News Advisory
Press Conference Today, 2:00 PM
- NIH State-of-the-Science Conference on Tobacco Use
Prevention, Cessation, and Control
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What: |
An impartial, independent panel charged with
reviewing the available scientific evidence on prevention,
cessation, and control of tobacco use will hold a press conference
to present its findings to the media. The panel was convened
as part of a three-day NIH state-of-the-science conference,
which began Monday.
No registration is required. Reporters unable to attend
may view the press conference webcast live and submit questions
at http://videocast.nih.gov/.
Additional information about the state-of-the-science
conference is available at http://consensus.nih.gov/2006/2006TobaccoSOS029html.htm.
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When: |
Wednesday, June 14, 2006, 2:00 p.m. Eastern
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Where: |
Natcher Conference Center, Main Auditorium
NIH Main Campus, Building 45
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Campus visitor information: http://www.nih.gov/about/visitor/index.htm |
Why: |
Tobacco use remains the nation's leading preventable
cause of premature death. Each year, more than 440,000 Americans
die from disease caused by tobacco use, accounting for one
in every five deaths. Cigarette smoking alone is responsible
for more than 30 percent of cancer deaths annually in the
United States, and smoking is also an important cause of
death from heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. Currently, there are an estimated 44.5
million (21 percent) adult smokers and an estimated 3.75
million (22 percent) high school student smokers in the United
States. Cigarettes are the predominant form of tobacco consumed;
however, other forms of tobacco, such as smokeless tobacco,
cigars, and pipes, are also used. In addition to the toll
on human lives, tobacco use places an enormous economic burden
on society. From 1995 to 1999, estimated annual smoking-attributable
economic costs in the United States were $75.5 billion for
direct medical care for adults and $81.9 billion for lost
productivity.
Despite enormous progress in reducing the prevalence of
tobacco use in this country, it is unlikely that the "Healthy
People 2010" objectives of reducing smoking prevalence
to 12 percent or less in adults and 16 percent or less
in youth will be reached on schedule. A better understanding
of how effective strategies for prevention and treatment
can be developed and implemented across diverse segments
of the population is crucial to accelerate progress; meeting
the "Healthy People 2010" prevalence goals would
prevent a projected additional 7.1 million premature deaths
after 2010. This conference has been planned to facilitate
an objective review of the available evidence to clarify
what is known and what research gaps remain concerning
the conference questions.
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Background: |
The conference is sponsored by the NIH Office
of Medical Applications of Research and the National Cancer
Institute, through the NIH Consensus Development Program.
A background document about the conference process is available
at http://consensus.nih.gov/forthemedia.htm.
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For More Information: |
To schedule interviews, please contact Kelli
Marciel by e-mail at marcielk@od.nih.gov or by phone at (301)
496-4819.
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Note to TV Editors: |
The press conference at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday,
June 14, will be broadcast live via satellite at the following
coordinates:
C-Band Galaxy 3C
Transponder: 23C
Orbital Location: 95 degrees west
Downlink Frequency: 4160 H
Audio: 6.2/ 6.8
Test time: 1:30-2:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
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Note to Radio Editors: |
An audio report of the conference results
will be available after 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, from
the NIH Radio News Service by calling 1-800-MED-DIAL (1-800-633-3425)
or visiting http://www.nih.gov/news/radio/index.htm.
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and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates
the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more
information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. |