ISSUE

Tobacco

hand putting out a cigarette on a calendar

Smoking cigarettes is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, accounting for one-in-five fatalities.

In the rapidly evolving tobacco market, e-cigarettes and newer vaping products are being marketed to appeal to new customers, targeting youth in particular. Local health departments are taking innovative approaches to fight tobacco use every day, saving countless lives.

Policy recommendations

Our policy recommendations to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Congress focus on:

  • implementing federal flavor restrictions;
  • holding sellers rather than users accountable for illegal product sales;
  • reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes to nonaddictive levels;
  • collecting user fees on electronic nicotine delivery systems; and
  • including more graphic warnings about the dangers of tobacco use on packaging and advertising

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We need to take action on tobacco and nicotine

Read our policy brief We need to take action on tobacco and nicotine
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Policy Letter

Big city health officials push Biden Administration to eliminate menthol cigarettes

“A federal ban would have a much more significant impact than a local ban. It would help protect the health of people throughout the country, particularly in those communities that are preempted from regulating tobacco and in those where it is too challenging politically to impose these types of restrictions.” —Minneapolis Health Commissioner Damōn Chaplin

Big city health officials push Biden Administration to eliminate menthol cigarettes Learn about BCHC advocacy on menthol
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Member spotlight

Tobacco companies have aimed menthol cigarette marketing at Black communities for decades. Researchers estimate that removing menthol cigarettes from the market would prevent up to 654,000 smoking-related deaths over time, including more than 238,000 deaths among Black Americans.

montage showing Columbus mayor's announcement of flavored tobacco restrictions, webinar speaker Edward Johnson, and Cities: The Future of Health logo

Frontline Blog

How Columbus passed flavored tobacco restrictions

In 2019, more than a quarter of Columbus adults identified as smokers, and a third of the state’s high school students used e-cigarettes, which are driven by flavored tobacco. Learn how Columbus Public Health collaborated with more than 130 community organizations to advocate for flavored tobacco restrictions, which go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

How Columbus passed flavored tobacco restrictions Learn more