Tobacco use kills 5.4 million people a year throughout the world, with over 100 million deaths in the 20th century. Based on this trend it is projected that tobacco will kill close to one billion worldwide in the 21st century (WHO). In the United States tobacco kills over 430,000 Americans per year (CDC). Cigarettes are the only product manufactured, when used as directed by the manufacturer, results in disease and death.

The United States is part of small group of 23 countries who have failed to ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. These countries include: Afghanistan, Cuba, Cote d’Ivoire, Haiti, Gabon, Republic of Moldova, and others. This treaty, negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization, was developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic. This treaty is the most widely embraced in the history of the UN. Among other items, this treaty addresses tobacco advertising, package labeling, contents in tobacco products, as well as treatment for tobacco dependence.

So one has to wonder about the influence of Big Tobacco on the failure of the U.S. to ratify this treaty. According to the Center for Tobacco-Free Kids, Big Tobacco has contributed over $3 million to federal candidates to elective office in 2006. Does this play a role in the failure of the US to ratify the treaty? Or does the fact that Big Tobacco had over $20 million in lobbying expenditures in 2006 affect ratification? One has to wonder.

Now to be fair, there are bills in the Senate and House of Representatives (S. 625 & H.R. 1108) that would restrict tobacco marketing and sales to kids, require more effective health warnings on tobacco products, require disclosure of contents in tobacco products, ban candy flavoring which is used by the tobacco industry to lure children to use tobacco, among other restrictions. However, these bills have been there now for two years and progress is very slow. It is not at all clear that either bill will pass. On top of that, there is widespread concern that Phillip Morris fully supports these bills and reputedly played a significant role in actually writing the bill.

The annual toll in death and morbidity due to tobacco use in the U.S. is enormous. The fact that it kills more adults every year than fires, accidents, alcohol, illegal drugs, and AIDs combined is alarming when you consider the fact the United States had the opportunity to be a world leader in this regard, and instead, chose to take a back seat. America, and the world, deserves better from our leaders.