemption of local commercial tobacco regulations. There are 19 states with no preemption and 26 states with more limited preemption.
The coalition's Preemption in Washington's Commercial Tobacco Laws fact sheet provides a simple summary of restrictions in current WA laws, and limited actions that local governments can take to regulate vaping and smoking in public places.
Find more of the coalition's position statements and issue fact sheets on our Policy Statements page.
Archive
March 2025
Addressing Disparities - Surgeon General's Tobacco Report
Improving health in all communities by reducing commercial tobacco use is the focus of a comprehensive report released in November 2024 by the U.S. Surgeon General titled "Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death: Addressing Disparities". Overall use of commercial tobacco has gone down dramatically since the first Surgeon General's report in 1964, but those health improvements have not been equally distributed across all U.S. population groups. Disparities still exist by race and ethnicity, levels of income and education, mental health conditions, sexual orientation and gender identity, and geography.
Solving these problems requires recognizing that whether someone uses tobacco or not is not just an individual choice. There are factors that drive these disparities, which include the tobacco industry's strategies around aggressive marketing of flavored tobacco products and keeping product prices low. The report delves into these driving forces and defines strategies to reduce health disparities, such as increasing tobacco products prices, reducing nicotine levels in products, and eliminating flavored tobacco products.
See our Address Disparities page for a summary of the key report findings, the full report, and summary resources.
February 2025
Healthy Youth Survey Analysis
Trends in youth commercial tobacco use show a shift from smoking to vaping, and signs of increased use of oral nicotine products. After the pandemic, the WA Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) recorded an overall drop in youth commercial tobacco use that has also been seen in the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey. That's very encouraging, and there's more to the story.
A closer look at WA HYS data shows that the youth who vape are vaping more frequently. 44% of 10th grade students who vape at school say they vaped 20-30 days in the previous month, compared to 29% in 2021.
More frequent use indicates a greater dependence on nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and challenging to quit, yet national data shows almost two-thirds of youth who tried to quit nicotine had no cessation support.
The WA HYS provides important estimates of youth use and access to commercial tobacco products. With the help of our coalition members and partners, we've been delving deeper into the 2023 HYS data to inform our work.
See more data analysis from the WA HYS and the National Youth Tobacco Survey on our Support Healthy Youth page.
Meaningful Actions to Reduce Youth Commercial Tobacco Use
The coalition's Supporting Healthy Youth workgroup has developed a new resource to explain policy solutions to prevent youth vaping and help young people quit nicotine use.
Our Supporting Healthy Youth fact sheet focuses on two critical strategies: (1) ending the sale of flavored tobacco products and (2) funding youth prevention and cessation programs provided by Tribes, community organizations, and for schools.
The fact sheet also shares data from the Healthy Youth Survey that shows disparities in youth commercial tobacco use, as well as historical trends as e-cigarette use has overtaken smoking.
Find more of the coalition's position statements and issue fact sheets on our Policy Statements page.
November 2024
Great American Smokeout - November 21st
Thursday November 21st is a great day to take a step towards better health by making a plan to quit smoking!
The Great American Smokeout provides an opportunity for individuals, community groups, businesses, health care providers, and others to encourage people who smoke to use the date to make a plan to quit. Or to plan in advance and start their smoking cessation plan on the day of the event.
The WA State Quitline is available to for support for anyone who wants to stop using nicotine products. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or text 'READY' to 200-400. Free quit medications are available for some residents.
Other cessation resources are available on our Cessation/Quitting Support Services page, including resources designed for youth, tailored for veterans, and in multiple languages.
The Great American Smokeout has been sponsored by the American Cancer Society for almost 50 years. Although overall smoking rates are much lower than decades ago, cigarette smoking remains the most preventable cause of serious illness and death in Washington, and across the nation, causing more than 480,000 deaths each year.
Ending the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products
Our new position statement describes how appealing flavors and cooling additives like menthol increase initiation of nicotine use, make cessation harder, and disproportionately harm people of color and LGBTQ people.
