IQ Solutions wins Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contract to support tobacco communication and education in the U.S.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded IQ Solutions, Inc. a contract, worth up to $20 million over a 5-year period including all options, to help reduce the number of people who start to use tobacco products, to encourage more people to stop using these products, and to reduce the adverse health impact for those who continue to use these products.
The contract will reside in the Office of Health Communication and Education (OHCE) within the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). OHCE is a comprehensive communication enterprise that directs a full range of communications activities aimed at disseminating to the public FDA CTP’s messages and evidence-based information on tobacco product regulation and prevention. Through this contract, IQ Solutions will provide the FDA CTP with a full range of activities associated with the development and implementation of a robust, sustained health communication and education program.
Despite decades of efforts to reduce tobacco use, it continues to be the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S.—and costs America more than $289 billion annually in medical costs and lost productivity. More than 42 million U.S. adults smoke cigarettes and 87 percent smoked their first cigarette by age 18. Each day in the U.S., nearly 3,300 youth smoke their first cigarette, and it is estimated that more than 700 become daily smokers. Many of these kids will become addicted before they are old enough to understand the risks and will, on average, die 13 years earlier than non-smokers.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to help bolster and to support such a worthwhile cause,” said Ileana Quintas, CEO and founder of IQ Solutions. “We recognize the FDA’s critical role in regulating tobacco and reducing the harm due to tobacco use, and we are equipped to assist the FDA in protecting the nation’s health.”
IQ Solutions is a full-service company focused on innovative health education and communications, supported by evidence-based research and advanced information technology. They are recognizing more than 20 years committed to the support of public health.
