THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Danbury, Connecticut)
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Monday, September 11, 2000
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Today, researchers are releasing two important studies that remind us
why we must act quickly to protect young people from the dangers of
tobacco.
According to an NIH-funded study in the September issue of Tobacco
Control, children become addicted to nicotine more readily than researchers
previously suspected. The study shows that kids do not need to smoke every
day before they become dependent on nicotine - even adolescents who smoke
as little as once a month experience symptoms of addiction. And because we
already know that at least one third of the children who get hooked will
have their lives cut short as a result, the national consequences are
devastating. Another study released today in the September issue of
Preventive Medicine underscores the effectiveness of price increases as
part of any comprehensive effort, especially among young people - up to 2.3
million lives could be saved over the next 40 years by a $1.00 per pack
inflation-adjusted price increase alone.
These studies today show why Congress must join Vice President Gore
and me in making the health of our children a priority. Today I renew my
call to Congress to affirm the FDA?s authority to limit tobacco marketing
and sales to youth and fund the Clinton-Gore Administration?s
tobacco-related budget proposals. I also urge Congress to reject special
interest protections for big tobacco by letting the American taxpayers, who
have spent billions in tobacco-related federal health costs, finally have
their day in court. By working together, we can improve our nation?s
health and save children?s lives.
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