The Silver Anniversary

Abstract

On Wednesday, Jan 11, 1989, I will release the next Surgeon General's report on the health consequences of smoking. That date is the 25th anniversary of the day on which the historic report of the Surgeon General's Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health was released to Surgeon General Luther L. Terry, MD. This anniversary report will review and analyze the major developments related to smoking and health that have occurred in the United States during the past quarter century. Tremendous gains have been made. The prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults has fallen steadily since 1964. Per capita cigarette sales have declined each year since 1973. Even total cigarette sales have decreased about 2% each year during the past six years, despite growth in population.1Smoking is no longer socially acceptable, and is prohibited in more public places than ever before. Physicians and other health care providers, medical organizations,