Washington, D.C. – September 6, 2010 – A report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and featured in the CDC publication Vital Signs illustrates the continued need for strong tobacco control policies to further reduce the adult smoking rate in the U.S. The study finds that the U.S. adult smoking rate decreased by 1.6 percent from 2005 to 2010 and that among smokers there was a decrease in the percentage smoking more than 30 cigarettes per day and an increase in the percentage smoking less than ten cigarettes per day.
The following is a statement from John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action network (ACS CAN) on the report:
“These findings add urgency to the continued need for strong tobacco control laws nationwide, including tobacco tax increases, strong smoke-free laws, fully funded tobacco prevention and cessation programs, and policies that are proven to reduce adult smoking rates and discourage kids from ever starting to use tobacco. Since 2002, the American Cancer Society and ACS CAN have helped 35 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico enact smoke-free laws, and in that time, ACS CAN has led the way in convincing state legislatures to pass more than 100 cigarette tax increases in 47 states, the District of Columbia and several U.S. territories. The findings today show that while these actions are making a dent in the adult smoking rate, there is still much work to be done.
“The study is also proof of the need for strong implementation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, the law granting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco products. Larger, graphic warning labels, as mandated by the law, will be printed on cigarette packaging beginning in September 2012. These enhanced warning labels will also include the “1-800-Quit-Now” toll-free tobacco cessation program phone number, an instant resource to adults who want to quit smoking. Despite Big Tobacco’s efforts to thwart implementation of the law through frivolous lawsuits that only serve as stalling tactics, this landmark public health law will begin to break the deadly cycle of addiction, put an end to Big Tobacco’s targeting of our nation’s children and encourage more smokers to quit their deadly habit.”
The articles use data collected from 2005-2010 and reported on annually through state-based and national surveys, including the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the National Health Interview Survey.
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Christina Saull or Steve Weiss
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: (202) 585-3250 or (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]