Bolder warnings and more impacting graphics are part of a new tobacco control campaign with clear explanations of the risks smokers run, including addiction, the harm to children, the likelihood of developing fatal lung diseases, cancer, heart disease and stroke, the damage smoking can do to the baby if a pregnant mother smokes, premature death, and the damage caused by second hand smoke. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) say this new strategy will be part of the most significant change in over a quarter of a century.

443,000 people die each year in the USA as a result of tobacco use – the leading cause of preventable and premature death in the country. 1,200 people each day lose their lives because they smoke or used to smoke regularly.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, said:

    “Every day, almost 4,000 youth try a cigarette for the first time and 1,000 youth become regular, daily smokers. Today marks an important milestone in protecting our children and the health of the American public.”

Sebelius added that included in the strategy will be an FDA proposal Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements. The FDA specifies that the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act requires nine more impacting and bigger textual and graphic warnings for cigarette packs and adverts. Public comment is welcome until January 9th next year.

Nine pictures and textual warnings will be selected next year in June. The FDA says its selection will be based on a review of current and prior scientific studies, public feedback and the results of a large study involving 18,000 individuals.

By September 22, 2012, tobacco companies will have to include these new textual/graphic health warnings on products they sell and distribute anywhere in the USA. Any form of cigarette advertising will also have to include these new stark messages.

FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., said:

    Today, FDA takes a crucial step toward reducing the tremendous toll of illness and death caused by tobacco use by proposing to dramatically change how cigarette packages and advertising look in this country. When the rule takes effect, the health consequences of smoking will be obvious every time someone picks up a pack of cigarettes. This is a concrete example of how FDA’s new responsibilities for tobacco product regulation can benefit the public’s health.

The HHS informs that over the years progress has been made in reducing tobacco consumption rates throughout the country. However, people of lower socioeconomic status and some ethnic groups still smoke a lot.

Assistant Secretary for Health, Howard K. Koh, M.D., MPH., said:

    “We are at an unprecedented time in our nation’s history to protect the public’s health from tobacco use, the leading cause of preventable, premature death in the United States. It will take renewed commitment from every sector of society to end the tobacco epidemic.”

Smoking is linked to a higher risk of developing:

Source: HHS, FDA

Written by Christian Nordqvist