Tobacco Documents Online

204 STATEMENT of the AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION to the Labor and Human Resources Committee U.S. Senate Re: S. 1929 - Comprehensive Smoking Prevention Education Act March 16, 1982 The American Medical Association takes this opportunity to comment on S. 1929. The bill states its purpose is "to provide a new strategy" to educate and provide information to the American public that will allow individuals to make informed decisions concerning smoking." The bill would accomplish this by replacing the current general health warning found on cigarette packages with seven specific health warnings. One of the seven specific health warnings would be required on all cigarette packages and in advertisements. The warnings would be rotated among -brands so that each brand would use all warnings within a fifteen-month~ period. S. 1929 would also require the "tar," nicotine and carbon monoxide levels to be disclosed on packages and advertisements. Cigarette manufacturers would be required to provide the Federal Trade 205 -2- Commission with a list of the chemical addi of cigarettes. This information would be pr used only for research purposes. _ Comments The United States Surgeon General state realth Consequences of Smoking," that "Cig< chief, single, avoidable cause of death i :nportant public health issue of our time." A decision to smoke should be made with health risks are associated with smoking. supportive of efforts to increase public awa: The AMA has been involved in many effo knowledge of the consequences of smoking. aany requests for smoking information. "Tobacco and Health," an account of the cc conducted by the AMA. A pamphlet called Know," a copy of which is attached, has b with two anti-smoking posters. Physicians E the risks associated with smoking. 11 Our comments address only the rotatior find it very disturbing if, as a recent approximately ten percent of the populati cigarette smoking is harmful. Believing a better inform the public of the harm of Delegates adopted a report encouraging C explicit warning on cigarette packages.

205 - 2 - Commission vith a list of the chemical additives in each of their brands of cigarettes. This information would be protected as a trade secret and used only for research purposes. Comments The United States Surgeon General stated in his recent report, "The Health Consequences of Smoking," that 'Cigarette smoking . . . is the chief, single, avoidable cause of death in our society and the most important public health issue of our time." A decision to smoke should be made with the knowledge that increased health risks are associated with smoking. For this reason the AMA is supportive of efforts to increase public awareness of the hazards. The AMA has been involved in many efforts to increase the public's knowledge of the consequences of smoking. The AMA receives and answers many requests for smoking information. In 1978 the AMA published "Tobacco and Health," an account of the comprehensive research program conducted by the AMA. A pamphlet called "Smoking: Facts You Should Know," a copy of which is attached, has been widely distributed along with two anti-smoking posters. Physicians are urged to alert smokers to the risks associated with smoking. Our comments address only the rotational labeling provisions. We find it very disturbing if, as a recent FTC staff report alleges, approximately ten percent of the population still do not know that cigarette smoking is harmful. Believing a more detailed warning would better inform the public of the harm of smoking, the AMA House of Delegates adopted a report encouraging Congress to require a more explicit warning on cigarette packages. C W Qi ~ ~ ~ N (M

206 - 3 - In testifying before the Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research of the Senate Committee on Human Resources in 1978 on a similar labeling provision contained in S. 3115, (95th Congress) the Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Act of 1978, the AMA endorsed the rotational label warning concept. We recommended at that time that if adopted the rotational labels "should be evaluated after a period of use to see if there has been any substantial difference in the public's awareness of health problems associated with cigarette smoking." We still believe the effectiveness of the labels should be evaluated. A more explicit warning, while an improvement, will not be a complete solution. The 1980 Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Women reveals that smoking is increasing among teenagers. The AMA is concerned about teenage smoking and does not believe a change in the warning alone will fully deal with the problem. Educational programs that emphasize the harmful aspects of smoking from a teenager's point of view should be pursued, and the use of "role models" in cigarette advertisements should be eliminated. Issues of concern to an adult, like a decrease in life expectancy, may not influence a teenager's decision to smoke. More information is needed on youth smoking, such as why they begin to smoke, why they quit smoking, and what method is most effective in urging teenagers to quit smoking. Once this information is available efforts to reduce teenage smoking can be better directed. .Even those who are aware of the dangers of smoking may have difficulty quitting because of the addictive qualities of cigarettes. The recent Surgeon General's report shows that up to 50 percent of those 207 - 4 - who quit smoking on their own will stay of be provided to the remaining 50 percent 9 significantly. The AMA is developing an a to quit smoking that will soon be availe assisting patients desiring to quit smoking warning may create more awareness of the smokers will want to stop smoking. Prograr quit smoking will be needed even more in th: Conclusion The AMA supports efforts to increase p of smoking. We believe that the best met help people avoid starting the habit. On, would be a clear indication of the health AMA supports a more explicit warning c advertisements. 0386p

207 - 4 - who quit smoking on their own will stay off cigarettes. Assistance must be provided to the remaining 50 percent if smoking is to be decreased significantly. The AMA is developing an audiovisual presentation on how to quit smoking that will soon be available for physicians to use in assisting patients desiring to quit smoking. If adopted, a change in the warning may create more awareness of the dangers of smoking, and more smokers will want to stop smoking. Programs to assist those who want to quit smoking will be needed even more in that case. Conclusion The AMA supports efforts to increase public awareness of the hazards of smoking. We believe that the best method to decrease smoking is to help people avoid starting the habit. One method to discourage smoking would be a clear indication of the health hazards of smoking. Thus, the AMA supports a more explicit warning on cigarette packages and in advertisements. 0386p