Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the United States
Encyclopedia
Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the United States was a landmark report published on January 11, 1964 by the Surgeon General's Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health, chaired by then-Surgeon General of the United States
Luther Terry regarding the negative health effects of smoking. While not the first such declaration by an official of the United States of America, it is notable for being arguably the most famous, and certainly had lasting and widespread effects on the tobacco industry and on the worldwide perception of smoking.
"declared it the official position of the U.S. Public Health Service that the evidence pointed to a causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer." This was followed by a committee of the United Kingdom's
Royal College of Physicians
issuing a report on March 7, 1962, "clearly indicted cigarette smoking as a cause of lung cancer and bronchitis and argued that it probably contributed to cardiovascular disease as well." After pressure from the American Cancer Society
, the American Heart Association
, the National Tuberculosis Association, and the American Public Health Association
, President
John F. Kennedy
authorized Surgeon General Terry's creation of the Advisory Committee. The committee met from November 1962 to January 1964 and analyzed over 7,000 scientific articles and papers.
Like the World Health Organization during this period, but possibly influenced by the fact that they were themselves smokers, the Committee defined cigarette smoking as a "habituation" rather than an overpowering "addiction." Committee members agreed with most Americans that this habit (though often strong) was possible for individuals to break. In the years after the Surgeon General's report, millions of Americans successfully choose to quit smoking, with two-thirds to three-quarters of ex-smokers quitting unaided by nicotine replacement methods
. In addition, the "cold turkey" method has been found to be the most successful in terms stopping smoking over long periods of time. However in a controversial move in 1989, later surgeon general C. Everett Koop
shifted course and redefined cigarette smoking as "an addiction" rather than a habit.
Surgeon General of the United States
The Surgeon General of the United States is the operational head of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government...
Luther Terry regarding the negative health effects of smoking. While not the first such declaration by an official of the United States of America, it is notable for being arguably the most famous, and certainly had lasting and widespread effects on the tobacco industry and on the worldwide perception of smoking.
Background
The health effects of tobacco had been debated by users, medical experts, and governments alike since its introduction to European culture. Hard evidence for the ill effects of smoking became apparent with the results of several long-term studies conducted in the early to middle twentieth century, and on June 12, 1957, then-Surgeon General Leroy BurneyLeroy Edgar Burney
Leroy Edgar Burney was an American physician and public health official. He was appointed the eighth Surgeon General of the United States from 1956 to 1961.-Early years:...
"declared it the official position of the U.S. Public Health Service that the evidence pointed to a causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer." This was followed by a committee of the United Kingdom's
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
issuing a report on March 7, 1962, "clearly indicted cigarette smoking as a cause of lung cancer and bronchitis and argued that it probably contributed to cardiovascular disease as well." After pressure from the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
, the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
, the National Tuberculosis Association, and the American Public Health Association
American Public Health Association
The American Public Health Association is Washington, D.C.-based professional organization for public health professionals in the United States. Founded in 1872 by Dr. Stephen Smith, APHA has more than 30,000 members worldwide...
, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
authorized Surgeon General Terry's creation of the Advisory Committee. The committee met from November 1962 to January 1964 and analyzed over 7,000 scientific articles and papers.
Findings
The report's conclusions were almost entirely focused on the negative health effects of cigarette smoking. It found cigarette smokers had a seventy percent increased mortality rate, that cigarette smoke was the primary cause of chronic bronchitis, and showed a correlation between smoking, emphysema, and heart disease. In addition, it reported a causative link between smoking and a ten- to twentyfold increase in the occurrence of lung cancer, as well as a positive correlation between pregnant women who smoke and underweight newborns.Like the World Health Organization during this period, but possibly influenced by the fact that they were themselves smokers, the Committee defined cigarette smoking as a "habituation" rather than an overpowering "addiction." Committee members agreed with most Americans that this habit (though often strong) was possible for individuals to break. In the years after the Surgeon General's report, millions of Americans successfully choose to quit smoking, with two-thirds to three-quarters of ex-smokers quitting unaided by nicotine replacement methods
Smoking cessation
Smoking cessation is the process of discontinuing the practice of inhaling a smoked substance. This article focuses exclusively on cessation of tobacco smoking; however, the methods described may apply to cessation of smoking other substances that can be difficult to stop using due to the...
. In addition, the "cold turkey" method has been found to be the most successful in terms stopping smoking over long periods of time. However in a controversial move in 1989, later surgeon general C. Everett Koop
C. Everett Koop
Charles Everett Koop, MD is an American pediatric surgeon and public health administrator. He was a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and served as thirteenth Surgeon General of the United States under President Ronald Reagan from 1982 to 1989.-Early years:Koop was born...
shifted course and redefined cigarette smoking as "an addiction" rather than a habit.