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FDA plans $600 million anti-smoking campaigns

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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

(Updated 4:53 pm)

By Michael Felberbaum
Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration is planning to spend $600 million over five years to educate the public about the dangers of tobacco use.

Lawrence Deyton, head of the Center for Tobacco Products, told The Associated Press that the multimedia educational campaigns are aimed at reducing the death and disease caused by tobacco. The first campaign will target youth, minorities and other groups, including the gay community.

The FDA says about 3,450 kids in the U.S. try their first cigarette every day and 850 become daily smokers.

The campaigns are in partnership with other public health efforts including new graphic warning labels set to appear on cigarette packs late next year.

Tobacco companies will foot the bill through fees charged by the FDA under a 2009 law.

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rooster8786

November 2, 2011 - 3:20 pm EDT

"Tobacco companies will foot the bill through fees charged by the FDA under a 2009 law."

FYI, this statement should say "Smokers will foot the bill through added costs to a pack of cigarettes".

If people don't realize smoking is bad, maybe we should let Darwin's evolutionary principles take care of them & save this money for something else...

Gator

November 2, 2011 - 6:54 pm EDT

Heart disease and diabetes have taken over the killers in America. Go after the soda and fast food restaurants. Or is Fat the new norm..

Mattie Fine

November 2, 2011 - 6:56 pm EDT

First, FDA would best turn its attention to the terrible drugs it is approving for public use that leave babies with horrible birth defects and people's health further destroyed.

Second, FDA might take notice that obesity and diabetes are epidemics in this country. Maybe a few warnings required on candy packaging, liquor & beer packaging, fast food packaging. How about tailpipes while we're at it!! The same carcinogens that comes from tobacco smoking also come out of every tailpipe in the world.

Third, what an absurd amount of money for the FDA to spend to discourage people from doing what they are going to do anyway. With this country in the shape that it's in, there's little surprise that smoking is on the rise as it always is in times of great stress. Duh. Smokers won't listen to the people who love them. Why on earth do you think they're going to listen to $600 million in FDA propaganda? FDA discredits itself every day as the food supply and drugs get less and less reliable,

bernie

November 2, 2011 - 7:12 pm EDT

Please FDA, take that money and investigate the overcharges by the medical field from hospitals, insurance companies, doctors, pharmaceuticals and get them back down to earth. A 16 mile ambulance ride in Mi recently cost me $1,020.00, 3 hours in the emergency room cost $1,186.00 and an additional charge of $750.00 for the doctor who gave me 7 stitches. These charges are rediculous and someone needs to do something about them. It is just not right.