August is in full swing, and with it comes the start of a new school year in Kentucky. As in previous years, new trends and persistent concerns among Kentucky kids are making headlines. One issue that continues to raise alarms in schools across the Commonwealth is nicotine dependence among students. 

While the conversation around youth nicotine use is not new, the landscape has shifted significantly over the last year. Some recent changes include:

 

  • Kentucky decision-makers are paying attention and took steps in 2025 to curb youth nicotine use by passing Senate Bill 100 requiring retailers to be licensed to sell tobacco and nicotine products. Despite this important step, the law has not yet taken effect due to an ongoing lawsuit regarding its implementation. 
  • The Office on Smoking and Health within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently closed after mass layoffs from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) occurred earlier this year. Along with the change, states saw reductions in funding that is used for tobacco and nicotine prevention and cessation programming. In Kentucky, this has amounted to a funding cut of over $1.6 million.
  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted approval for the marketing of new nicotine products including certain e-cigarettes sold by JUUL. This approval makes JUUL only the fourth manufacturer to receive marketing authorization, a list which includes just 39 products. 
  • New products continue to come into the market, leading to challenges with regulating sales and supporting youth in cessation efforts. Among the products growing more popular with young people are nicotine pouches, including the popular brand Zyn. 

Kentucky lawmakers are busy in Frankfort during the interim legislative session preparing to craft a new two-year state budget in 2026. This process presents an important opportunity to invest in youth nicotine prevention and cessation to help address funding cuts and continued trends in youth dependence. The good news is that Kentucky has a standalone funding source that can be directed toward youth nicotine use – dollars from a 2022 settlement with industry giant JUUL Labs. While time-limited, this settlement could make a big impact on youth tobacco and nicotine use in Kentucky. 

As Kentucky kids navigate a new school year and an evolving landscape of nicotine products, now is the time to prioritize investments that protect kids and support those who want to quit.