Overview
2006 YEAR IN REVIEW
The methodologies and standards used in this report to evaluate federal and state tobacco control policies are fully explained starting on page 47. Following are the key issues this report evaluates on both the national and state levels.
National Tobacco Control Policy
Smoking has caused more than 12 million deaths in the United States since the first Surgeon General’s Report on smoking was released in 1964.15 Despite this staggering number, Congress has failed to garner the political will necessary to curb the burgeoning tobacco epidemic. This report grades national tobacco control efforts on four fronts: Food and Drug Administration Regulation of Tobacco Products, Federal Cessation Policy, Cigarette Excise Tax and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Food and Drug Administration Regulation of Tobacco Products
The American Lung Association supports strong legislation that grants the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco
products. Strong and effective FDA regulatory authority would include the following elements:
- Regulation of advertising and marketing of tobacco products,
- Health information disclosure,
- A requirement for tobacco products to meet a "public health" standard,
- Effective health warnings,
- Authority to reduce or eliminate harmful components, and
- Authority to review reduced-risk health claims.
Additional information on the FDA issue can be found in the "Critical Elements of Any Legislation to Grant FDA Authority to Regulate Tobacco Products" factsheet by clicking here. The United States receives an F for FDA authority to regulate tobacco products. After failing to pass FDA legislation in 2004, a strong FDA bill was reintroduced in 2005. Although the bill had strong bipartisan support, with 28 Senators and 122 Representatives as co-sponsors as of December 2006, congressional leaders would not allow the legislation to be considered for a vote.
Federal Cessation Policy
The American Lung Association supports the recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services-appointed Subcommittee on Cessation of the Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health (ICSH) in the National Action Plan for Tobacco Cessation which can found here.
The plan proposed a well-funded national quitline network, national media campaign, federal coverage of cessation benefits and a smokers’ fund to assist people trying to quit. Currently, 45.1 million people in the United States smoke.16 Seventy percent say they want to quit.17
Some progress has been made in this area with Medicare covering smoking cessation counseling for some of its beneficiaries since early 2005, and prescription smoking cessation medications since January 1, 2006 when the Medicare prescription drug benefit went into effect. Legislation was introduced in the Senate in 2006 to encourage states to provide pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid with access to comprehensive tobacco cessation products by increasing the federal match to states. However, the United States still receives an F for federal cessation policy because it has failed to implement almost all of the recommendations of the ICSH.
Federal Cigarette Excise Tax
The American Lung Association supports the recommendations in the National Action Plan for Tobacco Cessation to raise the federal cigarette excise tax by $2.00 per pack and earmark the dollars raised for a smokers' health fund to help smokers quit. The current federal excise tax is an inadequate $0.39 per pack and has not been increased since 2002. During that same timeframe, 42 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have increased their cigarette taxes at least once!
The United States receives an F for cigarette tax.
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
The American Lung Association supports the rapid ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC is the world’s first public health treaty and establishes international guidelines for countries to implement to control tobacco use and addiction. A full review of the FCTC and its treaty obligations can be found here.
The United States receives a D for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. In May 2004, the United States signed the treaty but the president has yet to send it to the Senate for ratification. The treaty will not be in force in the United States until the Senate ratifies it.
Overview continued... |
