BUFFALO, NY – Scientific evidence can be used to direct and support tobacco control policies around the world, according to a newly released special issue of the journal Tobacco Control. K. Michael Cummings, PhD, Chair of the Department of Health Behavior at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) is one of the lead scientists on the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (ITC Project).

The ITC Project focuses primarily on evaluating and understanding the impact of government policies for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) – the first international treaty devoted to health which has been ratified by more than 130 countries.

The Journal includes a collection of 12 research articles and can be accessed online at: http://tc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/15/suppl_3/iii1.

A summary of key findings from the international studies include:

• Larger and more graphic cigarette pack warnings are more effective than those now found on packs of cigarettes sold in the United States
• Smokers in Ireland have accepted and adjusted to the country’s new smoke-free policy.
• Smoke-free home policies are more common in jurisdictions where smoking is prohibited by law in public places
• Smoke-free policies help smokers who attempt to quit remain smoke-free
• The United Kingdom’s recently enacted comprehensive tobacco advertising ban was effective in reducing smokers exposure to pro-smoking marketing and messages
• The use of low and untaxed source of cigarettes is associated with a lower likelihood of quitting smoking

“The FCTC represents an extraordinary landmark in global tobacco control, but the path from the promise of effective policies to the reality of implementation is not easy,” noted Dr. Cummings. “The research endeavors of the ITC Project and tobacco control researchers throughout the world will help the FCTC implement policies informed by evidence from the best available research.”

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. For more information, visit the RPCI website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.