PALAU CALLS FOR GLOBAL REVIEW OF NICOTINE AS NEW PRODUCTS EXPAND The Republic of Palau continues to lead global efforts to address the rapidly evolving nicotine landscape. Following its historic notification to the United Nations requesting a WHO review of nicotine under the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the WHO
World No Tobacco Day 2026 arrives at a pivotal moment for global public health. This year’s theme — “Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction” — recognizes a troubling reality: the tobacco and nicotine industry has not abandoned its business model of addiction. It has modernized it. Tobacco and nicotine companies employ candy
ASH is proud to share that a Letter to the Editor from ASH Board Chair Carolyn Dresler was published in The Washington Post in response to the April 23 editorial, “Butt out, cigarette banners.” Originally published by The Washington Post on May 5, 2026. Read an excerpt below. Champion tobacco
Media contact: Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy (202) 659-4310 The UK is the largest nation to enact a Tobacco Endgame Policy WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 29, 2026 – Today, After a parliamentary proceeding with strong cross-party support, today King Charles III signed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill into law in the United Kingdom. The
By: Dr. Carolyn Dresler, retired thoracic surgical oncologist, former Associate Director for Medical and Health Sciences for the Office of Science at the Center for Tobacco Products within the FDA, and Chair of the Board of Trustees for Action on Smoking and Health One of the biggest successes for the
US Smoking Prevalence Drops But There’s More to See There The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a peer-reviewed article from our tobacco control colleague, Dr. Israel Agaku, announcing some partially good news: in 2024, cigarette smoking among adults in the United States fell to 9.9%. While this is progress, it’s not the complete story. Unfortunately, unless
The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a peer reviewed article from our tobacco control colleague, Dr. Israel Agaku, announcing some partially good news: in 2024, cigarette smoking among adults in the United States fell to 9.9%. This is a significant improvement from the 42.4% prevalence rate in 1965
Recently, momentum for a human rights-based approach to tobacco control has been growing, as the human rights field increasingly understands the extreme harm caused by tobacco companies. This is made particularly evident by an important victory in a Concluding Observation from a human rights treaty body– a win that is directly related to advocacy efforts from ASH and our partners in the tobacco control
Women comprise roughly 20% of the world’s 1 billion+ people who smoke, with about 200 million female tobacco users globally. Although smoking among women is generally decreasing, it is falling at a slower rate than in men. Tobacco disproportionately harms women and girls and is often overlooked as a women’s rights
Author: Eline Goethals, The School for Moral Ambition In 2024, the global tobacco market reached $965 billion while their products killed 7 million people. Despite decades of tobacco control progress, the industry adapts faster than regulations can evolve, pivoting to new nicotine products while maintaining their addiction-based business model. The
The tobacco industry is relentlessly targeting children in Colombia, using widespread advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products through all types of media. But the truth is far darker: tobacco kills millions, and these tactics violate children’s human rights. We Are Taking Action. 32 organizations are jointly reporting these violations
The tobacco industry is relentlessly targeting children in Spain, using widespread advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products through all types of media. But the truth is far darker: tobacco kills millions, and these tactics violate children’s human rights. We Are Taking Action. 64 organizations are jointly reporting these violations
Media Contact: Megan Manning manningm@ash.org Tobacco Endgame Policies Work and Do Not Harm the Economy Statement from Laurent Huber, Executive Director of Action on Smoking and Health February 3, 2026 Laws prohibiting the sale of commercial tobacco products in Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach, California have been in place for
Media Contact: Megan Manning (202) 659 – 4310 ASH Honors Outgoing Board Chair Doug Blanke and Introduces New Board Chair Carolyn Dresler, MD, MPA A Tribute to Service and the Next Era of Progress WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 13, 2026 – Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) extends our deepest gratitude
ASH’s work is based on the principle that the actions of the tobacco industry – producing, marketing, and selling addictive products that kill when use as intended – violate human rights, for example the right to health. As such, ASH focuses on 4 key areas of work: (1) Phasing out the
By: Chris Bostic, ASH Policy Director Some rays of light in a cloudy world: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.” These lines are a personal mantra and emotional survival tool.
Guest Author: Raven Twilling, Tobacco Prevention Coordinator at Bay Area Community Resources The Youth Advocacy Committee (YAC) functions as an internship program for high school students in Marin County, designed to amplify youth voices in tobacco and nicotine prevention and policy advocacy. Each year, we engage a new cohort of
Media Contact: Megan Manning manningm@ash.org Statement from Laurent Huber on United Nations Political Declaration on NCDs at HLM4 December 16, 2025 Action on Smoking and Health welcomes the Political Declaration from the Fourth High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion
Is a future where no one dies because of commercial tobacco products within our reach? Yes! What once seemed like an impossible goal is now within our reach. 2025 has taken us several steps closer to this goal, and ASH is proud to have been a leader in realizing this
ASH’s Impact in 2025 Building Toward the End of Tobacco Sales Momentum is building toward a tobacco-free future, and the endgame movement is stronger than ever. Read ASH’s 2025 Impact to see which breakthroughs are changing the game. ASH NEWS Blog: 2025 Reflection from ASH Executive Director Laurent Huber Media: Nations Advance
“There can be no doubt that the production and marketing of tobacco is irreconcilable with the human right to health,” concluded the Danish Institute for Human Rights after their assessment of Philip Morris International (PMI). As such, it’s essential to integrate human rights reporting and their resulting enforcement mechanisms into
ASH is proud of its achievements in 2024, but we recognize that tobacco continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. and the world. While we have helped reduce smoking prevalence, global population growth means there are more people smoking at the end of 2024 than
The eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP 11) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) adopted a series of key Decisions including FCTC/COP11(12) Mobilization by Parties of sustainable resources for tobacco control. ASH is a proud supporter of this Decision adopted by the COP, the governing body of the Framework Convention
The Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) adopted a series of key Decisions including FCTC/COP11(5) Forward-looking tobacco control measures (in relation to Article 2.1 of the WHO FCTC). ASH is a proud supporter of this Decision adopted by the COP, the
