Clearing the Air In January 1964, the first U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health was released, officially recognizing the harmful effects of cigarette smoking. The landmark report started a major trend in smoke-free initiatives. Source: American Cancer Society; Americans Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation

Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of death in United States, with more than 12 million premature deaths attributable to smoking in the U.S. since 1964 Its use continues to have a damaging effect:

• An estimated 400,000 deaths per year are caused by tobacco use
• At least 30% of all cancer deaths, and 87% of all lung cancer deaths, can be attributed to smoking
• About 3,400 nonsmoking adults die every year from lung cancer as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke.

ACS CAN is working to change things, but we need your help. Take action. Learn the issues. Fight back.

ACS CAN and the Society have led the fight for strong tobacco control policies at the federal, state and local levels for decades. One of the most recent legislative successes on the federal level occurred in June 2009, when the president signed legislation into law granting the FDA the power to regulate tobacco products.

ACS CAN is currently working on legislative campaigns that would:

• Increase federal and state taxes on a pack of cigarettes
• Make more communities smoke-free

State Tobacco Efforts

ACS CAN and the Society are working state by state to pass legislation that protects workers and patrons from exposure to toxic secondhand smoke and help smokers quit:

Smoke-free Workplaces

What's going on in your state? <Select One AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareD.C.FloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Secondhand smoke is a health hazard that contains more than 4,000 chemicals and more than 50 which are known or suspected to cause cancer in humans and animals, and many of which are strong irritants. The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2006 report on secondhand smoke confirmed that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and concluded that 100% smoke-free workplace policies are the only effective way to eliminate secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace. Comprehensive smoke-free laws protect everyone from exposure to secondhand smoke. They reduce tobacco-related illnesses and the costs of treating them as well as encourage smokers to quit.

Currently, 31 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have laws that require all workplaces, and/or restaurants, and/or bars to be smoke-free and more than 70 percent of the U.S. population is covered by these 100 percent smoke-free workplace and/or restaurant and/or bar laws. Yet, many people still remain exposed to secondhand smoke in workplaces, bars and restaurants. ACS CAN and the Society are leading efforts to pass smoke-free laws in states and communities nationwide so that everyone can be granted the right to breathe smoke-free air.

• The Facts About Secondhand Smoke (PDF)
• The Effects of Secondhand Smoke on Worker Health (PDF)
• Smoke-Free Policies: Good For Business (PDF)
• Read the latest news on recent smoke-free campaign victories

Excise Taxes

Increasing tobacco excise taxes is one of the most effective ways to prevent children from beginning to smoke and reduce overall tobacco consumption. Raising tobacco taxes also helps reduce tobacco-related diseases and saves states money in future health care costs. For every 10 percent increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes, youth smoking declines by seven percent and overall consumption decreases by four percent.

ACS CAN and the Society are working in partnership to enact legislation that raise state tobacco excise taxes to prevent children from starting to smoke and more smokers are encouraged to quit the habit. Many states recognize the public health and economic benefits of tobacco tax increases. 46 states have passed tobacco tax increases since 2002 and 14 states now have cigarette taxes of $2.00 or more.