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Surgeon General's Report on Tobacco Major Talking Points/Health Messages $ The Surgeon General=s report on Reducing Tobacco Use is the first-ever report that provides an in-depth analysis of tobacco intervention strategies. This report will serve as a vital blueprint for coordinated national tobacco control efforts to reduce preventable tobacco-related diseases and deaths in our nation. $ The Healthy People 2010 goals to cut adult and youth smoking rates in half can only be achieved if we act quickly and decisively on the recommendations in this report. Today, nearly a quarter of adults and about a third of our youth continue to smoke in the United States. $ Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable illness and death in our Nation, and a growing number of countries are experiencing the health burden attributed to tobacco use. It is now more important than ever that we commit the necessary resources, implement proven strategies, and build capacity both nationally and globally to prevent and reduce smoking. $ The tobacco industry=s advertising and promotion campaigns pose a serious challenge to public health efforts to prevent the onset or continuance of tobacco use. In 1998, tobacco companies spent nearly $7 billion C or more than 18 million dollars a day C to advertise and promote cigarettes. The report concludes that the regulation of tobacco product sales and promotion is required to protect young people from influences to take up smoking. $ A comprehensive approach C one that optimizes synergy from applying a combination of educational, clinical, regulatory, economic, and comprehensive strategies C has emerged as the guiding principle for future efforts to reduce tobacco use. The public health goal of such comprehensive programs are to reduce disease, disability, and death related to tobacco use through prevention, cessation, and protecting nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. $ The elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities related to tobacco use poses a great national challenge. Cultural, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic differences are clearly important in understanding patterns of tobacco use. Reaching the national goal of eliminating health disparities related to tobacco use will require more research to develop effective interventions for various population groups Other Cross-Cutting Health Messages Tobacco Use Treatment $ Research on methods to treat nicotine addiction has shown that a wide array of strategies is effective. The broad application of these effective treatment methods could produce a