The statement also outlines 3 critical components of an equitable and effective policy to prohibit flavored tobacco:
- All flavors, including menthol.
- All nicotine and tobacco products.
- Enforcement on tobacco businesses, not individuals.
Washington Breathes creates position statements that are aligned with Our Vision and Mission to help inform policy discussions. This position statement was developed by our Policy Workgroup and approved by our Steering Committee.
Our Eliminate Flavored Products page has more information about the impacts of flavored tobacco and policy solutions.
Find more of the coalition's position statements and issue fact sheets on our Policy Statements page.
October 2024
Behavioral Health & Commercial Tobacco Use
In Washington State, 28% of adults with poor mental health smoke (WA DOH), compared to about 11% smoking in the overall population. The tobacco industry has played a role in these higher use rates with tactics like providing free cigarettes to behavioral health facilities and perpetuating myths that smoking is helpful for patients.
The solution is providing evidence-based nicotine cessation treatments. People with behavioral health conditions want to quit tobacco at the same rates as the general population. Quitting addictive nicotine helps decrease anxiety, depression, and stress.
Mental health is yet another reason why providing supportive services to young people who are vaping or smoking is so important. WA state data from the Healthy Youth Survey found that 58% of youth who smoke and 54% of youth who vape reported depression symptoms compared to 34% among youth who do not use commercial tobacco. (2018 WA HYS data)
- Learn more about youth commercial tobacco use as a Red Flag for Supports.
- WA State Department of Health Fact Sheet: Understanding tobacco use and behavioral health.
- Learn more about Addressing Disparities in commercial tobacco use.
- BHthechange.org website of the National Behavioral Health Network for Tobacco & Cancer Control.
July 2024
Dismaying Federal Menthol Rule Delay
In late April 2024, Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra announced an indefinite delay on issuing FDA's proposed rules to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, citing the need for "more conversations". A wide array of health and social justice organizations are dismayed by this delay and vow continued actions to save lives.
Ending the sale of menthol cigarettes in the U.S. could prevent more than 650,000 deaths, including over 250,000 Black lives.
The tobacco industry and industry-funded organizations lobbied for the White House for this delay. They raised familiar, but unfounded, claims that a menthol cigarette ban would result in police targeting of smokers who are Black. That's false: enforcement of a sales ban would be on manufacturers, distributors, and retailers - not on individuals. Unproven political concerns were also raised about impacts on President Biden’s re-election.
Inaction at the federal level highlights the need for more state and local regulations - learn more: Policies Ending the Sale of Flavored Tobacco.
- Learn more about saving Black lives by taking on Big Tobacco African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council
- Press Statement: NAACP Condemns White House on Abandoning Menthol Ban
- FDA fact sheet on proposed rules
- Check out our Menthol & Nicotine Cessation fact sheet
Supporting Pride & Improving LGBTQ+ Health
We're celebrating Pride Month in June and recognizing the efforts of our member and partner organizations to support commercial tobacco free LGBTQ+ communities!
The LGBTQ+ community uses commercial tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, at higher rates than heterosexual/straight people. LGBTQ+ people are also exposed to secondhand smoke at higher levels than the general population. Reasons for higher use rates include stress from societal prejudices and well-documented aggressive marketing by tobacco companies. The tobacco industry targets LGBTQ+ people through event sponsorships, product giveaways and promotions, and advertising, and has been doing that for decades.
Despite attempts to hook LGBTQI+ communities, queer folks are quitting tobacco and helping their friends, chosen family, and community members quit too. LGBTQ+ organizations and their partners are fighting back with educational and policy campaigns to stop industry targeting, create smoke and vape-free community spaces, and overcome barriers to cessation services for LGBTQ+ people.
- Seattle's LGBTQ+ Center's Clear the Air Resource page
- National LGBT Cancer Network
- Outlast Tobacco Quit Resources for the LGBTQ+ community.
