Lisa Lacasse

Lisa Lacasse

President
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

The release of The US Tobacco Atlas comes at a pivotal moment in our nation’s public health journey. For decades, we have made remarkable progress in reducing tobacco use—the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Yet today, that progress is under threat.

This Atlas is more than a compendium of data; it is a clarion call to action. It lays bare the persistent and emerging challenges we face: the rise of e-cigarette use among youth, the disproportionate burden of tobacco-related disease in marginalized communities, and the devastating consequences of underfunded tobacco control programs. It also highlights the alarming implications of dismantling critical public health infrastructure, such as the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health.

At the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, we believe that every life matters and that no community should be left behind in the fight against tobacco. The Atlas underscores the urgent need for equity-focused, evidence-based policies—from comprehensive smoke-free laws and menthol bans to robust cessation support and youth prevention strategies. It reminds us that national averages can obscure local disparities, and that tailored, community-driven solutions are essential to achieving health equity.

This resource empowers advocates, policymakers, and public health leaders with the tools to act decisively. It is a roadmap for protecting future generations, saving lives, and ensuring that the hard-won gains of the past are not lost to complacency or political inaction.

Let this Atlas inspire us to recommit to a bold vision: a future where tobacco no longer claims lives, deepens inequities, or burdens our economy. Together, we can finish what we started—and end the tobacco epidemic once and for all.