AMA continues efforts to prevent tobacco use

HONOLULU — The American Medical Association (AMA) today adopted new policy furthering its longtime support for anti-tobacco efforts aimed at improving public health. The new policy calls for educating the public and policymakers about several tobacco companies’ organized conspiracy to commit fraud and mislead consumers about the negative health effects of tobacco use.

In 2006, a U.S. federal district court found several tobacco companies, including Phillip Morris and R.J. Reynolds, in violation of the U.S. Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act — noting that their goal has been to increase revenues with little regard for individual illness and suffering or soaring health costs. Now, more than 10 years later, a U.S. Court of Appeals has finalized the content of the corrective statements, which are required to make the public aware of the adverse health effects of smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke, the addictiveness of smoking and nicotine, and the lack of any significant health benefit from smoking “low tar,” “light,” “ultralight,” “mild,” and “natural” cigarettes.