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Other Policy
Research
Nearly half of Americans would support reducing nicotine in cigarettes if and when the FDA exerts its authority to act on it
Almost half of the American public would support a federal mandate to reduce the nicotine content in cigarettes, according to a nationally representative survey conducted in 2010. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was appointed the authority to regulate tobacco products under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009, and the agency has the power to limit the amount of nicotine in cigarettes. The survey results show that 46.7% of adults agreed that the FDA should reduce the levels of nicotine in cigarettes, and only 16.5% disagreed. Additionally, African Americans, Hispanics, and those with lower education levels were supportive of the reduction in nicotine. Nicotine increases the addictive nature of cigarettes, so reducing the amount of nicotine could prevent youth from becoming addicted and make it easier for current smokers to quit smoking. This study provides evidence that actions by the FDA to reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes are largely supported by the public. Click here to read more about this study published in the American Journal of Public Health. Click here to access the study abstract.
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Reports
U.S. states need to do more to reduce smoking: Study
The American Lung Association has released its annual “State of Tobacco Control” report, which tracks the U.S. government’s progress on tobacco control policies at the state and federal level. The 2013 issue discusses how much states spend on tobacco cessation and prevention programs versus the total amount of funds received from tobacco taxes or legal settlements with tobacco companies. In the 2013 fiscal year, states are spending about $462.5 million on smoking prevention and cessation programs which is just over 10% of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended levels. The only states that spend close to the CDC’s recommendations are North Dakota and Alaska. According to this report, many states are putting these funds in their general budgets rather than toward tobacco use prevention and control, as was the intent behind the Master Settlement Agreement. The report suggests that larger portions of funds received from settlements with tobacco companies were intended to be allotted toward smoking cessation and programs, and that states should increase funding for tobacco control programs to improve the health of the public. Click here to read more. Click here to access the full report and related materials.
Rolling the dice on tobacco use
A new infographic released by the American Lung Association (ALA) allows users to follow the trail of how tobacco control efforts are thwarted by the tobacco industry’s influence on policymakers. The infographic is a communication tool that provides a graphic depiction of the “financial web of neglect” that includes large tobacco companies’ contributions to campaigns to impact the passing of tobacco control measures, and the failure of states to invest funds received from the tobacco settlement payment and tobacco taxes in tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Measures to control tobacco use have been continuously prevented in spite of the large amounts of people suffering in the U.S. from tobacco-related diseases, and the exorbitant healthcare costs associated with them. Click here to read more. This tool was released in conjunction with the ALA’s 2013 State of Tobacco Control Report.
Oil, pharmaceutical, health insurance, tobacco, banking and utilities top the list of industries that people would like to see more regulated
A recent Harris Poll reports that 34% of people in the U.S. believe the tobacco industry should be more tightly regulated. The polling firm surveyed 2,383 adults in the United States via an online survey in November 2012 and found that only 3% of the participants thought that the smoking industry was “generally honest and trustworthy.” Other industries found not to be trustworthy were the oil industry, social media, managed care, health insurance, and telecoms. Click here for a summary of the findings, or click here to see more results from the poll, including trends over time.
Other tobacco products: A select bibliography of recent studies
The Tobacco Control Legal Consortium has compiled a list of resources that are solely dedicated to non-cigarette tobacco products or “other tobacco products” (OTPs). This bibliography was created as a result of an in-depth study on the regulation of OTPs conducted by the Consortium between January 2010 and October 2012. This resource contains a list of recent studies conducted regarding the regulation, health effects, and other important information related to dissolvables, electronic cigarettes, little cigars, snus, and waterpipes (hookahs). Click here to access this bibliography.
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State Policy
E-cigarettes banned for minors on New Year's Day (NY)
Effective New Year’s Day, a law banning the sale of e-cigarettes to minors went into effect in New York State. This law was created in an effort to protect youth from the potentially harmful health effects of e-cigarettes, which are sold with fruit, candy, and menthol flavorings, and are even sometimes advertised as smoking cessation devices. As a result, youths are trying e-cigarettes and pick up the habit of smoking instead of quitting. Consequences for selling e-cigarettes to minors include a fine and a court appearance. Studies are ongoing regarding the health effects of e-cigarettes, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cautioned the public that these products could contain unsafe chemicals. Click here to read more.
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National
Smoking penalty: Individual health care coverage could become unaffordable for many people
The impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on smokers’ ability to afford healthcare coverage continues to be a topic of discussion. Under the ACA, health insurers will be able to charge smokers for policy premiums at rates up to 50% higher than nonsmokers. Older smokers would be affected more than younger smokers by to this provision because smoking-related illnesses typically occur later in life. Since the ACA requires individuals to obtain healthcare coverage either through their employers or by purchasing individual plans, smokers will be at a disadvantage if they are unemployed or retired. The provision was created in order to discourage smoking; however, many believe it alienates those who are addicted to cigarettes, a population that tends to largely include the poor. Those who criticize this provision suggest that the government should incentivize smoking cessation instead of penalizing smokers. Click here to read more. Click here for a more detailed policy analysis of how employers, states, and smokers are affected by the ACA.
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