American Lung Association Press Briefing: New Study Finds Smoking Cessation Treatments Save Lives and Money

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Aug 31, 2010, 10:04 ET

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by American Lung Association:

WHAT: The American Lung Association will host a press briefing on September 14, 2010, from 2 to 3 p.m. EDT to release the embargoed results of a study conducted by researchers at Penn State University, which finds that helping smokers quit not only saves lives but also offers favorable economic benefits to U.S. states. The study, titled Smoking Cessation: The Economic Benefits, provides a nationwide cost-benefit analysis that compares the costs to society of smoking with the economic benefits of states providing cessation (quit-smoking) coverage. Funding for the study was provided through an unrestricted research grant from Pfizer Inc.

WHO: Paul Billings, Vice President of National Policy & Advocacy; Jennifer Singleterry, Manager of Cessation Policy

WHEN: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE: This will be a virtual press briefing via webinar. Registration is required. To obtain access information to the press briefing, as well as a link to the embargoed data, please contact Kendra Kojcsich, [email protected]. Accredited journalists only, please.

WHY: Each year, tobacco use prematurely kills 393,000 people in America, and this new study identifies significant and staggering costs directly attributable to death and disease caused by smoking. The study comes at a critical time, as important cessation benefit provisions are being implemented at the federal and state levels as a result of healthcare reform legislation. The American Lung Association will release compelling data that spells out in dollars and cents the great potential economic benefits to states of helping smokers quit.

EMBARGO LIFTS ONE HOUR AFTER PRESS BRIEFING: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 3 p.m. EDT

This media outreach project is made possible through a collaboration with Pfizer Inc.

About the American Lung Association - Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is "Fighting for Air" through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lungusa.org.

SOURCE American Lung Association