Given that tobacco remains the leading cause of disease and death in the US, access to care to help people quit should be a basic human right, assert the authors of a new editorial in the journal Tobacco Induced Disease.
While 21 municipalities in the US have already passed bills to ban tobacco sales to the next generation, known as “tobacco endgame” laws, society’s obligation to respect people’s basic human rights requires that any government passing such laws also not leave the current generation of people who smoke to die, the authors wrote.
They ought to work with relevant systems—from insurers to health systems to clinicians—to offer opt-out evidence-based treatments to help people quit smoking, regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
“Tobacco treatment should be available to everyone, especially those most impacted by tobacco use. Access shouldn’t depend on income, insurance, race, gender, or background,” said UW-CTRI Director and editorial co-author Dr. Hasmeena Kathuria. “Tobacco is so highly addictive that everyone should have the chance to access treatments to quit tobacco use.”
The authors also argue that menthol flavoring should be banned nationwide from tobacco products.
To read the full editorial, click here.
Thiele A, Dresler C, Kathuria H, Arendt-Manning M, Southard C. (2025) Access to Tobacco Cessation is a Human Right and Essential for the Endgame. Tobacco Induced Disease. May 6;23:10. Online May 8, 2025.