LEXINGTON, Ky. — Public health leaders, researchers and educators from across Kentucky gathered in Lexington on April 16 for the 2026 Kentucky Tobacco Control Conference, hosted by the University of Kentucky College of Nursing's Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy and the Kentucky Department for Public Health's Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program.

The annual conference, themed "Reclaiming the Future," focused on advancing strategies to prevent tobacco use and improve access to treatment services in a state where tobacco remains a significant public health challenge. According to conference materials, tobacco use costs Kentucky $2.23 billion annually in health care expenditures while killing nearly 9,000 residents each year.

Brian King, Ph.D., executive vice president for U.S. programs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and former director of the Center for Tobacco Products at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, delivered the keynote address. King discussed the evolving tobacco product landscape and the need for coordinated policy, research and prevention strategies.

The conference highlighted Kentucky's ongoing tobacco challenges. About 5% of high school students smoke while nearly 20% use e-cigarettes, according to recent data. Amanda Bucher, KCSP program director, emphasized the critical importance of comprehensive tobacco control efforts to improve community health.

The event featured the Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy Awards Ceremony, recognizing individuals and organizations demonstrating leadership in tobacco control. Recipients included the city of Ludlow for exceptional smoke-free workplace leadership, Boyd County High School sophomore Delanie Crump as the Smoke-Free Youth Advocate of the Year, and Dr. Graham Warren of UK Markey Cancer Center for advancing tobacco control policy.

The conference brought together a broad coalition of partners, with sponsors including Kentucky Health Collaborative, WellCare, the Kentucky Lung Cancer Screening Program, and various health insurance providers. The gathering underscored Kentucky's ongoing commitment to reducing tobacco use and protecting current and future generations from its deadly effects.