Prevention Matters

The New York Times reports that tobacco manufacturer Altria apparently hopes to navigate around indoor smoking ban laws by persuading the Food and Drug and Administration to let them market smokeless tobacco as far less harmful than cigarettes. 

"While public health doctors agree that the smokeless products are far less hazardous to individuals than cigarettes, they still have concerns because all tobacco products contain nicotine and carcinogens," write the Times' Duff Wilson and Julie Creswell.. "They also contend that promoting smokeless products — some in tiny packages in the shape of cigarette packs — would attract new, perhaps younger customers and maintain the addiction for smokers who might otherwise quit. They note that Altria is adding flavorings to its smokeless products that have long been used in candy.Furthermore, critics say, "

A Senate committee takes up a bill this week that would allow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco. The House has already approved the legislation, and the Washington Post's Lyndsey Layton reports that both advocates and opponents of the bill "say they believe Congress is finally ready to regulate tobacco. Even so, skeptics are not comforted by the fact that tobacco manufacturer Altria supports the bill and spent $4.29 million on lobbying in the first quarter of 2009.

In 1998, Altria's Philip Morris USA subsidiary voluntarily established a Youth Smoking Prevention department, and has long touted its efforts in that area. So how's it doing? According to a new survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Altria's Marlboro brand is the most frequently smoked cigarette among middle school and high school students who smoke.

Could it have something to do with the fact that Marlboro is the most heavily advertised cigarette brand in the country? Or that data have shown that youth-oriented anti-smoking media campaigns funded by the tobacco industry tend to increase smoking?

In fact, the CDC study showed that the three most heavily advertised cigarette brands - Marlborough, Camel and Newport - are the brands of preference for nearly 80 percent of middle school smokers and for nearly 90 percent of high school smokers.

This is just one more reason that Partnership feels that Congress needs to introduce and pass legislation to allow the Food and Drug Administration to regulate the tobacco industry and its marketing practices. And it's why we need to fund more mass media campaigns that aren't dependent upon the tobacco industry for support.