American Cancer Society releases first-ever US Tobacco Atlas – News-Medical

Report on The U.S. Tobacco Atlas: A Framework for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Aligning Tobacco Control with Global Health Objectives

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has released The U.S. Tobacco Atlas, a digital resource providing comprehensive data on tobacco use and control policies. This initiative directly supports the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), which aims to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases. The Atlas serves as a critical tool for policymakers and public health professionals to strengthen the implementation of evidence-based strategies, in line with SDG Target 3.4.

Key Findings on Public Health and Tobacco Control (SDG 3)

Progress in Reducing Tobacco-Related Harm

The report documents significant public health gains that contribute to SDG 3 targets. Key achievements include:

• A substantial decline in adult cigarette smoking prevalence, from 42% in 1965 to 11% in 2023.
• The national quit smoking ratio reached a record 62% in 2022.
• A notable decline in overall secondhand smoke exposure.

Persistent Challenges to Health and Well-being

Despite progress, the report identifies ongoing challenges that impede the full realization of SDG 3:

• Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of cancer death in the U.S.
• Lung cancer screening rates are critically low, with only 18.1% of eligible adults up-to-date in 2022, hindering early detection and treatment.
• The use of tobacco cessation aids remains low, particularly in the South and Midwest.
• E-cigarette use is rising, with 1.63 million youth reporting use in 2024, posing a new threat to public health.

Addressing Inequalities in Tobacco-Related Burdens (SDG 10)

Disparities in Health Outcomes

The Atlas brings into sharp focus the inequities in tobacco-related harm, a direct challenge to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The data reveals that the burden of tobacco use is not distributed equally, with higher prevalence and adverse outcomes among specific populations:

• Non-White individuals
• People with disabilities
• LGBTQ+ individuals
• Individuals with lower income and limited education

Geographic and Socioeconomic Inequities

The report underscores how geographic and socioeconomic factors exacerbate health disparities, undermining both SDG 10 and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

1. Regional Disparities: Southern states exhibit the lowest lung cancer screening rates, coinciding with areas where the lung cancer burden and healthcare access issues are greatest.
2. Housing Inequities: Secondhand smoke exposure remains high in rental and public housing, disproportionately affecting vulnerable residents and compromising the goal of safe and healthy living environments.
3. Targeted Product Use: The use of smokeless tobacco is concentrated in specific states, such as Wyoming and West Virginia, indicating a need for tailored regional policies.

A Call to Action for Policy and Partnership (SDG 17)

The Atlas as a Tool for Collaborative Action

The U.S. Tobacco Atlas is presented as more than a report; it is a resource designed to foster collaboration and evidence-based policymaking, embodying the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). It provides a common evidence base for a wide range of stakeholders to work together towards ending the tobacco epidemic.

• Public health professionals
• Researchers
• Advocates
• Policymakers
• Students

Strategic Recommendations for a Sustainable Future

The report functions as a call to action, urging a recommitment to bold, equitable policies. The findings support the following strategic priorities to accelerate progress towards the SDGs:

1. Strengthen state and federal tobacco control policies to protect all communities.
2. Develop and implement targeted interventions to eliminate health disparities among vulnerable populations, directly addressing SDG 10.
3. Expand access to and promote the use of evidence-based cessation resources and lung cancer screenings to advance SDG 3.
4. Leverage multi-sectoral partnerships to ensure a coordinated and sustained effort to end the tobacco epidemic, fulfilling the vision of SDG 17.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the U.S. Tobacco Atlas highlights issues that are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This is the primary SDG addressed. The article focuses extensively on the public health crisis caused by tobacco use, which it identifies as the “leading preventable cause of cancer death in the US.” It discusses the prevalence of smoking, the incidence of lung cancer, the importance of screening and cessation, and the overall goal of promoting health and saving lives by ending the tobacco epidemic.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article explicitly points out significant disparities in the burden of tobacco use and its consequences. It states that “Non-White individuals, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lower income and limited education face higher tobacco-related burdens.” It also highlights geographic inequalities, noting that lung cancer screening rates and use of cessation aids are lowest in Southern and Midwestern states, where the health burden is greatest. This directly addresses the goal of reducing inequalities in health outcomes among different population groups and regions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

  The article’s entire focus is on preventing premature deaths from cancer, a primary non-communicable disease, caused by tobacco. It highlights progress, such as the drop in adult smoking from 42% to 11%, and calls for continued efforts in “tobacco control” to save lives.

• Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services…

  The article identifies a major gap in access to essential health services. It reports that “only 18.1% of eligible adults who currently smoke or formerly smoked were up-to-date with lung cancer screening in 2022,” and notes that these low rates are concentrated in areas with significant “healthcare access issues.”

• Target 3.a: Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate.

  The article is a call to action for policymakers to “recommit to a bold vision” and strengthen policies. The creation of the “U.S. Tobacco Atlas” itself is a tool designed to support this target by providing data for “public health professionals, researchers, advocates, policymakers” to advance tobacco control efforts.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

  The article’s findings underscore the need for this target by identifying specific vulnerable groups. It calls for “equitable policies” and “targeted interventions” to address the “persistent disparities in tobacco use and tobacco-related disease” that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome…

  The article directly addresses inequalities of health outcomes. It highlights that disparities are “particularly pronounced in states with weak tobacco control policies and among populations with lower socioeconomic status,” and calls for action to close these gaps and ensure that progress against tobacco is shared by all members of society.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 3

• Prevalence of tobacco use: The article provides explicit data points that can be used as indicators. It states that “cigarette smoking among U.S. adults dropped from 42% in 1965 to 11% in 2023.” It also notes that “1.63 million youth reported using e-cigarettes in 2024.” These figures directly measure the extent of tobacco use in the population.
• Mortality rate from non-communicable diseases (NCDs): While not providing a specific mortality rate, the article implies this indicator by stating that “over 80% of lung cancer deaths attributed to tobacco.” This percentage is a key component in calculating the mortality burden from tobacco-related NCDs.
• Coverage of essential health services: The article provides a precise indicator for health service coverage by reporting that “only 18.1% of eligible adults… were up-to-date with lung cancer screening in 2022.” This measures access to and utilization of a critical preventive health service.
• Quit smoking ratio: The article mentions that the “national quit smoking ratio reached a record 62% in 2022,” providing a direct measure of the success of cessation efforts.

Indicators for SDG 10

• Disaggregated data on health outcomes and access: The article implies the need for indicators disaggregated by demographic and geographic factors. By stating that “Non-White individuals, …LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lower income… face higher tobacco-related burdens” and that screening rates are “lowest in Southern states,” it points to the necessity of tracking health indicators (like smoking prevalence, screening rates, and quit ratios) across these specific groups to measure progress in reducing inequalities.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news-medical.net