TPA Publishes 4th Edition of Tobacco and Vaping 50 State Analysis

The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is pleased to announce the publication of the 4th edition of the Tobacco and Vaping 50 State Analysis.  The analysis examines data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) adult-focused Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey (BRFSS), as well as the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS).

Each year, the CDC’s BRFSS surveys U.S. adults aged 18 years or older on various health determinants, including smoking rates. TPA’s Tobacco and Vaping 50 State Analysis examines those numbers, including smoking rates among various age groups and ethnicities, as well as the impacts of tobacco control policies (such as excise taxes) on reducing smoking rates. This year’s analysis also provides insight on the adults who are currently using e-cigarettes.

The CDC’s YRBS biennially surveys youth in the United States about various risk factors, including combustible cigarette and vapor product use. Each analysis looks at youth rates of tobacco and vapor product use and compare it to adult use.

These analyses provide unique insight into the real-world data on adult and youth tobacco and vapor product use in an unbiased and easy to understand format. The data presented in these analyses provides policymakers with a snapshot of the average adult smoker in each state and the effects of both novel harm reduction products and tobacco control policies.

For example, one section of the analyses examines smoking rates among young adults aged 18 to 24 years old after the introduction of e-cigarettes. Contrary to the disinformation from media and public health groups, youth use of vapor products has not led to increases in smoking rates, and in fact, have help to accelerate steep declines in young adult smoking rates.

TPA is alarmed by how states continue to waste billions of dollars related to tobacco taxes and spend very little in state funding on tobacco cessation efforts. Each analyses provides information on 20 years of tobacco-related monies received by the state and compares it to state funding of tobacco prevention efforts.

TPA hopes to provide insight on the adults who smoke in their state with our 4th Tobacco and Vaping 50 State Analysis, as well as factual information to policymakers regarding alternatives to combustible cigarettes.