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AAP News Vol. 13 No. 7 July 1997, p. 7 © 1997 American Academy of Pediatrics
The Academy has been asked to serve on an Advisory Committee on Tobacco Policy and Public Health to be chaired by AAP Fellows C. Everett Koop, M.D. and David Kessler, M.D. Nine members of Congress pulled the group together to help advise them on any tobacco settlement that may be proposed and to develop a comprehensive approach to any legislation that Congress may consider. AAP Past President George Comerci, M.D., and Committee on Substance Abuse Chair Richard Heyman, M.D., will represent the Academy. Other participating groups include the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the AMA and the National Medical Association. The committee hopes to develop a report by early July outlining major public health recommendations about the future of tobacco policy. Committee members will focus their efforts on five areas: youth, adult smokers, environmental tobacco smoke, regulation of nicotine, and the industry, such as economic implications. Separate task forces will examine each of these areas, with the Academy spearheading the 11-member task force on youth initiation of tobacco use.
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