Today, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) sent a letter to key Congressional leaders urging them to advance legislation that comprehensively addresses the nation’s ongoing drug shortage crisis ahead of a Senate Finance Committee hearing Tuesday.

New data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) found that more than 6.21 million youth reported ever using tobacco products and 2.8 million report current use (past 30 days) of any tobacco product in 2023.

New findings led by researchers at the American Cancer Society and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) show that regional trial eligibility screening holds the promise of substantially increasing the number of patients who are found eligible to enroll in cancer clinical trials.

The nation’s drug shortage crisis continues to affect cancer patients and survivors with 1 in every 10 (10%) reporting impacts to care, a majority of whom have had difficulties finding substitute medications (68%) and cited treatment delays (59%). The data is part of a new survey by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).