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.
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.
The Impact on Public Health
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.” “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.
Potential Consequences
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. 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.
Effects on Research and Prevention Programs
Nonprofit anti-smoking groups like Truth Initiative and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Children are still assessing the damage. 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.
Uncertainty Over Funding
It’s unclear what will happen to the money 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. Thirteen states stand to lose at least 30% in funding, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. And 75% of the funding for quit lines in five states — Connecticut, New Jersey, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia — came from the CDC.
Conclusion
The dismantling of key groups dedicated to reducing smoking rates and the potential halt of successful public health campaigns like Tips From Former Smokers could have deadly consequences. With the lack of access to resources for smokers to quit and the potential increase in tobacco use among youth, the future of public health in the United States looks uncertain. The impact of these changes will be closely monitored, but the fear is that they will lead to an increase in smoking-related deaths and a reversal of the progress made in reducing tobacco use.
FAQs
- Q: What is the current state of smoking rates in the United States?
A: Smoking rates are at historic lows, but recent changes in government policies may impact this progress. - Q: What groups were dismantled by the Department of Health and Human Services?
A: The Office on Smoking and Health at the CDC and parts of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products were affected. - Q: What is the potential impact of these changes on public health?
A: The changes could lead to an increase in smoking-related deaths, higher tobacco use among youth, and reduced access to resources for smokers trying to quit. - Q: What is the Tips From Former Smokers campaign?
A: It is a successful public health campaign that features real stories of people affected by smoking, encouraging others to quit. - Q: How might these changes affect funding for state health departments?
A: Thirteen states stand to lose at least 30% in funding, with some states potentially losing up to 75% of their funding for quit lines.
