WASHINGTON, DC -- December 9, 2010 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of the Surgeon General this morning released their 30th report in a series of reports on tobacco use, titled How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease. The report focuses on the impact of cigarettes on a smoker's body and organs, both when they first begin to smoke and throughout their lifetime. The report reiterates that there is no safe cigarette and no safe amount of secondhand smoke.
Following is a statement about the report by John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
"Today's report makes it clear, once again, that there is no such thing as a safe cigarette and no such thing as a safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke for nonsmokers. With 4,100 children picking up their first cigarette every day and 20 percent of adults smoking regularly, this report only adds urgency to the need to discourage children and adults from smoking, protect nonsmokers from deadly secondhand smoke and improve access to proven tobacco prevention and cessation programs that help people quit. State and local smoke-free laws, higher tobacco excise taxes and fully funded and implemented tobacco prevention and cessation programs will achieve these goals.
"ACS CAN and the American Cancer Society’s Divisions across the country have been waging hard-fought campaigns to raise state and federal tobacco excise taxes, implement comprehensive smoke-free laws in states, counties and municipalities and retain funding for strong state tobacco control programs. Since 2002, 47 states, the District of Columbia and several U.S. territories have raised their tobacco taxes, including five in 2010. In addition, 35 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have enacted smoke-free laws that require 100 percent smoke-free workplaces and/or restaurants and/or bars, including four states in 2010. The best way to reduce the risk of tobacco-related disease is to never start using tobacco and to completely quit as early in life as possible. Despite tough budget times, it is important that states fund evidence based tobacco control programs, based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Best Practice recommendations.
"Strong implementation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which grants the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate the manufacture, sale and marketing of tobacco products, is also vital to reducing death and disease from tobacco products. Some parts of the law have already been implemented, including a ban on candy- and fruit-flavored cigarettes and restrictions on marketing to kids. The next major provision to be implemented mandates larger and more graphic labels that will cover 50 percent of the front and back of each cigarette pack. These new warning labels will help educate children and adults about the dangers of smoking immediately when they pick up a pack of cigarettes.
"Through this multi-pronged approach of strong smoke-free laws, increased tobacco excise taxes and fully funded, evidence based tobacco prevention and cessation programs, we can improve the health of our nation’s communities, help more current smokers quit and prevent more potential smokers from even starting."
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Christina Saull or Steven Weiss
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: (202) 585-3250 or (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]