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 The tobacco industry’s products kill 7 million people annually while generating $880 billion in revenue—more than Google, Meta, and Apple combined. Despite decades of tobacco control progress, the industry is adapting faster than regulations can evolve, pivoting to new nicotine products while
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
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
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(10) Implementation of Article 18 of the WHO FCTC. ASH is a proud supporter of this Decision adopted by the COP, the governing body of the Framework
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(6) Implementation of Article 19 of the WHO FCTC on Liability ASH is a proud supporter of this Decision adopted by the COP, the governing body of the Framework
This December, ASH invites you to take part in a simple, uplifting challenge: 31 days of small acts of kindness and generosity. Together, we can close out the year by lifting others up, supporting healthier communities, and celebrating the tobacco-free communities we’re all working to replicate and protect. Our 31
Media Contact: Megan Manning manningm@ash.org (202) 390 – 9513 Nations Advance Global Health at WHO Tobacco Treaty Negotiations Decisions on Liability, Environment and Forward-Looking Measures Blaze a Path towards Endgame GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – NOVEMBER 22, 2025 – Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) led an esteemed delegation to the 11th Conference of
November 22, 2025 – The theme of COP 11 was “Uniting Generations for a Tobacco-Free Future;” a theme which turned out to be an apt indicator of the progress that was made. Article 2.1- Forward Looking Measures In advance of the COP, an Expert Group met and drafted a report
November 21, 2025 – Throughout the opening statements by the Parties at the COP Plenary on Day 1, government delegations were consistent in congratulating the President of the Convention, and then they would go through the various articles to which they claimed compliance. It was so very striking how minimal
November 20, 2025 – As predicted in the Day 3 blog, debate about the Article 2.1 Expert Group report and decision on Forward Looking Measures (also known as tobacco endgame) soaked up time until the end of the day. These measures are broadly grouped under four domains: tobacco supply, institutional structure/market,
