Interactive Tool Will Provide Latest Data on State Smoking Laws and Tobacco Control Spending

For the first time, a new interactive map from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will give policy-makers and advocates a nationwide picture of continuing state efforts on key tobacco control policies.

“Users will be able to see whether a state is ahead or behind the curve in protecting and promoting health,” says Michelle Larkin, J.D., M.S., R.N., leader of RWJF’s Public Health Team.

The RWJF Tobacco Map uses data from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the Americans for Non-Smokers’ Rights and will be updated as new information becomes available. The tool is easily shareable by hyperlink or embeddable code.

The “map” is actually three distinct maps, each focusing on a different aspect of tobacco policy:

• state-by-state breakdowns on smoke-free laws,
• cigarette tax rates, and
• total tobacco control spending.

The breakdowns include population, timeline and other information to help present a complete picture of each state’s efforts. 

“We know from the research that the two most effective policies to pursue are raising tobacco taxes and putting smoke-free air laws into place,” says Larkin, adding that “these two policies help to prevent youth from ever starting to smoke and they also help smokers quit.”