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Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s report highlights tobacco-related health disparities
Titled Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death: Addressing Disparities, the report was released by the Department of Health and Human Services and calls for urgent action to address these inequities.
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Surgeon General Vivek Murthy / Image- X (@Surgeon_General)
A new report from the U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, underscores the enduring disparities in tobacco use, which continue to disproportionately impact marginalized communities despite significant reductions in smoking rates nationwide.
Titled Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death: Addressing Disparities, the report was released by the Department of Health and Human Services and calls for urgent action to address these inequities.
“Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the country − 490,000 lives we lose every year to tobacco-related disease,” said Murthy. "What's at stake are the lives of our kids and adults across America."
The report highlights higher smoking rates among American Indian and Alaska Native populations and those living in poverty, as well as the disproportionate exposure of Black and lower-income populations to secondhand smoke.
Menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products, specifically marketed to Black communities and other vulnerable groups, are a major contributor to these disparities, the report states.
Key recommendations include reducing the affordability and accessibility of tobacco products, implementing high-impact media campaigns, ensuring smoke-free environments, and providing cessation support tailored to at-risk populations. The report also urged the administration to finalize a federal ban on menthol cigarettes, which it says could prevent up to 654,000 deaths over the next 40 years.
With tobacco industry marketing spending eclipsing tobacco control efforts at a ratio of US$12 to US$1, the Surgeon General’s report advocates for comprehensive measures to counteract industry influence and promote tobacco-free living through a multifaceted approach, including improved healthcare access, quality education, and smoke-free housing and workplaces.
The report was developed with contributions from experts at the Johns Hopkins University Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC). Dr. Ryan Kennedy, associate professor at IGTC and senior scientific editor of the report, emphasized the need for equity-focused strategies: “Advancing tobacco-related health equity is central to the Surgeon General’s call-to-action.”
Dr. Joanna Cohen, IGTC director and report reviewer, called the findings critical,“This report offers a meticulous review of existing evidence and makes recommendations that can put an end to tobacco-related health disparities.”
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