Introduction to the Issue
Smoking rates in the United States are at historic lows and fewer people are dying from tobacco-related lung cancer — in part because the federal government has pumped millions of dollars into research and attention-grabbing anti-smoking campaigns, as well as resources to help smokers quit.
Recent Developments
Public health experts were stunned this week when the Department of Health and Human Services dismantled several key groups that had been hugely successful in helping to curb smoking rates in the U.S. for decades. The groups also tracked youth smoking and vaping rates as well as the appeal of nicotine pouches for teens.
Impact on Key Organizations
The Office on Smoking and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — which had been crucial in investigating a deadly wave of lung injuries linked to contaminated vaping devices in 2019 — was gutted.
Dozens of staffers at the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products — which oversees warning labels and restrictions on marketing — were placed on leave, including the center’s director, Brian King.
Response from Health Experts
HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said in an email that “important work will continue” related to tobacco research and cessation efforts despite cuts meant to “streamline operations, enhance responsiveness to the American people, and ultimately improve the nation’s health as part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative.” Dr. Tom Frieden, who was CDC director under President Barack Obama, called the cuts a “gift to Big Tobacco.”
Potential Consequences
“The only winner here is the tobacco industry and cancer cells,” said Frieden, president and chief executive of Resolve to Save Lives, a global health initiative. The FDA’s King had long pushed for e-cigarette makers to remove flavorings that appealed to children. In January, he proposed slashing nicotine in cigarettes to levels that would make them almost totally nonaddictive.
Effects on Smoking Rates and Research
It’s too soon to know how the changes might affect smoking rates in America. Cigarette smoking remains the No. 1 cause of preventable death from multiple chronic diseases, such as heart disease and lung cancer. It kills more than 480,000 Americans each year, according to CDC data collected by the group that has now been axed. Nonprofit anti-smoking groups like Truth Initiative and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Children are still assessing the damage.
Impact on Anti-Smoking Campaigns
At a minimum, the cuts will temporarily stop tobacco research. At worst, experts fear, smokers will no longer have access to resources to help them quit. “If we take our foot off the gas, what do we think will happen?” said a CDC employee fired this week from the agency’s Office on Smoking and Health. “Tobacco use rates will increase among youth and fewer adults will quit. Because of that, people will die.”
Successful Public Health Campaigns at Risk
At risk is one of the most successful public health campaigns in CDC history: Tips From Former Smokers. The ads, which began in 2012, feature graphic and often cringe-worthy stories of real people whose health suffered greatly because of cigarette smoking. They end with encouraging smokers to call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. A study published in January found that every time the ads run on television, calls to quit lines spike. Researchers estimated the ads have generated more than 2 million additional calls to quit lines.
Funding and Future of Quit Lines
Callers to the national quit line are funneled to resources in their own state. The CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health provides millions of dollars to state health departments each year — more than $84 million last year alone — to staff their own quit lines and other tobacco control measures like medications to help smokers quit. It’s unclear what will happen to that money. Thirteen states stand to lose at least 30% in funding, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Conclusion
The dismantling of key groups focused on reducing smoking rates and the potential halt of successful anti-smoking campaigns and research could have deadly consequences. The impact on public health, especially among youth and those trying to quit smoking, could be significant. As Dr. Tom Frieden stated, “This is a terrible mistake that will cost American lives and get American kids hooked on tobacco.”
FAQs
- Q: What has happened to the groups focused on reducing smoking rates in the U.S.?
A: The Department of Health and Human Services has dismantled several key groups that were successful in helping to curb smoking rates. - Q: What is the potential impact of these changes on smoking rates and public health?
A: The changes could lead to an increase in smoking rates among youth and a decrease in the number of adults who quit smoking, resulting in more deaths from tobacco-related illnesses. - Q: What will happen to the funding for state health departments to support quit lines and tobacco control measures?
A: It is unclear what will happen to the funding, but 13 states stand to lose at least 30% in funding, and some states rely heavily on CDC funding for their quit lines. - Q: What is the impact on research and anti-smoking campaigns like Tips From Former Smokers?
A: The cuts will temporarily stop tobacco research, and successful campaigns like Tips From Former Smokers may no longer be supported, potentially leading to fewer smokers quitting.
