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CDC Director Tom Frieden: Tobacco Control Needs to be Comprehensive

By: Chris Palmedo, for CHP | Posted on: April 23rd, 2010 | Share:
Categories: Air and Water Quality • Disparities • Economic Issues • Policies and Laws • Public Health

Last night, at the Association of Health Care Journalists National Conference in Chicago, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director, Director Thomas R.  Frieden, presented his thoughts on how states can, and must use of comprehensive tobacco control strategies to improve population health, as the CDC released its Tobacco Control State Highlights report.

Freiden discussed various elements of a complete strategy that are proven to work – higher state tobacco excise taxes, stronger smoke-free workplace laws, ad campaigns and offering Medicaid recipients more help in quitting.

There are large differences in how states have implemented tobacco control programs. Last year, 14 states raised cigarette tax rates. By contrast, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming do not have any kind of statewide smoke-free laws.

Frieden was asked by this reporter whether excise taxes on products (such as soda and tobacco) that are disproportionately consumed by lower-income people, are unfair if used to fund general services. His response was that he acknowledged that such taxes can be seen as regressive, but if they are applied to a comprehensive tobacco control strategy, they have the effect of reducing health disparities.

You can read about how Oregon was rated in the newly released report here.

- Chris Palmedo, Editor
http://www.communityhealthpriorities.org