Statement regarding the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

Statement regarding the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

This is a note of concern regarding the fact that in 1976 the American Psychiatric Association was considering adding "compulsive smoking syndrome" to its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. The note states concern that this might cause insurers to cover smoking cessation treatments and stigmatize smokers:

If tobacco abuse is classified as a mental health syndrome, as drug abuse is, the cost of cessation clinics would be covered by any health insurance contract that includes treatment of mental illness. Further, official recognition of smoking as an "abuse" stigmatizes cigarette smokers as a class--along with those who use illicit drugs. We do not know when the secondh edition of the manual is due for publication but we do strongly believe that this is a matter of sufficient importance to be called to the attention of the member companies.

Date 19761116 Bates TI03830246 Collection Tobacco Institute Pages 1 URL: http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/wju07d00

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