A sweeping cut by the Trump administration to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tobacco control division has halted youth nicotine use surveys in the U.S. and developing countries, disrupting public health efforts amid a surge in new tobacco products.
María Pérez, Matthew Chapman, and Ashley Okwuosa report for The Examination.
In short:
- The closure of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health has ended U.S. funding for major tobacco use surveys, impacting anti-smoking programs in the U.S. and low-income countries like Chad and Malawi.
- State public health departments are bracing for deep cuts to quit-smoking hotlines and tobacco prevention initiatives due to the halted federal funding.
- Experts warn the lack of youth nicotine data will allow the tobacco industry to expand its reach with little oversight, especially in markets seeing rising use of vapes, heated tobacco, and flavored shisha.
Key quote:
“For me, it is a big win for the industry and it will have a field day in the countries that were relying on the survey.”
— Alison Commar, technical officer at the World Health Organization
Why this matters:
Tobacco use remains the world’s top preventable killer, with more than eight million deaths annually, and new nicotine products like vapes and pouches are gaining traction among youth worldwide. These products often enter markets faster than health officials can track their use, especially in countries with weak regulatory systems. Without timely and accurate data on youth usage and industry marketing, governments can’t identify trends, assess the effectiveness of public health campaigns, or pass responsive regulations. The CDC’s surveys provided key insights that led to actions against e-cigarette companies and menthol marketing in the U.S. Their abrupt end risks blinding both domestic and global officials to emerging threats.
Read more: FDA layoffs target food safety, medical device and tobacco oversight
