Archive Index /Tobacco Free Florida Comments on New FDA Warning Labels (posted: 6/22/11)

Source: Florida DOH Office of Communications
Contact: Ingrid Vega

Statement from State Surgeon General H. Frank Farmer, Jr., M.D., Ph.D

“The Florida Department of Health is encouraged by FDA’s new warning labels and graphics, as these factors are likely to play a positive role in decreasing Florida’s smoking rate. Each image illustrates the dangers and consequences associated with smoking and we hope they will deter young people from smoking and strengthen the will of those who are attempting to quit.

“Bold and graphic warning labels have been proven effective in communicating risks and affecting behavior. The nine warning labels will be displayed right on the pack, exposing nearly all smokers to the warnings, and the more a smoker consumes, the more they will be exposed to the messaging on the product. The positioning and placement of the warning labels will also limit the tobacco manufacturers’ creativity in designing their packaging and branding that is attractive to consumers.

“Tobacco Free Florida is prepared to help smokers who will see these new health warnings and are inspired to quit. We encourage any Floridian who wants to quit using tobacco to call the Florida Quitline to take advantage of the free resources available to them.”

Background:
Today the FDA issued its final regulations on the warning labels for Tobacco Products and unveiled the final nine graphic health images that will cover the top 50 percent of front and rear panels of cigarette packs sold in the United States. FDA selected the images after reviews of scientific literature, best practices from other countries, public comments and results from an 18,000-person study.

In 2009, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act became law. This legislation granted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate advertising, marketing and production of tobacco products in the United States. The act also required that all cigarette packages and advertisements carry large, visible health warnings and today’s ruling finalizes exactly how this requirement will be carried out.

Florida’s current adult smoking rate is 17.1 percent and the Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) Bureau of Tobacco Prevention is working tirelessly to continue to drive down the smoking prevalence in the state.

The most effective way to quit smoking is to talk to a healthcare provider or seek help from a qualified quit coach to help make a personalized plan. Prescription medication and nicotine replacement therapies such as the patch, gum and lozenges have also been proven effective as part of a comprehensive quit plan.

Florida tobacco users have access to free and convenient help in quitting. Tobacco Free offers a number of resources to help tobacco users quit such as:

• Phone: Call the Florida Quitline at 1-877-U-CAN-NOW to speak with a Quit Coach who will help assess addiction and help create a personalized quit plan.

• Online: Enroll in the Florida Quitline’s online program, which helps create a unique web-based quit plan, visit https://www.quitnow.net/florida.

• In-person: Visit the Florida Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Network’s website, http://www.ahectobacco.com, to locate a local AHEC and sign up for Quit Smoking Now group classes.

About Tobacco Free Florida
Tobacco Free Florida (TFF) is a statewide cessation and prevention campaign funded by Florida’s tobacco settlement fund. The program is managed by the Florida Department of Health, specifically the Bureau of Tobacco Prevention Program. TFF’s mission is to combat the pervasive problem of tobacco use in the Sunshine State, where each year, more than 28,000 Floridians die from smoking and tobacco-related diseases cost the state an estimated $19.6 billion in healthcare costs and lost productivity.

Since its inception in February 2008, TFF has reached millions of Floridians through advertising, grassroots initiatives, social media, and public relations efforts as a means of providing information and offer resources to help tobacco users quit. Smokers and smokeless tobacco users interested in quitting are encouraged to call the Florida Quitline at 1-877-U-CAN-NOW to speak with a quit coach. To learn about TFF and the state’s free quit smoking resources, visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com or follow the campaign on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TobaccoFreeFlorida or Twitter at twitter.com/tobaccofreefla.