The 2026 Eliminate Tobacco Use (ETU) Summits brought together higher education leaders, public health professionals and student advocates from across the country to share strategies, highlight progress and strengthen tobacco-free efforts. Hosted by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in partnership with The University of Texas System, the summit featured perspectives from ETU leadership in New Jersey, Texas and Virginia.
ETU National Summit – April 9, 2026
The 11th annual ETU National Summit brought together 41 states for a full day of thought-provoking speakers, practical strategies and meaningful conversations.
Brian King, Ph.D., M.P.H., Executive Vice President, US Programs, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, kicked off the summit by discussing both the progress made in reducing tobacco use nationwide and the ongoing challenges facing prevention efforts, emphasizing the continued need for coordinated efforts at the national, state and local levels to shape policy, planning and practice.
Kristy Marynak, Ph.D., M.P.P., Senior Director, Tobacco Control Initiatives, CDC Foundation, shared key insights on emerging nicotine trends, including the rise of nicotine pouches and the impact of misinformation in nicotine product marketing, while reinforcing that evidence-based approaches like comprehensive tobacco control and counter-marketing remain effective.
Kim Pulvers, Ph.D., M.P.H., Principal Investigator and Director, Cannabis and Tobacco Research Lab of San Diego, Professor of Psychology, California State University San Marcos shared how they developed a tailored, evidence-based reporting tool and communication campaign to support its tobacco-free policy. Sustained success comes through continued promotion and education, strong cross-campus partnerships and choosing the right tools to effectively engage campus community.
The day closed with a panel of students from UT Tyler and Stockton University who shared how they’re driving tobacco prevention and policy change on their campuses and offering a reminder of the impact of student-led efforts.
ETU New Jersey Summit - April 10, 2026
The ETU New Jersey Summit brought together 130 participants for a day focused on advancing tobacco-free campus strategy through both policy and prevention efforts. The day opened with reflections on the state’s progress, including remarks celebrating 20 years of the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act, followed by discussions on emerging tobacco products, shifting trends among young adults, and the environmental impact of tobacco waste.
Sessions also explored strategies for effective policy change and emphasized the importance of applying a social justice and health equity lens to tobacco control. The summit closed with action-oriented discussions, equipping attendees with practical tools and resources to support continued progress in their communities.
ETU Texas Summit - April 10, 2026
The ETU Texas Summit brought together 153 participants from across the state to share progress, explore challenges, and strengthen efforts to advance tobacco-free campuses and communities. Sessions provided a snapshot of tobacco use trends in Texas, highlighting declines in tobacco product use while raising concern about the unchanging rate of e-cigarette use and the growing popularity of oral nicotine pouches.
Presentations and panels focused on practical, campus-tested strategies for prevention and policy implementation. A clear theme throughout the day was the importance of meeting students where they are through peer-to-peer engagement, student-led content, and integrating tobacco prevention into broader wellness efforts. Speakers also emphasized the value of partnerships across campus and the use of accessible, low-pressure approaches, such as passive education strategies like quit kits and gamified learning, to reduce stigma and support early-stage behavior change.
The summit concluded with one of our favorite ETU Texas Summit traditions, action plan report-outs, where participants identified priorities and next steps for the year ahead, helping turn ideas into action.
ETU Virginia Summit – April 20, 2026
The ETU Virginia Summit brought together 73 participants for a focused morning of learning and collaboration. The summit started with a presentation highlighting the power of coordination across coalitions to advance tobacco-free efforts in a complex policy landscape.
Sessions explored key topics shaping tobacco control in Virginia, including recognizing higher education leaders advancing policy change and examining co-use trends among young adults, particularly the intersection of cannabis and tobacco. The summit also highlighted the importance of building strong pipelines for peer-led advocacy, showcasing how youth engagement continues to drive progress. The morning closed with reflections on the collective work ahead and the continued momentum toward a tobacco-free Virginia.
Together, the national and state summits reached 486 attendees from 319 organizations and campuses across 41 states. Thank you to everyone who attended! The ETU leadership team is excited about this year’s success and looks forward to next year’s National Summit, scheduled for April 15, 2027.
