The Smoking Regulatory Index: a new way to measure public health performance

Cigarette smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure are recognized as leading threats to public health. The health effects of ETS have been widely documented, and include an increased risk of lung cancer, respiratory ailments such as asthma and bronchitis, and heart disease. Laws restricting smoking have been shown to be effective public health measures, reducing both cigarette consumption and ETS exposure among smokers and non-smokers alike.