Shane Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), shared on LinkedIn:
“One of the biggest mistakes we can make is assuming progress is permanent and that is why I wrote this op-ed for U.S. News and World Report.
The decline in smoking rates over the last several decades is one of the great public health achievements of our time. Millions of people are alive today because leaders invested in prevention, education and policies that helped reduce tobacco use.
But progress isn’t self-sustaining. Today, we’re seeing tobacco and nicotine products reappear in culture, gain visibility on social media and reach audiences in entirely new ways.
At the same time, some of the prevention infrastructure that helped drive historic progress is weakening.
That’s a combination that should concern all of us. Protecting the next generation from addiction and disease requires vigilance. It requires investment and the understanding that the work is not finished simply because we’ve made progress.
Because when it comes to tobacco prevention, the question isn’t whether we know what works. The question is whether we’ll continue doing it.”
To which, Josh Wilson, Senior Manager, Federal Media Advocacy at American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), added:
“Great op-ed by ACS CAN CEO Shane Jacobson on the unfortunate reglamorization of tobacco. Give it a read!”
You can also read: Strengthening or Weakening Tobacco Taxation? The EU Policy Debate
Shane Jacobson was recognized among OncoDaily’s The 100 Most Influential CEOs in Oncology in 2025, highlighting his contributions to the field of oncology.
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