Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Introduction

• The current issue is the use of tobacco products by adults aged 18 and older.
• The current legislation identified to address this is H.R. 1850 Quit Smoking for Life Act

Who is affected by the issue?

• American men and women 18 and older are affected most by this issue. 
• As it stands, those 18 and older are losing the most because they are using tobacco products that are harmful to their health.  This is increasing their likelihood of disease and death.  If the legislation was passed, then the tobacco industry would lose because more people could get cessation resources and in return less would be buying their products.
• Currently, the tobacco industry is gaining a lot from this issue.  The main people targeted by the tobacco industry are those 18-24 years old.  Over 45 million are tobacco users.   If the legislation was passed, then these individuals would gain their life and health as they would be given resources to quit smoking or tobacco use.

What are the consequences of the issue?

• Approximately, 8.6 million people have some type of disease caused in relation to smoking cigarettes.  The list of diseases goes on and on for users of tobacco products, this includes but is not limited to COPD, coronary heart disease, stroke, and a variety of cancers.  This obviously shortens the life span and reduces the quality of life. 
• Secondhand smoke is a huge problem and can greatly affect the family.  According to the American Lung Association, "Secondhand smoke causes more than an estimated 202,000 asthma episodes, 790,000 physician visits for buildup of fluid in the middle ear, and 430 sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases each year."  This is simply from parents smoking around their children or family members.  Secondhand smoke is involuntary, meaning you are not choosing to inhale this toxins, but in many cases you do not have a choice.
• Society is affected in a multitude of ways from cigarette smoke and tobacco use.  First of all, it affects are environment.  Secondhand smoke affects the air we breathe and the water we drink.  Cigarette butts pollute the earth.  And the plants used to create these tobacco products take up valuable land and space that could better be put to use making fruits and vegetables or other products that are good for our health.  Second, society is affecting by the advertising that goes along with tobacco products.  Advertising and peer pressure can be huge enablers in the tobacco addiction.  The tobacco industry targets populations to increase their use of products.  Third, and an obvious cost to society is life expectancy.  Over 400,000 people die annually, equating to approximately 1200 a day.  Fourth,  it affects the economy in many ways, as we will discuss next. 

What is the economic impact of the issue?

• On advertising alone, nearly 10 billion dollars were spent on tobacco products.  On average though, tobacco use costs 50 billion dollars annually.  This results in nearly 97% of all health care costs and lost productivity.  If you include a variety of effects smoking has like smoking during pregnancy and the costs on her delivery or early retirement by smoking among other items, smoking can cost the economy up to 500 million dollars a year.  The citizens of the United States are bearing these costs. 
• The only economic benefits identified are the fact that we are able to tax tobacco products to cover a small portion of these costs.  One other item identified is that if all the smokers quit smoke and lived longer, that could potentially cost money as well because people would be living longer.  But the greatest economic benefit would come from smoking cessation. 

What is the social impact of the issue?

• Smoking can have a huge impact on the social aspect of life.  Often you choose friends and significant others based on their smoking preference.  People may not choose to socialize with smokers.  Smoking affects your day to day life, including your work.  Are you able to take smoke breaks? Where and how often?  Smokers are definitely classified as a minority population and may not receive some opportunities because they smoke.  Smokers tend to smell and smoking itself releases an unpleasant odor.  Thus, the ones who smoke are bearing these costs.
• The only ones that benefit from smoking or tobacco use is the tobacco industry. 

What are the barriers?

• A barrier that can be identified is that smoking and tobacco is addictive and it is difficult to quit.  Even though cessation resources may be available, if you do not want to quit, it is impossible to force it upon someone.
• Education is key in reducing these barriers.  If we can educate smokers and tobacco users on the effects as well as the costs, it may ease in the process of quitting.  By showing them it is beneficial for them to quit, they are more likely to continue with the cessation process. 

What are the resources?

• Resources that can be used for this issue include Healthy People 2010 information, Centers for Disease Control, QuitPlan, and the American Lung Association.  As well as recent and new legislation would serve as government resources. 
• They can be accessed online or by contacting their main site locations.

What is the history of this issue?

• Highlights from History of Tobacco Products:
• 1901: 43 out of 45 states created tough anti-cigarette laws
• 1909: 15 states passed laws banning sale of cigarettes
• 1910: Per capita Adults (18 years and older) consume 138 cigarettes a year
• 1912: First determination that smoking leads to lung cancer
• 1917: Tobacco bans and cigarette laws have fallen
• 1921: State taxation on tobacco products begins
• 1930: Per capita Adults consume 977 cigarettes a year
• 1934: Camel advertises "Smoke as many as you want.  They never get on your nerves."
• 1940: Per capita Adults consume 2558 cigarettes a year
• 1957: Law requires tobacco products to bear warning labels relating to causing lung cancer and diseases
• 1993: Prevalence of adult smokers is 25%
• 1994: 70% of those who smoke say they want to quit; 48% want to quit, but have failed
• 2000: Per capita Adult 1551 cigarettes a year
• What past efforts were made to address it?
• Recently, President Obama has signed to legislation into effect.  The first was largest tax increase on tobacco products.  The second was the strictest anti tobacco law: Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA). 
• What were the results?
• From the tax increase, there was approximately a 9% drop in users.  From the FSPTCA, tobacco products have much stricter regulations making purchasing more difficult thus reducing the numbers or users. 

Allies & Opponents

• Supporters of this issue would be those that have lost a family member due to tobacco use or had a family member dwindle funds because of their use.  Health educators would also support this issue.  Previous tobacco users would support because they understand how difficult it is to quit, also current users that are desperately trying to quit would support because they know they need help.
• Tobacco industries would oppose this issue.  Also hospitals and insurance companies would oppose.  All of these people reap the economic benefits at the expense of user's lives.
• Supporters and those who oppose can work together to better the lives of Americans.  Hospitals and insurance companies should want to enhance the lives of Americans and they would benefit because they would be needed throughout the entire cessation process including the use of medicines, resources, and therapy.  By showing that they can still profit would lead to a more successful transition.

Your Recommendation

• How do you want policy-makers to vote on this proposed policy?
• Vote yes!  Encourage those that are smokers to quit by giving them access to cessation materials and resources.