Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

I looked under the goal "Reduce illness, disability and death related to tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke" and used the Healthy People 2010 objective 27-2: To reduce tobacco use by adolescents (grades 9 -12).

As of the midcourse review use of all different kinds of tobacco (cigars, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco) has moved toward the target goal of change by 68%.  Black non-Hispanics have the best rate.  White non-Hispanics have the worst out of the group (with a 50-99% disparity from the best group).  Hispanics are in the middle (with a 10-49% disparity from the best group).  There is no data on other races.  Females were listed as the group with the best rate and males were listed as having a 10-49% disparity from the best group. 

 Although progress has been made towards the goal there are still some emerging issues.  Smokeless tobacco was listed as an issue.  This may be because sometimes these products can be seen as less harmful then other tobacco products.  However this is untrue because these products are known human carcinogens and they are still addictive and harmful to your health.  Another emerging issue is the use of the internet to market tobacco products.  It is very hard to police the internet and many sites use weak or non existent age verification methods.  This has set back the goal of reducing the proportion of adolescents and young adults who are exposed to tobacco advertising.  If that goal has setbacks it adversely affects the success of my goal. 


H.R.1432: To reduce youth usage of tobacco products, to enhance State efforts to eliminate retail sales of tobacco products to minors, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] (introduced 3/11/2009)      Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Energy and Commerce
Latest Major Action: 3/11/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Recommendation: Vote YES for H.R. 1432
My Political Representative(s):