War on Smoking: No More Mr. Nice Guy : Major medical report urges strong and controversial regulatory measures
Most smokers begin at an early age and, of course, as a result of their addiction many die at an earlier age than they otherwise would. Dr. Paul R. Torrens of UCLA’s School of Public Health says that the 1 million youths who each year become regular smokers take an average of 15 years off their lives and over their lifetimes cost the health care system at least $8.2 billion in added medical costs. Torrens is chairman of the Committee on Preventing Nicotine Addiction in Children and Youths of the Institute of Medicine, which provides advice on health policy to the National Academy of Sciences. In a new report, the institute urges more aggressive measures to offset the social forces that continue to induce so many teen-agers to begin smoking.
A youth-oriented approach to controlling nicotine addiction is not just sensible but imperative. Americans justifiably worry about the tolls taken by AIDS, illegal drugs, homicides. But combined deaths from these causes, as well as from vehicle accidents, alcohol, fires and suicide still fall short of the 419,000 premature deaths each year from diseases related to smoking. In 1990 Congress’ Office of Technology Assessment estimated the social costs of smoking at $68 billion annually. Greater intervention to dissuade young people from ever starting to smoke ought to be a national priority.
Adults have been listening to warnings about smoking. In 1965 more than 40% of adult Americans smoked. By 1991 the figure was less than 26%. But the story for young people is less encouraging. “The prevalence of smoking by youths has remained basically unchanged since 1980,” says the Institute of Medicine’s report. Adolescents, as every parent learns, are contrarians. Perhaps it’s just because smoking is so harmful that so many young people are attracted to it. In any event, new approaches to discourage young people from smoking must be tried.
Tobacco regulation is inherently a politically explosive subject. The Institute of Medicine study makes these among other strong regulatory proposals: a $2-a-pack increase in the federal cigarette tax, because for young people especially decisions on smoking are known to be price-sensitive; a ban on tobacco vending machines and self-service displays, to help restrict sales to minors; allowing state and local governments to regulate tobacco advertising and promotion within their borders; elimination of all advertising features that encourage the young to smoke.
Controversial? Absolutely--and inevitably. But clearly a proper subject for congressional debate and action, given the appallingly high costs related to smoking that are staring this nation in the face.
