ADA lobbies to reduce nicotine in cigarettes

Joins coalition to press FDA

A coalition of public health organizations, including the ADA, submitted formal comments Aug. 26 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in support of a proposed rule to reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes and other combustible tobacco products.

The proposed standard aims to lower nicotine content to minimally or nonaddictive levels, which the coalition said would prevent youth initiation, help millions quit smoking and reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality.

“Reducing nicotine levels in combustible tobacco products provides enormous potential to accelerate progress in preventing and reducing smoking and the death and disease it causes,” the coalition wrote. “We urge you to finalize a comprehensive rule that will have the intended public health impact as quickly as possible.”

The FDA proposal is authorized by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The agency said its goal is to “reduce the risk of progression to regular use and nicotine dependence” and to support quitting by making cigarettes less addictive. According to FDA estimates, the rule could prevent over 48 million young people from starting to smoke by 2100, help 12.9 million smokers quit within the first year, and save 4.3 million lives this century.

“Nicotine is the drug in tobacco that causes addiction,” the coalition quoted from the U.S. Surgeon General’s 1988 report, emphasizing that strong scientific evidence now shows reducing nicotine levels can lower addiction risk and increase cessation success.

Led by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the coalition urged the FDA to apply the standard not only to cigarettes, but also cigars, hookah tobacco and heated tobacco products, citing industry tactics to exploit regulatory loopholes. The group also called for implementation within one year of the rule’s finalization and recommended banning sales of high-nicotine products after the effective date.

The coalition stressed that reduced nicotine content does not make tobacco products safe. They urge the FDA to launch a public education campaign to correct misperceptions and to invest in cessation support to maximize health benefits.

“The impact of this policy would be historic. There are few actions [the] FDA could take that would be as impactful when it comes to protecting kids, reducing chronic disease and saving lives,” the coalition said.