HHS cuts programs to help people quit smoking, health experts react

Public health experts are reacting to federal cuts made to programs aimed at helping people quit smoking

The move happened as part of an effort this week to downsize the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr

The Office on Smoking and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Tobacco Products were both impacted by the health agency reductions

According to an email from the Health and Human Services spokesperson obtained by NBC News

the department says important work will continue related to tobacco research and cessation efforts

despite cuts meant to, quote, streamline operations, enhance responsiveness to the American people

and ultimately improve the nation's health as part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative

Dr. Tom Frieden, the president of Resolve to Save Lives, and the CDC director under former President Obama disagrees with the cuts

telling NBC News the only winner here is the tobacco industry and cancer cells

The president of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Children, Yolanda Richardson, released a statement calling the changes a setback to efforts protecting kids

and saving lives from tobacco use. According to data from the CDC, cigarette smoking is still the number one cause

of preventable death from multiple chronic diseases, including heart disease and lung cancer

killing more than 480,000 Americans each year. One of the initiatives potentially at risk because of the cuts

is a successful CDC campaign called Tips from Former Smokers, featuring graphic stories of real people severely impacted by cigarette smoking I married and I used to be a smoker I want to give you something about getting ready in the morning The ads which started in 2012 end with a call to action

sharing resources from how smokers can take the first steps in ending their smoking habit

A study from earlier this year found every time the ads run on TV, calls to quit hotlines surge

with researchers saying the ads have generated more than 2 million additional calls

While it's not clear exactly how the smoking program cuts will impact services

there's concern smokers will no longer have access to resources to help them quit

A CDC employee fired from the Office on Smoking and Health told NBC News

if we take our foot off the gas, what do we think will happen

Tobacco use rates will increase among youth and fewer adults will quit

Because of that, people will die. In a press release, the Health and Human Services Department said

the restructuring will improve Americans' experience with HHS by making the agency more responsive and efficient

while ensuring that Medicare, Medicaid and other essential health services remain intact

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says there were redundancies throughout the health and services department which led to the cuts

However, he announced Thursday up to 20 percent of the recent layoffs at his department may have been in error

and that those employees will need to be reinstated, including the FDA's tobacco addiction team

We've covered that story in detail. For more, download the Straight Arrow News app today

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kaylee Carey