The National Tobacco Control Program: Focusing on Policy to Broaden Impact

Abstract

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, causing more than 440,000 premature deaths annually. We can dramatically reduce the health and economic burden of tobacco use by employing proven tobacco control and prevention strategies. Policy interventions offer the greatest opportunity to influence decisions regarding tobacco use at the societal level. Tobacco control policy can drive social, environmental, and systems changes, and has a substantially greater impact than interventions that target individuals. A policy approach engages the larger community and empowers it to establish healthy social norms. Health departments, the primary governmental institutions charged with protecting the health of the public, play many different roles in advancing policy. The National Tobacco Control Program funds state health departments to educate the public and decision makers regarding evidence-based policy strategies. This article outlines those strategies, critical success factors, and challenges associated with policy-based interventions.

Installation Tobacco Control Programs in the U.S. Military

“…Policy change represents the best option for ending the tobacco epidemic. 16 In this regard, the military has some advantages and some disadvantages compared to civilian institutions. Because it is both responsible for and dependent on the good health of its members, and because it has the authority, it could implement stringent rules about tobacco use (such as prohibiting tobacco use in uniform, during duty hours, or altogether).…”

Strategies for Implementing a Tobacco-Free Campus Policy

“…8 Research demonstrates policies that restrict tobacco use result in decrease prevalence rates 9 and more restrictive smoking policies reduce smoking behavior. 10 Employing protective tobacco policies can have an enormous impact, as an estimated 39% of 18-to 24-yearolds are enrolled in college. 11 Strong leadership and campus community support are 2 factors required in order to achieve a tobacco-free environment.…”

Regulatory strategies for preventing obesity and improving public health

“…Some states have imple men ted smaller taxes on sugar-sweetened bever ages, amount ing to about a 5% increase in price, but research suggests the prices must increase 10-20% to meaning fully affect consump tion (Andreyeva et al , 2010). Although data suggest tobacco taxes have been effect ive at redu cing consump tion (Wisotzky et al , 2004), the effective ness of taxes on sugar-sweetened bever ages has been ques tioned (Fletcher et al , 2010). It is possible that a tax on sugar-sweetened bever ages for example would simply encour age consumers to switch to sweet foods or other unhealthy bever ages not included in the tax (Fletcher et al , 2013).…”