Prevention Matters

In a wide-ranging interview (“Michelle Obama: No longer a 'caricature”) published today in Politico, the First Lady “addressed a doctors’ report that the president is still smoking, saying he has found it difficult to quit amid the rigors of the presidency.”

“What the president struggles with is what every smoker struggles with, it’s a difficult habit to break. It’s understandable that he struggles with it. Do I want him to stop completely? Absolutely. And I will push him to do so, but it’s a process,” Michelle Obama said.

“I’ve never been a smoker so I can’t relate, but people who’ve smoked say like anything, you have dips and valleys, and to try to quit smoking in one of the most stressful times of the nation’s history is sort of like, you know, OK, he’s going to struggle a little bit. This may be the year he’ll struggle,” she said.

We know that quitting smoking is tough work. It takes persistence. That is why Partnership for Prevention and its ACTTION initiative are working to assure that health reform continues to include coverage and access to comprehensive smoking cessation services. But, no less important to successfully quitting, is having the kind of supportive family and workplace environment that is available to the President. I’m not worried about the President. With Michele in his corner he’ll get there.

Posted by:
Ripley Forbes
Director, Government Affairs, Partnership for Prevention