How state laws shape local tobacco and vaping rules
Assessing the Impact of State Preemption Laws
Researchers will compare state preemption laws to see how they change adult smoking, vaping, and lung health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141689 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how state "preemption" laws—rules that stop cities and counties from making their own tobacco or e-cigarette policies—affect people like you. The team will analyze large U.S. health surveys such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and state policy databases to compare places with and without these preemption laws over time. They will link policy differences to adult smoking and e-cigarette use and to health outcomes like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The goal is to show whether preemption helps or harms community efforts to reduce tobacco-related illness.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are U.S. adults, especially current smokers or people with COPD, living in states or localities with different tobacco preemption laws.
Not a fit: People under 21, those living outside the U.S., or individuals whose tobacco use is unaffected by local policy changes may not see direct benefits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could guide states and local governments to adopt policies that reduce smoking and vaping and lower rates of lung disease.
How similar studies have performed: Past studies show local tobacco policies can lower smoking rates, but few have rigorously examined the specific effects of state preemption laws, so this work addresses a key gap.
Where this research is happening
University Park, United States
- Pennsylvania State University, the — University Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Azagba, Sunday — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Azagba, Sunday
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.