New Surgeon General’s Report Offers Much-Needed Vision for Eliminating Tobacco-Related Health Disparities

Statement from Kathy Crosby, Truth Initiative CEO and President

While the nation has made significant progress in driving down tobacco use over the past several decades, a new Surgeon General’s report on tobacco-related health disparities offers a much-needed vision for eliminating these systemic inequities and ending the harmful and disproportionate impact of nicotine addiction across the U.S.

Importantly, the report highlights the critical role of evidence-based cessation tools, such as Truth Initiative's market-leading, proven-effective quit program. Since 2008, we’ve partnered with the Mayo Clinic on our innovative EX^® Program, which provides free evidence-based quitting approaches, a customized quit plan, interactive tools and guides, and the most established online quit community. To date, we have helped millions of people develop the skills and confidence to successfully quit. Research has shown that EX Program can increase odds of quitting by up to 40% – empowering quitting for all. In addition, EX Program Enterprise delivers a proven-effective, customizable, and HIPAA-compliant cessation solution for employers, health plans, and public health entities.

The Surgeon General’s report mirrors similar Truth Initiative research on geographic smoking disparities across the U.S., delving into the historical roots of tobacco-related health disparities. Notably, the report released today examines how these inequities have contributed to disproportionate tobacco use prevalence and negative health outcomes across a wide swath of factors including income, education, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, mental health status, occupation, and geography. The report also looks at the role of flavored tobacco products, particularly menthol, exploring the chemosensory triggers of these youth-appealing products and their impact on tobacco use behaviors, shining a science-based light on how these products are driving nicotine use in young people today.

Tobacco-related health disparities are a persistent yet solvable problem, and the remarkable progress made in eliminating these inequities shows that we are on the right path. Our work is far from over, but together, we can work toward a future free from lifelong nicotine addiction. Tools like EX Program, designed to meet people where they are with personalized support and evidence-based guidance, are key to empowering individuals and communities to overcome addiction and build healthier lives. By addressing disparities and expanding access to these crucial resources, we can ensure that no one is left behind.