NOVA MCGILL
Contributor
On January 11, 1964, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry made headlines with a striking report that revealed a direct connection between smoking and cancer. Terry was well aware that this announcement would cause a stir, so he chose a Saturday for the release, hoping to prevent a panic on Wall Street. For years, people had suspected this connection. There had been whispers about the dangers of cigarettes, and by the 1930s, doctors were noticing a rise in lung cancer cases. Serious studies from Britain emerged in the late 1940s, ramping up public concern.
However, American cigarette companies fought back fiercely during the following decade. They lobbied aggressively to keep cigarettes widely available and promoted “low-tar” and “light” brands as supposedly safer options. By 1958, 44 percent of Americans believed smoking contributed to cancer, and major health organizations were already warning about its risks to the heart and lungs. Yet, nearly half the population still smoked, with cigarettes commonplace in bars, restaurants, offices, and homes.
Dr. Terry began working on his report in 1962, and by 1964, “Smoking and Health” was published. It clearly stated that smoking was linked to cancer in men, particularly lung and heart cancer. It mentioned women were at risk, too, though the data was less robust since fewer women smoked at the time. While the findings were significant, they weren’t exactly shocking—The New York Times candidly remarked that “it could hardly have been otherwise.” Nonetheless, Terry’s report marked a pivotal moment. Tobacco companies continued their battle against anti-smoking legislation, successfully delaying significant change until the 1990s, but public perception gradually evolved. By 1985, seven out of ten Americans acknowledged that smoking caused cancer, and smoking rates had dropped about 11 percent since 1965.
Then, in 1995, California became the first state to prohibit smoking in indoor public areas. Fast forward to 2023 and over 25 states had implemented similar bans, as had 50 of the 60 largest cities in the U.S. Even as tobacco companies shifted their focus to e-cigarettes, the Surgeon General took a stand against vaping in 2019, linking it to serious health risks as well.
Photo from Encyclopedia of Alabama