Extensive Array of Public Health Organizations Support Ban on Flavored Cigarettes
The American Heart Association and 79 other national public health groups have united in support of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposed rules to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. These organizations, which included the Academy of General Dentistry, American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, and American Dental Association, placed a full-page advertisement in The Washington Post, emphasizing the critical importance of these regulations. The ad states that saving lives hinges on ending the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, which contribute significantly to the annual death toll of nearly half a million people in the United States. The FDA’s proposal, which aims to curb the tobacco industry’s targeting of marginalized communities and its role in encouraging smoking initiation and hindering cessation, is currently under final review by the White House. Advocates are calling for strong and prompt action to address this public health crisis, which has persisted for decades. Click here to read more.
