SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- If Congress passes legislation to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products, the new law would save the state $178.5 million in tobacco-related health care costs by keeping 10,200 kids from becoming new smokers, according to a new report released today by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Bipartisan bills to grant the FDA authority over tobacco have been introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Demonstrating strong, bipartisan support, the legislation has 55 Senate sponsors, including 12 Republicans. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed the legislation on August 1. Neither Senator Robert Bennett nor Senator Orrin Hatch are cosponsors of the legislation and Senator Hatch voted against the bill in committee.
In Utah, tobacco use causes $345 million in health care bills each year and kills 1,100 residents; 7.4 percent of Utah high school students currently smoke.
Despite the death and disease caused by tobacco products, they are not regulated to protect consumers' health. This lack of regulation allows the tobacco companies to market their deadly products to children, deceive consumers about the harm their products cause and resist even the most minimal changes that could make their products less harmful.
The legislation pending in Congress (S. 625/H.R. 1108) would give the FDA authority to crack down on tobacco marketing and sales to kids, stop tobacco companies from misleading the public about the health risks of their products and require changes in tobacco products, such as the reduction or removal of harmful ingredients. It would also require larger, more effective health warnings and disclosure of the contents of tobacco products.
"Tobacco takes a devastating toll in health, lives and money, both nationwide and in Utah," said Beverly May, Director, Western Region for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "By granting the FDA authority over tobacco, Congress can reduce the tremendous financial burden that tobacco use imposes on our health care system and also protect our children from tobacco addiction."
The new report is based on an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office that, within the first five years of its implementation, the FDA bill would reduce youth smoking by 12.5 percent. In Utah, such a reduction in youth smoking would:
-- Prevent 10,200 kids alive today from becoming smokers;
-- Save 3,200 kids alive today from premature, smoking-caused deaths;
-- Reduce future health care costs by $178.5 million, including $29.2 less Medicaid program spending.
Utah would realize additional health and financial benefits from reductions in adult smoking. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids report estimates that every one percentage point reduction in adult smoking in Utah would result in $166.3 million health care savings, 17,500 fewer adult smokers, and 4,600 fewer deaths from smoking. With greater declines in adult smoking, these benefits would be even larger.
Nationwide, a 12.5 percent reduction in youth smoking would prevent 2.5 million kids from becoming smokers; save more than 797,000 kids alive today from premature, smoking-caused deaths; and produce $44.4 billion in health care savings, including $7.9 billion under the Medicaid program. Each one percentage point decline in adult smoking would result in $21.7 billion in health care savings, including $3.8 billion under Medicaid and nearly 2.3 million fewer adult smokers, resulting in 600,000 fewer deaths from smoking.
This legislation has the support of every major national public health organization and more than 560 public health, faith and other groups across the country (see list at: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/fda/organizations.pdf ), as well as the strong support of the American people. According to a recent national poll, 70 percent of voters support Congress passing the legislation and 72 percent believe passage of the legislation would be an important accomplishment for Congress. The poll also shows FDA regulation of tobacco is supported across political lines, geographic regions and even by a majority of smokers (detailed poll results: http://tobaccofreekids.org/fdapoll/).
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing more than 400,000 people and costing about $100 billion in health care bills each year. According to the latest surveys, 23 percent of high school students and 20.8 percent of adults currently smoke.
A copy of the report can be found at: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/pressoffice/FDA_Public_Health_Costs_Report_11-07.doc
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
