ADA News

The ADA and nine other organizations are going to bat to encourage Major League Baseball to go tobacco free beginning in 2012.

The ADA and the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Oral Health America, Legacy, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are calling for Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association to prohibit tobacco use at games. The groups sent a letter to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and MLB Players Association Executive Director Michael Weiner asking them to “prohibit the use of all tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, by players, coaches, managers, and other team personnel, at all Major League Baseball venues” as they negotiate a contract that takes effect in 2012. Use of tobacco products has been banned in the minor leagues since 1993, but as many as 30 percent of professional baseball players at the major league level still use some form of tobacco.

“Major League Baseball players would not only protect their own health by taking this action, they can also serve as a positive influence on America’s children—after all, baseball is ‘America’s Pastime,’” said Dr. Ray Gist, ADA president. “According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, use of smokeless tobacco products has increased 36 percent since 2003, and an estimated 15 percent of high school boys currently use smokeless tobacco. Using smokeless tobacco has serious, often life-threatening consequences. We encourage Major League Baseball players to serve as positive role models to help prevent tobacco addiction and health consequences in young people that can result from using smokeless tobacco.” 

Smokeless tobacco is known to cause cancers of the mouth, lip, tongue and pancreas. Users also may be at risk for cancer of the voice box, esophagus, colon and bladder, because they swallow some of the toxins in the juice created by using smokeless tobacco.

Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who recently underwent treatment for cancer of the salivary gland, attributes his cancer to years of smokeless tobacco use. He is one of several major league ballplayers who have recently aired their health problems and addiction struggles due to smokeless tobacco in the media and before Congress.

The coalition has launched a website, http://www.tobaccofreebaseball.org, encouraging MLB and the players union to “Knock Tobacco Out of the Park.” The website offers more information on the campaign, social media tools that help users send a customized message in support of the tobacco ban, tools and resources for local coaches and community organizations, and links to the latest news on tobacco use in major league baseball.