Fri 1/24 Assignment: Public Health News

In 1964, the U.S. Surgeon General issued the first report on the health effects of smoking cigarettes. For the first time, people became aware of the direct link between smoking and lung cancer. In the 50 years that have followed, health care and public health officials have waged a long and vicious war against the negative health effects of cigarette smoking. Now, 50 years since the original report, Acting Surgeon General Boris D. Lushniak M.D., M.P.H., has released a new study to examine just how far we've come in curbing the habit.

He concluded that 5.6 million U.S. children alive today will die prematurely unless current smoking rates drop.

Published on January 17, 2014, the health report has been making waves within the medical and scientific communities. The report found that although smoking rates among adults and teens are less than half what they were in 1964, 42 million American adults and about 3 million middle and high school students continue to smoke-- resulting in nearly half a million smoking related deaths each year.

It is clear that everyone, not just those involved in public health, should care about the implications these findings hold for the growth and prosperity of our population. The evidence is incontrovertible, and the choices we make now are determining whether someone lives or dies.

Despite the facts established in the Surgeon General's report, there are still ethical dilemmas raised by the claim that cigarette smoking must be eliminated. First, there is the issue of violating people's rights as free citizens of America. Those in the smoking cessation movement cannot literally travel the country stomping out people's cigarettes. People are entitled to make their own choices, even if they risk hurting others. The ethical obstacle is this: How far can we go in actively eliminating cigarette smoking among the U.S. population? 

Furthermore, there are still some people and groups who are not so appalled by the Surgeon General's Report. Big time shareholding tobacco companies may view the recent report as a confirmation that the money is still rolling in. They are opposed to the cessation of cigarette smoking, because whether it kills people or not, selling cigarettes puts food on their tables. Also, die-hard smokers may feel violated and become defensive in regards to being able to continue with their habit. These two stakeholders-- large private industries and average citizens of the public-- will hold great sway when trying to turn the publication of this report into a positive event for all.

Public Health officials have suggested several means of reducing cigarette smoking while still leaving the above mentioned stakeholders in good standing. One such way is to lower the amount of nicotine in cigarettes so that they are non-addictive. Another suggestion has even been made to promote other forms of tobacco and nicotine consumption rather than cigarettes or other burned/inhaled forms of tobacco. In the wake of the Surgeon General's Report, those involved in Public Health are desperate to try anything. Doing nothing means everyone loses. 

Sources: 

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2014pres/01/20140117a.html

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/50-years-of-progress/exec-summary.pdf

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/50-years-of-progress/fact-sheet.html