Smoking rates among adults and teens have fallen to the lowest levels seen this decade. Yet, the U.S.’s leading health official warns of ongoing disparities affecting the 36 million adults and 760,000 children who still smoke.

On Tuesday, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released a report stating that cigarette smoking is more prevalent among American Indian and Alaska Native populations compared to other groups. Those living in poverty are more than twice as likely to smoke compared to those with higher incomes. Additionally, Black individuals, low-income communities, and less-educated people face a higher risk of secondhand smoke exposure.

Murthy emphasized the urgent need for enhanced efforts to address these smoking disparities and reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, as nearly half a million lives are lost annually to tobacco-related causes.

“The health and lives of our children and adults are what we must protect,” Murthy told YSL News. “Tobacco remains the foremost avoidable cause of death in our country — claiming 490,000 lives each year due to tobacco-related illnesses. Despite the progress we’ve made, this stark reality endures.”

Essential Changes: Nicotine Reduction and Menthol Ban

The report advocates for setting limits on nicotine levels in cigarettes and other tobacco products, aiming for levels that are “minimally addictive or nonaddictive.” Implementing this could stop over 33 million people from starting to smoke and avert 8 million deaths by the year 2100.

Additionally, it suggests banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, noting that these products “heighten the chances of initiating tobacco use, addiction, and prolonged usage,” and are “disproportionately consumed by Black individuals, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, women, and those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual.”

The Biden administration has delayed the finalization of an FDA rule aimed at banning menthol cigarettes. This ban was backed by tobacco control organizations that wish to lower smoking-related fatalities, while facing opposition from the tobacco industry and affiliated interest groups.

Murthy referenced 2023 research that estimated a nationwide prohibition on menthol cigarette sales and marketing could prevent up to 654,000 deaths over the next forty years.

He reiterated the necessity to finalize the federal menthol ban and impose nicotine limits.

“Such measures can significantly accelerate our efforts toward a tobacco-free future, ensuring no more lives are lost or diseases caused by tobacco,” he stated.

Advocates for tobacco control expressed concern that delaying the federal menthol ban could have a long-term negative impact on smoking cessation efforts.

“It is truly alarming that President Biden did not finalize the regulations for menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars when they were nearly ready for implementation,” remarked Erika Sward, assistant vice president for nationwide advocacy at the American Lung Association. “This postponement will have lasting negative effects for years ahead.”

Yolonda C. Richardson, CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, pointed out that despite some advancements, “significant and unacceptable disparities” in tobacco use persist.

She added that the tobacco industry’s targeted marketing plays a “primary role in these disparities, particularly with the industry’s long-term focus on marketing menthol and flavored products to Black and other communities.”

“It is disgraceful that while the industry has systematically targeted and harmed these communities, it simultaneously seeks to gain influence and opposes policies like the menthol cigarette ban that would help reduce smoking, save lives, and promote health equity,” Richardson stated.

Access to Healthcare, Smoke-Free Environments

The report indicated that some factors contributing to smoking disparities extend beyond tobacco regulation. Limited access to healthcare exacerbates these differences. Addressing these disparities could include improving education and creating smoke-free housing and workplaces.

Other effective policies might involve raising tobacco prices, implementing smoke-free air laws, delivering public health education, and offering support for those wanting to quit smoking. Resources can be accessed by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visiting www.smokefree.gov, as highlighted in the report.

The CDC and tobacco settlement funds have aided in financing public education initiatives regarding tobacco’s dangers. However, according to the report, the tobacco industry continues to aggressively market their products, spending $8.5 billion on advertising and promotions each year.

This spending translates to roughly $12 in marketing by the tobacco industry for every $1 allocated by tobacco control organizations, the report noted.