Surgeon General's Report Highlights Unacceptable Disparities in Tobacco Use, Need to Eliminate Menthol Cigarettes and Other Flavored Tobacco Products

Statement of Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
November 19, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Surgeon General's report on tobacco-related disparities released today shows that while the United States has made substantial progress in reducing smoking and other tobacco use, there are large and unacceptable disparities in tobacco use by race and ethnicity, level of income, level of education, sexual orientation, gender identity, occupation, geography and behavioral health status. The report makes clear that the tobacco industry is a major driver of these disparities, especially the industry's decades-long targeting of Black and other communities with menthol cigarettes and other flavored products. The report details the industry's pervasive role in creating and perpetuating tobacco-related disparities, including manipulating products to make them more appealing and addictive, targeted marketing to vulnerable populations, fighting policies to reduce tobacco use, corporate social responsibility tactics, and advertising that misappropriates cultures and promotes harmful stereotypes. It is especially shameful that the tobacco industry has sought to position itself as an ally to communities that have suffered the most from its deadly products and predatory marketing.

This report underscores the critical need for action at all levels of government to further drive down tobacco use and eliminate tobacco-related disparities, including the elimination of menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products. It shows that the FDA was absolutely right and on sound scientific ground in proposing rules to prohibit menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars - rules that the White House should have finalized more than a year ago. It is infuriating that the tobacco industry has once again put profits over lives and managed to delay these lifesaving rules. It is more critical than ever that governments at all levels step up their efforts to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products.

The report also identifies other evidence-based policies that can further reduce tobacco use and close tobacco-related disparities, including higher tobacco taxes, comprehensive smoke-free laws implemented in every state and community, high-impact media campaigns, providing and promoting barrier-free access to smoking cessation interventions, policies regulating the location of and reducing the number of tobacco retailers, and reducing nicotine in cigarettes and other combustible tobacco products to minimally addictive or non-addictive levels.

As today's report makes clear, tobacco use remains the number one cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S., killing nearly half a million people each year, and it is a leading cause of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and chronic respiratory diseases. We have the tools to eliminate tobacco-related death and disease and to ensure that no community is left behind. What's needed is the political will to stand up to the tobacco industry and fully utilize these lifesaving tools.