State of Tobacco Control: 2005 - Tobacco Prevention and Control Speding Map and Overview

American Lung Association--Improving Life, One Breath at a Time

www.lungusa.org

United States Facts

Economic Costs Due to Smoking:	$168,006,085,000

Adult Smoking Rates:	20.9%

High School Smoking Rates:	22.3%

Middle School Smoking Rates:	8.1%

Smoking Attributable Death Rates:	284.8

Smoking Attributable Lung Cancer Death Rates:	88.2

Smoking Attributable Respiratory Disease Death Rates:	72.7

Adult smoking rates are taken from the 2004 National Health Interview Survey. High school and middle school smoking rates are taken from the 2004 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Health impact information is taken from the Smoking Attributable Mortality, Morbidity and Economic Costs (SAMMEC) software. Smoking attributable death rates reflect average annual estimates for the period 1997-2001, are calculated for persons aged 35 years and older and are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. population. They do not take into account deaths from burns or secondhand smoke. Respiratory diseases include pneumonia, influenza, bronchitis, emphysema and chronic airway obstruction. The estimated economic impact of smoking is based on smoking-attributable health care expenditures in 1998 and the average annual productivity losses for the period 1997-2001.

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BEHIND THE SCENES:
The landmark Department of Justice lawsuit against the large tobacco companies took center stage in federal tobacco policy in 2005. The government, using the civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law, presented a strong case showing evidence that tobacco companies have been engaged in a 50-year campaign to deceive and defraud the American public about the dangers of smoking. The case, which was filed six years ago and argued for eight months, came to a surprising end when in closing arguments, the federal government asked for only $10 billion for cessation efforts, instead of the $230 billion their expert witnesses had proposed during the trial

The American Lung Association joined with other national public health organizations to intervene in the remedy portion of the case. The groups argued for imposing stronger remedies on the tobacco companies such as requiring them to pay for smoking cessation programs, conduct public education and counter-marketing campaigns, and reduce youth smoking rates substantially.

Congress did not provide significant leadership on tobacco control issues in 2005. Broad bipartisan legislation to give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority over tobacco products and advertising was re-introduced early in 2005, building on support garnered in the 108th Congress. As Congress adjourned for 2005, there were 84 House co-sponsors and 21 Senate co-sponsors, but no plans to bring FDA legislation to a vote. Leadership in the House of Representatives remains strongly opposed to the bill; however, the strong bipartisan support may force a
vote in coming years.

In 2005, Congress continued to underfund the National Action Plan on Tobacco Cessation proposed by the Department of Health and Human
Services appointed Subcommittee on Cessation of the Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health. However, progress was made in 2005 with the announcement that Medicare will now cover smoking cessation counseling for most of its beneficiaries.

The President has failed to submit the international tobacco control treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to the Senate for ratification even as 114 nations have ratified the treaty as of November 2005, which has the force of international law. Since the United States did not ratify the treaty, it was not able to participate in international negotiations to implement and enforce the treaty and will not benefit from the public health improvements that occur from limiting tobacco sales and advertising.

The information contained in this American Lung Association^® website is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment, and the Lung Association recommends consultation with your doctor or health care professional.