In the American Lung Association's annual State of Tobacco Control report released Wednesday, Maine scored an A grade for raising the age to buy tobacco products to 21, but overall, the state’s smoking rates are still higher than the national average.
Lance Boucher of the eastern division of the Lung Association says there's been an alarming increase in use among high school age teens.
"22.5 percent of Maine high school youths are using some form of tobacco products,” says Boucher. “A lot of that is attributable to these new products, Juuls and other electronic cigarettes."
Boucher says Maine needs to invest more in prevention and cessation programs. "Those are some of the most effective strategies that help with tobacco control, and we really have some work to do in those areas," he says.
A bill before the legislature would raise taxes on tobacco products to fund such programs and curb use. Another would prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products, which critics say is driving a sharp increase in teen use of e-cigarettes.