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AAFP Statement: Family Physicians to Governors: Help Us Discourage Smoking
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 25, 2002
Contact:
Leslie Champlin
American Academy of Family Physicians
(800) 274-2237, Ext. 5224
lchampli@aafp.org
The American Academy of Family Physicians is pleased to join in the call by the Smokeless States National Tobacco Policy Initiative to governors to raise excise taxes on tobacco products. The Academy believes that this may provide a major disincentive to many potential buyers if enacted at an appropriate level. We encourage state and national legislators to develop health education programs to be funded by a dedicated tax on cigarettes.
Scientific evidence demonstrates that tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and illness in our nation causing more than 400,000 deaths each year. One out of every five deaths in the United States is caused by tobacco use. The number of deaths caused by tobacco use is greater than the combined number of deaths due to AIDS, alcohol, automobile accidents, murders, suicides, drugs and fires.
Numerous studies show that increasing taxes on cigarettes leads to reduced smoking. Approximately, for every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes, adult smoking is reduced by three to five percent and teen smoking is reduced by seven percent.
The 2000 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, Reducing Tobacco Use, found that increasing tobacco taxes creates “substantial long-term improvements in health.” It also stated that “raising tobacco taxes is one of the most effective tobacco prevention and control strategies.”
Numerous studies show that increasing taxes on cigarettes leads to reduced smoking. Approximately, for every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes, adult smoking is reduced by three to five percent and teen smoking is reduced by seven percent.
The 2000 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, Reducing Tobacco Use, found that increasing tobacco taxes creates “substantial long-term improvements in health.” It also stated that “raising tobacco taxes is one of the most effective tobacco prevention and control strategies.”
Tobacco companies claim that cigarette taxes hurt low-income Americans. In fact, the opposite is true. Low-income Americans do have higher smoking levels and they are the most sensitive to an increase in cost. Therefore, increasing taxes on tobacco will encourage more low-income Americans to quit. As a result, they will benefit from increased taxes on tobacco products.
And we need to remember that the increased taxes will place no burden on the 75 percent of Americans who do not smoke.
And we need to remember that the increased taxes will place no burden on the 75 percent of Americans who do not smoke.
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Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 100,300 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.
Approximately one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians. That is 228 million office visits each year — nearly 84 million more than the next largest medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.
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