FDA Makes Major Decision for Cigarette Smokers Amidst Severe Health Risks

Cigarette smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year and is the primary cause of lung and heart diseases.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a new rule that would drastically reduce the nicotine level in cigarettes, as reported by NBC.
If the proposal is passed, the nicotine content in combustible tobacco products would be reduced to a level where most people will no longer become addicted, though this rule will not apply to vapes and e-cigarettes.
Brian King, Director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, shared during a press conference, stating, “By reducing the nicotine level in cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products to a level low enough to no longer create or sustain addiction, the cycle of exposure to these toxic chemicals can be broken.”
Experts note that the average nicotine content per cigarette is 13 milligrams, which would be reduced to 0.07 milligrams after the proposal is finalized, representing a 95% reduction.
This plan is one of the last orders under the Biden administration, so its progression will depend on President-elect Trump and his administration.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said during the briefing call, “If the goal is to make America healthy again, I can’t think of anything more important to get done than this.”
If the rule moves forward, companies will be given two years to implement the necessary changes.
The proposal has been largely welcomed by public health officials, although the American Lung Association wants the rule to cover all products.
If the proposal passes, nearly 48 million children and young adults would be saved from becoming addicted, and around 13 million people would be encouraged to quit smoking within a year.