CASA* Issued the Following Press Release Regarding Seven Former Secretaries of Health Demanding Congress Correct Serious Flaw in Proposed Bill and Ban Menthol-Flavored Cigarettes

CASA* Issued the Following Press Release Regarding Seven Former Secretaries of Health Demanding Congress Correct Serious Flaw in Proposed Bill and Ban Menthol-Flavored Cigarettes.

Seven former Secretaries of Health, Education, and Welfare and Health and Human Services -- Joseph A. Califano, Jr. (1977-1979), Louis W. Sullivan, M.D. (1989-1993), Donna E. Shalala, Ph.D. (1993-2001), Tommy G. Thompson (2001-2005), Otis R. Bowen, M.D. (1985-1989), Richard S. Schweiker (1981-1983), David Matthews, Ph.D. (1975-1977) -- and Julius B. Richmond, M.D., former U.S. Surgeon General (1977-1981), and William S. Robinson, Executive Director, National African American Tobacco Prevention Network, urged members of Congress to correct a serious flaw in The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (S 625 and H 1108) and ban menthol flavored cigarettes.

In a letter dated June 4, 2008, the group said that by not amending the bill to include menthol flavored cigarettes, the type of cigarette used by 81 percent of teen African American smokers, "it sends a message that African American youngsters are valued less than white youngsters."

"The bill bans the use of all artificial or natural flavors in cigarettes -- except menthol. Since menthol is by far the most popular 'flavor' for cigarettes, that's a loophole big enough for a herd of wild animals to romp through and trample the health of African Americans," said the group.

Letters were sent today to bipartisan leaders of the House and Senate, and members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Congressional Black Caucus. The letter was also sent to the Presidential candidates.

The text of the letter to members of Congress contains the following:

Nearly 75 percent of African American smokers use menthol cigarettes.  A
recent survey found that among teen smokers, 81 percent of African
Americans smoke menthol cigarettes compared to only 32 percent of Whites
and 45 percent of Hispanics.  We also know that 90 percent of adult smokers
are hooked as teens.

More than 47,000 blacks die each year from smoking-related disease and
thousands more are crippled by smoking-related ailments.  More black
women get lung cancer than breast cancer and black men are 50 percent more
likely to get lung cancer than white men.

Tobacco companies know that one of the most effective ways to boost sales
is to make cigarettes more palatable to first-time smokers by disguising
the unpleasant taste of inhaled smoke and adding a fresh, minty flavor and
cooling effect.  They also know that menthol flavoring may make it more
difficult for smokers to quit.

African Americans have long been targeted by marketing campaigns for
menthol cigarettes.  In 1990, the launch of R.J. Reynolds' menthol-flavored
Uptown cigarettes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was planned to coincide
with the celebration of Black History Month.  One of us (Louis Sullivan),
then U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, denounced the target
marketing of this product.  With strong opposition from the public health
profession and the African American community, R.J. Reynolds backed down
and withdrew Uptown cigarettes from the market.

But, like leopards in the jungle, cigarette companies never change their
spots.  R.J. Reynolds is test marketing a new product called Camel Crush, a
"menthol-on-demand" cigarette where the smoker can bite down on the menthol
capsule in the filter to give them anywhere from a small burst to an
extreme rush of menthol flavor -- the perfect mask for tobacco's harsh
flavor.

Banning flavored cigarettes, which mask the harshness of tobacco --
something that can deter some first-time smokers, especially children -- is
a positive move.  But, by failing to ban menthol, the bill caves to the
financial interests of tobacco companies and discriminates against African
Americans -- the segment of our population at greatest risk for the killing
and crippling smoking-related diseases.  It sends a message that African
American youngsters are valued less than white youngsters.

The group concluded the letter by saying, "To make the pending tobacco legislation truly effective, menthol cigarettes should be treated the same as other flavored cigarettes. Menthol should be banned so that it no longer serves as a product the tobacco companies can use to lure African American children. We do everything we can to protect our children in America, especially our white children. It's time to do the same for all children."

*The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University is neither affiliated with, nor sponsored by, the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (also known as "CASA") or any of its member organizations, or any other organizations with the name of "CASA."

Contacts: Lauren Duran 212-841-5260 lduran@casacolumbia.org Sulaiman Beg 212-841-5213 sbeg@casacolumbia.org