The new U.S. Administration just eliminated the CDC's Office of Smoking and Health and slashed staff at the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. Unless Congress acts to defend these programs, more kids will become addicted – and more Americans will die from tobacco use.
We cannot let up in the fight to protect kids and save lives. Tobacco use is still the #1 cause of preventable death in the U.S., killing nearly half a million Americans every year. And tobacco companies are aggressively targeting kids with highly-addictive, candy-flavored, nicotine-loaded products like e-cigarettes.
Our message to Congress: Protect kids, not the tobacco industry. Defend FDA and CDC programs that protect kids and save lives!
Dear [representative / senator],
I urge you to support FDA and CDC efforts to protect kids from tobacco products – including nicotine-loaded, kid-friendly, flavored e-cigarettes. I am deeply concerned by recent reports that the CDC's Office of Smoking and Health has been eliminated and staff has been slashed at the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. These programs are on the front lines in protecting kids and saving lives from tobacco. Unless Congress defends these programs, more kids will become addicted and more Americans will die from tobacco use.
Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in our nation. It kills nearly 500,000 Americans every year and costs over $241 billion in annual health care expenses, more than 60% of which are paid for by taxpayers through government programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
In addition, smoking is a top cause of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, COPD and diabetes. Our nation cannot end the chronic disease epidemic without taking on tobacco.
Almost all tobacco users start as kids. And today, the tobacco industry continues to target kids with dangerous and highly addictive products like flavored e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes lure kids with fun flavors like pink lemonade and cotton candy and hook them with massive doses of nicotine, which can harm kids' developing brains. Some e-cigarettes contain as much nicotine as 20 packs of cigarettes or more, and these products also expose kids to toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, lead and benzene.
Almost all e-cigarettes are on the market illegally. The FDA has authorized 34 e-cigarette products, but more than 6,000 products are available for sale in the U.S. These illegal e-cigarettes must be removed from the market.
FDA and CDC programs are critical to prevent kids from using e-cigarettes and other tobacco products and help smokers quit. These programs save lives and save money by reducing tobacco-related health care costs. I urge you to protect kids, not the tobacco industry, and support these critical programs.
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
