Surgeon General Tells Americans To Stop Smoking Cigarettes In New Report

Today US Surgeon General Vice Admiral Jerome M. Adams released the first major report on smoking cessation in 30 years. The first (of two, total) made by the office was released three decades ago. Here in 2020, Adams said, "Today, I'm calling on healthcare professionals, health systems, employers, insurers, public health professionals, and policy makers to take action to put an end to the staggering—and completely preventable—human and financial tolls that smoking takes on our country."

UPDATE: To be clear – this report does not suggest, in any way whatsoever, that the Surgeon General is recommending the use of e-cigarettes in order to stop smoking cigarettes. One of the key findings of the report suggests that "there is presently inadequate evidence to conclude that e-cigarettes, in general, increase smoking cessation."

"If your loved one – or you – are a smoker and you've tried to quit or want to quit, there literally, literally has never been a better time to make a quit attempt," said Adams. "Smoking Cessation: A Report of the Surgeon General is the 34th report on tobacco since the first surgeon general report was released way back in 1964, and it's the first to focus solely on cessation since 1990."

At the tail end of 2019, the legal age requirement for smoking in the United States was increased from 18 to 21. Below you'll see the PBS broadcast of the Surgeon General's presentation of this new report to the public earlier today.

"It's been 30 years and the three decades," said Adams, "The world has changed dramatically, from the advent of smartphones and social media to wider availability of FDA approved smoking cessation medications, and with research medical advances and years of documented experience and tobacco control we know more about the science of quitting than ever before. Today's report documents proven strategies that help adults quit smoking."

The entirety of the report can be found at HSS – the Office of the Surgeon General right this minute. There you'll also find reports on E-cigarettes, tobacco use, and exposure to tobacco smoke.