40th Anniversary of Surgeon Generals Report

Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop Commemorates 40th Anniversary of the First Report on Smoking and Health with American Lung Association PSA

"America's Family Doctor" Encourages Smokers to Celebrate Public Health Milestone by Quitting

American Lung Association, December 29, 2003

New York, NY - Today, former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, often called "America's Family Doctor," joins the American Lung Association in unveiling a public service announcement (PSA) campaign commemorating the 40th anniversary of the first Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health. Released on January 11, 1964, the report represented a seminal moment in public health, as it was America's first widely publicized official recognition of smoking as a cause of cancer and other deadly diseases.

The PSA, entitled "Remember 1964," will begin airing on television stations nationwide beginning in December. In the PSA, Dr. Koop reminds smokers of the Report's impact and issues a powerful call to action, urging smokers to celebrate the anniversary event by quitting.

"Although there have been great strides made in smoking cessation, there's still more work to be done," said Dr. Koop. "Approximately 46 million American adults still smoke, and the introduction of so-called 'reduced risk' tobacco products may pose a serious threat to public health if they have the effect of delaying or changing a smoker's decision to quit, increasing the exposure to risk of contracting a smoking-related disease. Fortunately, the past 40 years have brought new help and new hope for those who want to quit smoking. There are now FDA-approved tools available to help, including nicotine replacement therapies like the patch, gum and lozenge, as well as counseling, support programs and quitlines, all of which can increase a smoker's chances of becoming smoke-free."

"We are honored to be working with Dr. Koop, whom we have long admired and considered a pillar in the public health community. We are committed to helping people stop smoking and preventing young people from starting. This is the only way that tobacco-related lung disease will be eliminated for future generations," said John L. Kirkwood, president and CEO, American Lung Association. "We've made big strides over the last 40 years, but we still have work to do. We are proud to count this PSA among our many efforts to reduce the death and disease caused by smoking."

For help quitting smoking, please call the American Lung Association at 1-866-QUIT-YES (1-866-784-8937) or visit FFS Online, where users can find information about the American Lung Association's Freedom from Smoking program as well as the 40th anniversary of the first Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health.

For more information about the Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health or FDA-approved stop smoking products, please visit www.quit.com.

For media professionals, the digital copy of the PSA is available at www.newsmarket.com.