- CDC Feature Article June 2024 Pride in Being Tobacco-Free
May 2024
Washington's Failing Grade & Some Progress
Washington State received a failing F grade....again...in the annual analysis by the American Lung Association of state's funding for commercial tobacco prevention and cessation. WA's FY 2024 state funding of just $4.64 million is far less than 1% of the $480 million in tobacco-related taxes and Master Settlement Agreement funds to the state each year. That's less than 1 penny on the dollar invested in ending the youth vaping crisis, improving access to culturally-appropriate cessation services, or supporting community-based interventions to address higher rates of commercial tobacco use among specific communities.
In better news, the 2024 legislative session produced a small shift in the right direction. An additional $500,000 was directed to the commercial tobacco prevention program for FY 2025. These funds will be put to good uses, but more investment is needed to meaningfully support healthier communities for all.
Learn more about Restoring Comprehensive Funding and Addressing Disparities.
Federal Menthol Rule Delay
The White House has delayed issuing FDA's proposed rules to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. The tobacco industry and industry-funded organizations have been lobbying the White House, raising familiar, but unfounded, claims that a menthol cigarette ban would result in police targeting of smokers who are Black. That's false: enforcement would be on manufacturers, distributors, and retailers - not on individuals. Unproven political concerns are also being raised about impacts on President Biden’s re-election.
Ending the sale of menthol cigarettes in the U.S. could prevent 654,000 deaths, including preventing the deaths of about 238,000 African Americans.
No Menthol Sunday
Get engaged in this call to action on the detrimental impacts of commercial tobacco on Black communities. This 10th annual event sponsored by The Center for Black Health and Equity engages the faith community in supporting people who want to stop smoking or vaping, and building awareness in communities and with policymakers.
Use the No Menthol Sunday Toolkit to equip your community against the tobacco industry's predatory tactics. This toolkit provides strategies, facts, and talking points for a tobacco-free future. Pledge forms, resources for youth teams, and more information are also available.
Find resources and sign up to participate on the No Menthol Sunday website.
Menthol is more than just a minty flavor - it makes it easier to start smoking or vaping, and harder to quit.
Learn more from our Menthol & Nicotine Cessation fact sheet.
January 2024
LCB Releases Youth PUP Enforcement Report
Important progress was made in the 2023 legislative session to improve commercial tobacco enforcement by reducing enforcement on underage youth and increasing fines for retailers who are illegally selling addictive nicotine products to underage individuals.
ESSB 5365 accomplished a number of changes, including requiring annual reports from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) about their interactions and enforcement actions with youth under age 18.
In December, LCB released its first report to the Legislature that provides a retrospective look back to fiscal year 2018.
Supreme Court Refuses to Hear CA Flavor Ban Case
California took action in 2020 to protect community health by ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes. Big Tobacco challenged the law at the ballot box, but California's voters upheld the public health measure in November 2022 by a 63.4% margin. RJ Reynolds and tobacco retailers also challenged CA's law in the courts on grounds that it conflicted with federal law, but have lost at each level. Now the Supreme Court has closed the books on the RJ Reynolds lawsuit. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear arguments on the case, upholding California's law prohibiting the sale of flavored commercial tobacco products.
December 2023
Equitable Cessation Services Position Statement
Washington Breathes believes every individual using commercial tobacco products should have easy access to affordable, effective, and culturally appropriate cessation services and support, especially those disproportionately targeted by the tobacco industry and most affected by commercial tobacco use. Our Improving Cessation Treatment Workgroup wanted to say more about what equitable cessation programs look like.
Washington Breathes Educates at House Committee Work Session
The House Regulated Substances & Gaming Committee held a work session on September 25, 2023 about programs, funding, and policies for commercial tobacco prevention and cessation. The committee invited speakers from state agencies and from Washington Breathes.
Juul's Folly & Devastating Impacts Uncovered
A new Netflix documentary investigates how Juul became one of the fastest-growing companies in U.S. history...and recklessly sparked the youth vaping epidemic, hooking millions of young people on a high tech new version of addictive toxic nicotine product.
- Big Vape Trailer and viewing information
- This series is based on the book Big Vape by Jamie Ducharme.