ASH is proud of what our small team accomplished in 2025, but we are even more determined by what remains to be done. This year, we helped secure landmark decisions under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), strengthened global use of liability to hold the tobacco
October 2026 — Forty-five national and international organizations sent a sign-on letter urging the Government of Türkiye to ensure that proposed tobacco control legislation advances public health without weakening existing protections. Read the full sign-on letter to the Government of Türkiye here> The letter responds to reports that Türkiye is
ASH investigates many different approaches to tobacco endgame. One of these paths is through integrating nicotine control and regulation within the United Nations Narcotics System. At the September 2026 UN General Assembly, the President of Palau called for stronger international cooperation to protect young people from nicotine dependence, warning that
Media Contact: Megan Manning manningm@ash.org (202) 659 – 4310 Mill Valley, CA Becomes 4th Marin County Community to Eliminate Tobacco and Nicotine Sales in One Year New ordinance phases out sale of ALL commercial tobacco and nicotine products by February 1, 2027 WASHINGTON, DC — October 7, 2026 — Mill
Media Contact: Megan Manning manningm@ash.org (202) 659 – 4310 Tobacco Industry Maintains Extensive Lobbying Network Across All 50 States, New ASH Data Reveal Six years of tracking show persistent tobacco industry presence in state capitals, with 339 lobbyists and firms appearing every year since 2021 WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 6,
Auteur: Dr Eduardo Bianco, directeur du Programme de formation en addictologie pour les professionnels de santé (ATHP) de la Fondation Frank et coordinateur de l’Initiative pour le traitement de la dépendance à la nicotine et du tabagisme (NATTI) 16 septembre 2026 [Read in English] | [Leer en español] Ne pas
Author: Dr. Eduardo Bianco, Director, Addiction Training Program for Health Professionals (ATHP), Frank Foundation and Coordinator, Nicotine Addiction and Tobacco use Treatment Initiative (NATTI) September 16, 2026 [Leer en español] | [Lire en français] Failing to ask about tobacco use is no longer just a missed opportunity—it is a patient
Should tobacco control advocates be recognized as human rights defenders? Growing awareness of intimidation faced by tobacco control advocates has prompted consideration of whether and how the legal framework used to protect human rights defenders (HRD) in the international system might strengthen protection for tobacco control advocates as well. ASH Managing Attorney
Author: David An, ASH Policy Fellow July 27, 2026 Zyn is sold as tobacco-free. The claim is accurate, and it is also very effective marketing. A nicotine pouch contains no tobacco, but what it does contain is nicotine, the ingredient that creates dependence and keeps people coming back. Moving a
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
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
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
A Letter from the Chair of the Board of Trustees Carolyn Dresler, MD, MPA Dear Friends and Supporters of ASH, It is my great honor to write to you as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). For nearly sixty years, ASH
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
“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
