AARC Invites Members to Support FDA Efforts

July 26, 2013

The American Association for Respiratory Care lauded the FDA’s report on menthol cigarettes and is asking its members to help gather more information for the FDA in the next 60 days.

A new FDA report shows that menthol does promote the initiation of smoking among adolescents, strengthens smoking addition, and makes it harder to quit.

Additionally, FDA has issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking additional information to help the agency make informed decisions about menthol in cigarettes. The AARC will be drafting a statement from the organization, but “we believe each of our members has knowledge and information that will help FDA in this effort to make standards and rules for tobacco use,” said George Gaebler, MEd, RRT, FAARC, AARC president.

The ANPRM will be available for public comment for 60 days. The FDA will consider all comments, data, research, and other information submitted to the docket to determine what, if any, regulatory action with respect to menthol in cigarettes is appropriate. If the FDA decides to issue a rule, the first step in that process would be a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which would give the public an opportunity to weigh in on the specifics of the proposed rule.

In addition, the FDA announced it plans new research on the differences between menthol and nonmenthol cigarettes as they relate to menthol's likely impact on smoking cessation and attempts to quit.

“We support whatever research and regulation is necessary to help decrease and eliminate smoking in this nation,” said Gaebler.