Smoking Independence: A Call for Policy PrioritySmoking Independence: A Call for Policy Priority Two and a half centuries after the Continental Congress declared American independence, millions of Americans still face threats to their well-being due to smoking, the leading preventable cause of death. The Promise of Smoke-Free Alternatives Advancements in science have made smoke-free options available, providing smokers with a significantly healthier alternative. By supporting adult access to these alternatives, policymakers can prioritize reducing smoking-related illnesses. Eliminating Misinformation Public discourse is polluted by misinformation about the potential of smoke-free alternatives. This hampers efforts to enact effective policies that could save lives. Washington should embrace evidence-based facts and recognize the role of harm reduction products in reducing smoking. Nicotine as a Tool for Harm Reduction While nicotine is addictive, it’s the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke that cause disease. By recognizing that nicotine can be a key to discouraging cigarette use, policymakers can focus on transitioning smokers to less harmful alternatives. Fostering Innovation Innovation is crucial for developing breakthrough therapies and improving public health outcomes. The FDA should expedite the approval process for smoke-free products and educate the public about their benefits. Engaging Healthcare Professionals Healthcare professionals play a vital role in informing smokers about the relative risks of different tobacco products. Washington must work with medical organizations to clarify misconceptions and promote responsible nicotine use. A Coalition for Independence Declaring independence from smoking requires a diverse coalition of stakeholders, including medical experts, tobacco harm reduction advocates, and policymakers. By embracing common sense and leveraging innovative tools, we can eliminate combustible cigarettes and protect the health of Americans. Just as the Sons of Liberty sowed the seeds of freedom in 1776, declaring smoking independence in the 21st century will require vision, collaboration, and a commitment to evidence-based policymaking. By embracing these principles, we can leave the smoke behind and ignite a healthier future for our nation.
Nearly 250 years ago, the Continental Congress declared America’s independence from Great Britain and gave birth to a new nation. Today, for millions of Americans, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are still threatened by the leading cause of preventable death: smoking.
Thanks to innovative science and research, smoke-free options are now available that offer current smokers a much better alternative to continuing to smoke.
Around the more than 28 million Americans who smoke but won’t quit, leaders in Washington must make declaring smoking independence a policy priority by protecting adult Americans’ access to these alternatives. With common sense, we can finally kick combustible cigarettes to the curb, just like the overused tea the Sons of Liberty dumped in Boston Harbor as they sowed the seeds of independence.
Here’s what Washington should do to help America become smoking-free:
Embrace the truth instead of misinformation
Unfortunately, the public policy space is polluted with misinformation about the promise of innovation to reduce smoking. And that information comes not just from anti-tobacco groups, but also from academics, media and public health agencies who should know better.
As a former secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and someone who has fought against smoking since the loss of my father to lung cancer and throughout my career as a physician, I know firsthand that many more lives could be saved if the conversation focused instead on honest facts and science. Decision makers in Washington should recognize that recent substantial declines in cigarette smoking are likely due in part to the increased availability of tobacco harm reduction products such as smoke-free alternatives that may be better for one’s health. Misinformation about these products has caused considerable confusion and has hampered the development of new policies that could play a vital role in ending smoking, and it should be stopped.
Think of nicotine as a harm reduction tool
The truth is that while nicotine is addictive and not without risk, it is the chemicals released when cigarettes are burned and smoke is inhaled that cause smoking-related diseases. As the FDA has allowed“This toxic mix of chemicals – not nicotine – causes serious health effects in people who use tobacco products, including fatal lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cancer.”
Therefore, we must recognize that while nicotine is at the heart of the problem, it can also be the key to the solution: switching smokers from cigarettes to non-combustible nicotine products in time will certainly bring about positive change and better health.
Stimulate innovation
As we know from studying a wide range of diseases and ailments, scientific innovation is critical to advancing breakthrough therapies and achieving revolutionary public health outcomes. Yet, the FDA continues to delay providing the facts and educating the public about the innovative smoke-free products available today. The FDA has already approved the sale of a handful of non-combustible tobacco products, deeming them “suitable for advancing public health.” As a physician, I wonder why the FDA has not, at the very least, meaningfully addressed misconceptions among the medical community about nicotine and smoke-free alternatives.
The fact that smokers, the public, and even physicians do not understand the science of nicotine and the relative risks of non-combusted nicotine products compared to cigarettes—the most harmful form of tobacco use—clearly demonstrates a failure of public health. That’s why Congress, the FDA, CDC, and HHS must communicate with healthcare professionals to address misconceptions about nicotine, the risk continuum, and authorized products. They must work with all relevant stakeholders—medical professionals, public health experts, patient advocates, current smokers, and yes, the tobacco industry—to establish a workable process for bringing innovative products to market and educating the public about the benefits of these products relative to traditional cigarettes.
We, the people, have the power to declare our country’s independence from smoking and prevent an estimated half a million Americans from dying each year from combustible cigarettes. Yet we need leaders in Washington who take a realistic approach that embraces the truth about tobacco harm, combats misinformation, and encourages innovation. We should welcome input from a diverse range of medical professionals and experts to craft realistic tobacco harm reduction policies, not just anti-tobacco groups advocating for idealistic policies.
Like the diverse group of policymakers, physicians, scientists, and other community members who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, declaring independence from smoking in 2024 will require a broad coalition of stakeholders championing common sense ideas. By coming together, embracing modern innovations, and leveraging the tools at our disposal for effective harm reduction, we can declare independence from combustible cigarettes and leave the smoke to barbecued meats and fireworks displays.
