House passes the bill to give FDA authority over tobacco products, tobacco ads and sales

Image from Corpwatch

The House of Representatives passed a bill with a 298-to-112 House vote today (02 April 2009) to give the FDA, (Food and Drug Administration) the power and control to regulate the advertising and sale of cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products in the United States.
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, will now face the Senate for approval, and if approved will give the FDA power to restrict the marketing of tobacco in it's current form.
Cigarette and tobacco producer, Philip Morris supports the legislation, but other big tobacco companies and senators from tobacco farming states like North Carolina, oppose it.

President Obama is a strong supporter of the legislation according to the Office of Management and Budget in the new administration’s first official statement on the issue.

“Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and is a contributing factor to scores of diseases and conditions inflicting misery upon millions of our citizens, Further, tobacco use is a major factor driving the increasing costs of health care in the U.S. and accounts for over a hundred billion dollars annually in financial costs to the economy.”
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Tags: Health United States, Health and Human Services, No Smoking, Stop Smoking, How To Stop Smoking, WHO, Bad Tobacco Industry

Health, United States, 2008, Are Our Young Adults Healthy?

CDC has released the Health, United States, 2008, which is the 32nd annual report on the health status of the Nation prepared by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for the President and Congress.
In a chartbook and 151 detailed tables, it provides an annual picture of the health of the entire Nation. Trends are presented on health status and health care utilization, resources, and expenditures.
This year’s report includes a special feature on young adults, age 18 to 29 years. As young people in this age group reach legal adulthood, they make many life choices, including decisions about education, marriage, childbearing, and health behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol use, which will affect both their future economic and health status as well as affect the well-being of their families.

Tags: Health United States, Health and Human Services, CDC