Tobacco Company CEO: Smoking Is Addictive

For decades people have been saying cigarettes are addictive. Now, even the heads of tobacco companies admit that it is true.

Michael E. Szymanczyk, Chairman and CEO of Altria, parent company of Philip Morris USA, addressed shareholders this week and said smoking is addictive and can be very hard to quit. His comments were reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

According to the newspaper, his remarks came during a presentation to shareholders about the company's 2010 results. They came in a context of an explanation of the company's efforts to curb youth smoking.

“Because tobacco use is addictive and it can be very difficult to quit, our tobacco companies help connect adult tobacco consumers who have decided to quit with cessation information from public health authorities,” Szymanczyk reportedly told the group.

Szymanczyk's comments follow those of Philip Morris International CEO Louis Camilleri, who said smoking is addictive but “not that hard to quit.” Szymanczyk said he was doing nothing more than stating Altria's official position, as outlined on its website.

Altria owns three tobacco companies - Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company and John Middleton.com. Altria says these companies design their marketing programs only to enhance brand awareness, recognition and loyalty among their adult tobacco consumers to grow their market share.

“Each tobacco company has practices in place to focus their marketing activities towards adult tobacco consumers while limiting reach to unintended audiences,” Altria said on its website. “Each of our tobacco companies have programs in place designed to connect with their intended audience while helping to prevent underage access to tobacco products.”