For Immediate Release                                                                              CONTACT: RACHEL NAPEAR

December 3, 2007                                                                                        PHONE #: (732) 246-6300  

 New Report: Tobacco Regulation Would Save New Jersey $1.1 Billion in Health Care Costs by Preventing 65,700 Kids from Smoking NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ– If Congress passes legislation to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products, the new law would save the state $1.1 billion in tobacco-related health care costs by keeping 65,700 New Jersey kids from becoming new smokers, according to a new report released today by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), a co-sponsor and strong proponent of the measure, weighed in on the report and the positive impact HR 1108 will have on public health. “This critical legislation ensures that tobacco products are not marketed or sold to our children and provides consumers with essential health information about tobacco products."  The Congressman went on to say, "As the parent of three children, I share many parents' concerns about the dangerous practice of tobacco advertising targeted at our youth.  It is this concern that has led me not only to co-sponsor HR 1108, but also hold a hearing on the legislation in the Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee, which I chair.” In New Jersey tobacco use causes $3.17 billion in health care bills each year and kills 11,300 residents; 15.8 percent of New Jersey high school students currently smoke. Despite the death and disease caused by tobacco products, they are not regulated to protect consumers’ health.  This lack of regulation allows the tobacco companies to market their deadly products to children, deceive consumers about the harm their products cause and resist even the most minimal changes that could make their products less harmful. The legislation pending in Congress (S. 625/H.R. 1108) would give the FDA authority to crack down on tobacco marketing and sales to kids, stop tobacco companies from misleading the public about the health risks of their products and require changes in tobacco products, such as the reduction or removal of harmful ingredients.  It would also require larger, more effective health warnings and disclosure of the contents of tobacco products. The new report is based on an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office that, within the first five years of its implementation, the FDA bill would reduce youth smoking by 12.5 percent.  In New Jersey, such a reduction in youth smoking would:·         Prevent 65,700 kids alive today from becoming smokers;·         Save 21,000 kids alive today from premature, smoking-caused deaths;·         Reduce future health care costs by $1.1 billion, including $242.5 million less Medicaid program spending. New Jersey would realize additional health and financial benefits from reductions in adult smoking. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids report estimates that every one percentage point reduction in adult smoking in New Jersey would result in $629.9 million health care savings, 66,300 fewer adult smokers, and 17,600 fewer deaths from smoking. With greater declines in adult smoking, these benefits would be even larger. 

Nationwide, a 12.5 percent reduction in youth smoking would prevent 2.5 million kids from becoming smokers; save more than 797,000 kids alive today from premature, smoking-caused deaths; and produce $44.4 billion in health care savings, including $7.9 billion under the Medicaid program.  Each one percentage point decline in adult smoking would result in $21.7 billion in health care savings, including $3.8 billion under Medicaid and

nearly 2.3 million fewer adult smokers, resulting in 600,000 fewer deaths from smoking.

 Bipartisan bills to grant the FDA authority over tobacco have been introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.  Demonstrating strong, bipartisan support, the legislation has 209 House sponsors and 55 Senate sponsors.   The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed the legislation on August 1, and it is currently pending before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.   This legislation has the support of every major national public health organization and more than 540 public health, faith and other groups across the country (see list at: www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/fda/organizations.pdf), as well as the strong support of the American people.  According to a recent national poll, 70 percent of voters support Congress passing the legislation and 72 percent believe passage of the legislation would be an important accomplishment for Congress.  The poll also shows FDA regulation of tobacco is supported across political lines, geographic regions and even by a majority of smokers (detailed poll results: http://tobaccofreekids.org/fdapoll/). 

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing more than 400,000 people and costing about $100 billion in health care bills each year.  According to the latest surveys, 23 percent of high school students and 20.8 percent of adults currently smoke.

 A copy of the report can be found at: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/pressoffice/FDA_Public_Health_Costs_Report_11-07.doc  

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