It’s Time for a More Honest Tobacco Policy
July 17, 2026 by realclearhealth.com
It’s Time for a More Honest Tobacco Policy
Honest tobacco policy begins with admitting that cigarettes are not dangerous because they contain nicotine, but because they burn. Once that distinction is blurred, everything else becomes distorted: risk communication, regulation and the choices offered to smokers. Adults deserve clear information about lower-risk alternatives, not a public health message that treats all nicotine use as the same. If policy is serious about reducing disease, it must be honest about where the harm comes from.
14.10% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 39.8 million current smokers in United States 17.10% of men are current smokers but only 11.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
