Mimeo 4-H-385
Cooperative Extension Service,
Purdue University,
Lafayette, Indiana
SMOKING LEADS TO NOWHERESVILLE
by John D. Boruff, Extension Health Specialist
The official indictment of cigarette smok-
ing as a health hazard has created national
concern about the problem and generated
national action.
Since the Surgeon General's report on
smoking and health on January 11, 1964, (1)
a federal law has been enacted requiring
cautionary warnings on cigarette packages,
(2) a national clearinghouse for smoking and
health has been established in the Public
Health Service, and (3) programs of research,
education, and information have expanded
nationally and locally.
Social scientists are now distinguishing
types of smoking behavior and searching for
methods to improve the ability of all types
of smokers to control or quit the habit.
Any significant progress in reducing the
use of cigarettes on a national scale has ser-
ious considerations beyond those of health
alone, including the effect of progress across
a wide range of economic and social activity.
After the publishing of the report, one
newspaper line read "Cigarette manufactur-
ers cautious or noncommittal in their reac-
tions to the tobacco-health report."
Today they are still cautious. When they
address themselves to the problem, they
speak of the need for more research. But
research must not be used as an excuse for
iack of action on the basis of what we already
know. We know that cigarettes are a serious
over-ail hazard to health.
We need research:
to tell us exactly what in cigarettes
causes the damage and how
--to help people to stop smoking and
not to start
No further research is needed:
--to tell us that at least a quarter of a
million Americans die prematurely each year
because of cigarette smoking.
--to make clear the ominous rise in
sickness, absenteeism, and disability caused
by emphysema and bronchitis, both closely
identified with smoking (personal air
pollution).
Emphysema is by far the most common
chronic disease of the lungs. It is the major
single cause of disability having a pulmonary
(lung) origin. Emphysema has become sec-
ond only to heart disease in the last few
years. Emphysema-bronchitis affect to
some degree at least 10 per cent of the mid-
dle age and older population of the United
States,
Another headline about the report said:
"Three Networks Will Review Policy on Use
of Advertising. " But one network president
said a few days later that "voluntary changes
in advertising copy and cigarette commer-
cials could be made" -- not will. Changes
have been made. You don't see or hear,
"More doctors smoke brand X than any other
cigarette" anymore.
The tobacco industry adopted a cigarette
code to regulate cigarette advertising "volun-
tarily. " It is very questionable whether this
has had any significant effect.
One of the major and controversial de-
velopments in smoking and health is the new
law requiring health warnings on cigarette
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, State of Indiana, Purdue University and U. S.
Agriculture Cooperating. H. G. Diesslin, Director, Lafayette, Ind. Issued in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914.