Policy Statements
Washington Breathes provides these statements and fact sheets as educational tools to explain current challenges and recommend effective policy solutions.
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. Others are developed by our expert workgroups and reviewed by our Steering Committee.
Restoring Comprehensive Funding
Reinvesting in a Comprehensive Commercial Tobacco Prevention & Treatment Program is Critical
2023 statement explaining why Washington needs an adequately financed, comprehensive prevention and cessation program to protect our communities and reduce known disparities in populations that are most targeted by the commercial tobacco industry and most impacted. The statement includes a list of organizations supporting reinvestment in a comprehensive approach that was effective in the past.
This statement was developed through a collaborative process of our coalition members and partners.
2 page PDF.
Chinese: 針對綜合商業煙草預防與治療計劃進行重新投資 對 WASHINGTON 人民的健康至關重要
Washington Invests Too Little in Preventing & Treating Nicotine Dependence
2023 fact sheet providing more information about current state investments in nicotine prevention and cessation programs. These actual amounts are compared to recommended state spending levels. Components of an effective comprehensive statewide program are also summarized.
1 page PDF.
English Washington Invests Too Little In Preventing & Treating Nicotine Dependence
Spanish: Washington invierte muy poco en prevenir y tratar la dependencia de la nicotina
Chinese: Washington 在預防與治療 尼古丁依賴方面投資太少
Vietnamese: Tiểu Bang Washington (WA) Đầu Tư Quá Ít Vào Việc Phòng Ngừa Và Điều Trị Tình Trạng Phụ Thuộc Vào Nicotin
Somali: Washington Waxay Ku Maalgelisaa Wax Aad U Yar Ka Hortaga & Daaweynta Kutiirsanaanta Nikotiinka
Russian: Washington слишком мало инвестирует в профилактику и лечение зависимости от никотина
Eliminating Flavored Products
Menthol & Flavored Tobacco Products
June 2024 position statement developed by the Policy Workgroup and approved by the coalition's Steering Committee explaining the need to end the sale of all flavored commercial tobacco products, including menthol products. Flavors make it easier to start using nicotine products, harder to quit, and are a major driver of health disparities in communities that are the most targeted by the tobacco industry and the most impacted by tobacco-related diseases. This statement also outlines key components of a comprehensive and equitable policy to prohibit flavored tobacco, including the priority of focusing enforcement actions on the tobacco industry and any businesses selling prohibiting products. No penalties should be imposed on individuals who buy or use prohibited flavored tobacco products.
2 page PDF.
English: Menthol & Flavored Tobacco Products position statement
Menthol & Nicotine Cessation
February 2024 fact sheet developed by the Cessation Treatment Workgroup and approved by the coalition's Steering Committee.
Mentholated commercial tobacco products make it easier to start and harder to quit. This fact sheet explains why. It also focuses on how the tobacco industry manipulates with menthol and targets people of color, resulting in higher menthol use rates among Black people who smoke as well as people who are American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian, Latine, LGBTQ, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, women, those with lower incomes, and those with mental health conditions.
2 page PDF.
English: Menthol & Nicotine Cessation fact sheet
Improving Cessation Treatment
Equitable Cessation Services Statement
September 2023 position statement developed by the coalition's Improving Cessation Treatment Workgroup and approved by the coalition's Steering Committee.
2 page PDF.
English: Equitable Cessation Services Position Statement
Spanish: Servicios equitativos para dejar de fumar
Chinese: 公平戒煙服務
Vietnamese: Dịch Vụ Cai Thuốc Lá Đảm Bảo Tính Công Bằng