American Society of Clinical Oncologists Releases Strong Plan for Tobacco Policy Change
Statement of William V. Corr Executive Director, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
June 01, 2003
Washington, D.C. — The nation's leading professional organization representing physicians who treat people with cancer released a compelling plan to address the nation's leading preventable cause of death – tobacco use.
More than 400,000 people die each year from tobacco-caused disease and the members of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) are on the front lines trying to reduce these numbers through medical treatment. Today, ASCO released a comprehensive plan to enact policy change to reduce the harm caused by tobacco use.
The plan is a compelling one that addresses a wide variety of important policy changes including regulation of tobacco products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, increase excise taxes on tobacco products, increased use of funds from the 1998 legal settlement between the states and the tobacco industry for state tobacco prevention and cessation campaigns, and other important policies.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is enthusiastic about working with ASCO and America's leaders to make this important new policy blueprint a reality.