Tobacco control initiatives have played a major role in nursing practice for a number of years. Practitioners know all too well the lethal effects tobacco dependence has on the health of individuals either directly through smoking or indirectly through passive smoking. However, what remains misunderstood by many practitioners are the implications of past and future legislative initiatives surrounding public policy on tobacco control. It is essential to analyze local, state, and national positions on tobacco control by our members of congress and state and local policy-making bodies. The tobacco industry contributes millions of dollars to individuals and/or special interest groups that have the power to influence tobacco control policy. With more than 2.5 million registered nurses (RNs) in the United States, individually and collectively, RNs can significantly influence policy-making decisions that help reduce the epidemic of tobacco use and dependence.
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