CDC report indicates more government funding needed to decrease smoking rates
Approximately 443,000 Americans die every year because of smoking related diseases. Some of these diseases include cataract, coronary heart disease, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, and stroke. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. In 2004, smoking cost the U.S. over $193 billion dollars, according to the American Lung Association. These costs include $97 billion dollars in lost worker productivity and $96 billion dollars in direct health care expenditures. About 8.6 million Americans have at least one serious illness caused by smoking. The deadly effects of smoking and tobacco products have been known since the 1950s.
On September 7, 2010, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a research study indicating that smoking rates in America had remained about the same since 2005. Approximately 1 in 5 American adults is a smoker. Thomas Frieden – who is the CDC Director, commented in regards to the study. Frieden said that more government resources should be allocated to smoking cessation programs. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) obtained broader authority to regulate tobacco products. Of all the 50 states, only North Dakota is funding its tobacco control program at the level recommended by the CDC. On average, states receive about $25 billion dollars in excise taxes on cigarettes, but states only spend about $700 million dollars on anti-smoking programs, according to Frieden.
On June 22, 2009 in the Rose Garden at the White House, President Barack Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. There are several goals of the legislation. One of the mandates includes forcing tobacco companies to improve publicity regarding the harmful effects of their products – especially to youth consumers. “This legislation will not ban all tobacco products, and it will allow adults to make their own choices. But it will also ban tobacco advertising within a thousand feet of schools and playgrounds. It will curb the ability of tobacco companies to market products to our children by using appealing flavors,” President Obama said when signing the legislation. Each day in the U.S. more than 3,600 youths under the age of 18 start smoking. About ½ of these young people will become regular smokers as adults.
According to the American Lung Association, cigarette smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals. Of these chemicals, 69 are known to cause cancer. Research indicates that cigarette smoking is directly responsible for about 90% of lung cancer deaths. Current and former smokers over the age of 40 are most at risk for developing lung cancer, which is the leading cancer killer of men and women. In 2008, lung cancer was the cause of 161,000 deaths in the United States.
Prior to signing the law, President Obama recalled when U.S. Congressman Henry Waxman (D-California) questioned CEO’s of tobacco companies before Congress in 1994. Obama explained that when questioned by Waxman the tobacco CEO’s denied that tobacco products were lethal and that nicotine was not an addictive substance.
President Obama also said that if current world-wide rates of tobacco usage remain the same, 1 billion people would die from tobacco-related illnesses during the 21st century.
It is clear that cigarette smoking causes serious health problems. Chemicals that are in cigarette smoke include arsenic, carbon monoxide, hexamine, tar, and toluene. The recent study released by the CDC indicates that state governments should do more to promote anti-smoking programs. If smoking trends continue at the same rate, millions of Americans will die premature deaths and medical expenses because of tobacco related illnesses will rise. The research is compelling; however, are the tools in place to help addicted Americans break free from the unhealthy and expensive habit of cigarette smoking?
More information about smoking from the American Lung Association & the CDC:
On September 7, 2010, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a research study indicating that smoking rates in America had remained about the same since 2005. Approximately 1 in 5 American adults is a smoker. Thomas Frieden – who is the CDC Director, commented in regards to the study. Frieden said that more government resources should be allocated to smoking cessation programs. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) obtained broader authority to regulate tobacco products. Of all the 50 states, only North Dakota is funding its tobacco control program at the level recommended by the CDC. On average, states receive about $25 billion dollars in excise taxes on cigarettes, but states only spend about $700 million dollars on anti-smoking programs, according to Frieden.
On June 22, 2009 in the Rose Garden at the White House, President Barack Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. There are several goals of the legislation. One of the mandates includes forcing tobacco companies to improve publicity regarding the harmful effects of their products – especially to youth consumers. “This legislation will not ban all tobacco products, and it will allow adults to make their own choices. But it will also ban tobacco advertising within a thousand feet of schools and playgrounds. It will curb the ability of tobacco companies to market products to our children by using appealing flavors,” President Obama said when signing the legislation. Each day in the U.S. more than 3,600 youths under the age of 18 start smoking. About ½ of these young people will become regular smokers as adults.
According to the American Lung Association, cigarette smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals. Of these chemicals, 69 are known to cause cancer. Research indicates that cigarette smoking is directly responsible for about 90% of lung cancer deaths. Current and former smokers over the age of 40 are most at risk for developing lung cancer, which is the leading cancer killer of men and women. In 2008, lung cancer was the cause of 161,000 deaths in the United States.
Prior to signing the law, President Obama recalled when U.S. Congressman Henry Waxman (D-California) questioned CEO’s of tobacco companies before Congress in 1994. Obama explained that when questioned by Waxman the tobacco CEO’s denied that tobacco products were lethal and that nicotine was not an addictive substance.
President Obama also said that if current world-wide rates of tobacco usage remain the same, 1 billion people would die from tobacco-related illnesses during the 21st century.
It is clear that cigarette smoking causes serious health problems. Chemicals that are in cigarette smoke include arsenic, carbon monoxide, hexamine, tar, and toluene. The recent study released by the CDC indicates that state governments should do more to promote anti-smoking programs. If smoking trends continue at the same rate, millions of Americans will die premature deaths and medical expenses because of tobacco related illnesses will rise. The research is compelling; however, are the tools in place to help addicted Americans break free from the unhealthy and expensive habit of cigarette smoking?
More information about smoking from the American Lung Association & the CDC:
- In 2008, prevalence of smoking was highest among Native Americans (32.4%), non-Hispanic whites (22%), non-Hispanic blacks (21.3%), Hispanics (15.8%), and lowest among Asians (9.9%).
- In 2006, cigarette advertising by the five major tobacco companies was $12.5 billion dollars.
- Nicotine is an addictive drug – when inhaled in, cigarette smoke reaches the brain faster than drugs that enter the body intravenously.
- There are 7 medications approved by the FDA to help smokers quit smoking.
- Men (24%) are more likely to smoke than women (18%).
- 31% of people who live below the federal poverty level are smokers; 20% of those who are above the poverty level smoke.
- More people smoke in the Midwestern and Southeastern states. Less people smoke in the Northeastern and Western states.
Comments
Post a Comment