Welcome to the ACS CAN Bayou State page! Louisiana is known for more than just its amazing food and laissez-faire attitude. Louisiana is made up of hard working individuals who also want to put an end to the suffering and death caused by cancer. ACS CAN Louisiana is full of passionate and dedicated advocates that work together on the state and local levels to hold lawmakers accountable to make cancer a top priority. ACS CAN Louisiana advocates care about access to healthcare and smoke-free work environments for all employees. Join us today and make your voice heard!
Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death. In Louisiana, 32.7% of cancer deaths are attributable to smoking, and smoking accounts for $2.19 billion annually in direct health care costs.
Constituents had the chance to meet and converse with their respective lawmakers on why comprehensive tobacco prevention works. “Our goal is to investing a portion of tobacco tax revenue in programs to prevent kids from starting to use tobacco and help those already addicted to quit,” said Alice Kline, government relations director for ACS CAN. “Tobacco remains the number one cause of preventable death and is responsible for 32.7% of cancer deaths in Louisiana.”
As lawmakers head into the 2025 legislative session, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges legislators to support legislation that will ease the burden of cancer on Louisianians and enact prevention policies to protect kids from tobacco products and help support those who are trying to quit.
Elected officials across the state must do more to support residents of Louisiana who want to quit using tobacco products, say cancer patients, survivors, and advocates who are marking the American Cancer Society’s 48 th annual Great American Smokeout®. The Great American Smokeout is a day for people who use tobacco to create a plan to quit.
The Shreveport Council today passed an amendment to undermine the effective and popular smoke-free ordinance to once again allow smoking in casinos, being the first municipality in Louisiana, and in the U.S., to withdraw smoke-free workplace protections from their hardworking constituents. With this move, Louisiana is once again first in the worst of ways and rankings.
Do you have a personal story about how cancer has impacted you or someone you love? Real stories are how ACS CAN ensures that no one becomes a statistic.