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Letter: HHS Cuts Will Hurt Tobacco Cessation Programs and Product Regulation
Workforce reductions at HHS will hurt the country's ability to regulate harmful tobacco products and reduce tobacco use, write ASAM and fellow organizations in a letter to US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The coalition notes that such actions are at odds with the agency's goal to reduce chronic disease. Cigarette smoking is a driver of several chronic diseases, like cancer and heart disease.
Lost expertise across key divisions will hurt public health, the coalition writes.
- Cuts at the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) will weaken its ability to efficiently conduct premarket review of products like e-cigarettes, which are popular among young people.
- The elimination of the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) removes a dedicated funding source for state quitlines and the successful "Tips from Former Smokers" media campaign.
- The campaign has prevented nearly 130,000 smoking-related deaths and saved $7.3 billion in health care costs.
To improve the health of young people and reduce chronic disease, the coalition urges Secretary Kennedy to reconsider these cuts.