Thinking 'bout THR News & Views
December 3-7, 2024
Knock, knock! Anybody home?
Why is it so hard to see (and care about) the people? ALL THE PEOPLE!
While reading “Youth Tobacco Product Use Continues to Decline as FDA Actions Build Momentum” by Dr. Brian King, I saw that he knows how hard it is to stop smoking and how important it is to some people to achieve that goal.
“As Director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), I often reflect on conversations with the public, including the people behind tobacco product use statistics,” said Dr. King. He goes on to say, “This type of reflection started in the early days of my career when I answered calls for a tobacco quit line. On a daily basis, I spoke with people who had a desire to quit smoking. Each had a different reason for wanting to quit: living to meet their grandchildren, walking their child down the wedding aisle, or taking a dream vacation with their spouse. While their reasons varied, they had heartbreaking similarities – a deep desire to be there for their families and to celebrate life’s precious moments with the ones they love.”
The rest of Dr. King’s commentary focuses mainly on youth and what the FDA does to prevent youth use. He mentions that most people start smoking in adolescence and comments, “That’s why keeping tobacco products out of the hands of youth is central to our mission.”
Time and time again, this is where I get stuck. Are those who smoke disposable? A lost cause to be forgotten? How can prevention be the only thing central to the FDA’s mission if they care about youth?
You can tell me that the message of that essay is about youth, and I’m going to agree with you. That is not my point. My point is that youth-only messaging will never lead to a balanced conversation about public health and the population as a whole. This kind of messaging pushes those who smoke farther out of the picture.
Young people want to celebrate life’s precious moments with loved ones as much as adults do.
There is no magic in being unable to play ball with Grandpa because he’s lugging around an oxygen tank. Or worse yet, missing your high school graduation to attend Grandpa’s funeral because smoking killed him.
It’s no fun to put ice chips in your mom’s mouth as she lays in bed sick from the chemo treating her lung cancer. It is heartbreaking not to have a parent walk you down the aisle on your wedding day because they died of a smoking-related heart attack.
The FDA’s mission should center around equal focus on prevention and smoking cessation—for young, old, and everyone in between. Everyone is important to someone else.
Each life has value. If we don’t realize that, we are failing people of all ages.
Until next time…
PS: My #NorthStar is my grandfather. He died from cardiovascular disease. He was my hero, guardian, mentor, cheerleader, and my light. #SmokingSucks #EcigSummit
Happy National Cotton Candy Day. “Kid-friendly flavors” - The rest of the story! Did you know a dentist invented Cotton Candy? Does this have anything to do with quitting smoking? Of course, it does! Too Much Fluff Over Flavors. But wait! There’s more! The Road to Quitting Smoking Is Paved With Candy.
Thank you, Amanda Strange, for making the virtual option available to consumers. I enjoyed this year’s E-cigarette Summit UK.
Thank you, Vapers Digest, for providing a global perspective on THR.
Has Our Goal For a Tobacco-Free World Changed To a Nicotine-Free World? “The above questions open up the debate around our goals as researchers in the field of tobacco control—are we wanting a tobacco-free future for all or a nicotine-free future for all, or both? I believe we are in danger of losing sight of the fact that smoked tobacco remains the most harmful nicotine delivery product on the market. As a case in point, Emeritus Professor Ken Warner recently published an opinion piece highlighting that youth smoking in the United States has all but disappeared, and yet no-one celebrated because of concerns around youth vaping.”
Is ‘bypassing’ a better way to battle misinformation? “Misinformation can lead to socially detrimental behavior, which makes finding ways to combat its effects a matter of crucial public concern. A new paper by researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General explores an innovative approach to countering the impact of factually incorrect information called “bypassing,” and finds that it may have advantages over the standard approach of correcting inaccurate statements.”
NNA Ireland - “Healthy Ireland survey for this year published yesterday, some interesting figures in the section on vaping.” (Thread)
Jeffrey Willett - “Like many of you, I have relatives who died from smoking-related illnesses and who had tried to quit smoking on many occasions. With both my experience in tobacco control and those family members in mind, I offer what I believe are “5 Truths” about smoking cessation. By acknowledging the realities of smoking cessation, we can develop a much more effective strategy to finally end cigarette smoking in the United States.”
Catherine Nissen - “This makes a joke out of real public health work. Things like trying to punish convenience stores for selling tobacco products and handing out fake awards (the "Dirty Ashtray" and "Exploding Vape" awards -- really?) are just foolish. I struggle to understand why anyone with a good head on their shoulders would go along with this.”
Jeffrey Weiss - “Given that, according to CDC’s own data, nicotine vaping is the most popular quit method among U.S. smokers – its failure to harness Tips from Former Smokers to educate about FDA-authorized vaping products constitutes a stunning breach of public health trust. It also undermines confidence in FDA decision-making in a way that, during the pandemic, we would not have accepted.”
Volker Türk - (Includes a short video) “The ‘War on Drugs’ destroyed lives and damaged communities. Criminalisation and prohibition have failed to reduce drug use and deter drug-related crimes. We need new approaches prioritising health, dignity and inclusion, guided by the Int. Guidelines on Human Rights & Drug Policy.” (How many of you think as we move away from a “war on drugs,” we’ve moved closer to a “war on nicotine?” ~ Skip)
Matthew Farrelly - “I'm very excited to announce a job opportunity in the Office of Science in the Center for Tobacco Products. The position is an Associate Director for Research who would report directly to me…”
E-Cigarette Summit 2024 Round Up. “…As these challenges loom, the E-Cigarette Summit offers a crucial opportunity to gather leading experts from the UK and around the world. Their expert knowledge and opinions have the potential to shape both the debate and legislation that lies ahead. Whether you're a policymaker, advocate, or simply interested in the future of vaping, this summary of the Summit’s key takeaways will help you understand the challenges ahead - and the proposed solutions.”
The House of Representatives will discuss the Nicotine Citizen Initiative on 12 December 2024. (Google translate) “More than 57,000 Dutch people now support a generational nicotine ban.”
Slim Chances - Harm reduction, smoking cessation and weight. “Nicotine influences eating and weight in multiple ways, from hormones to microbiomes to taste perceptions. The bottom line: Nicotine raises the metabolic rate while also depressing appetite.”
The future of Chenery II: Potential Implications from FDA v. Wages and White Lion, L.L.C.. “In the spirit of the plurality in Chenery II, an agency might be expected to explain why such circumstances apply to justify retroactive adjudication. The implications of FDA v. Wages and White Lion Investments, L.L.C. could be much larger than the future of the e-cigarette industry. The case provides an opportunity for the court to standardize agency discretion by clarifying and reaffirming the boundaries set in Chenery II wherein a preference for prospective rulemaking is clear.”
Difference in Vapers’ Respiratory Symptoms Vs. Non-Vapers Is MinimalDifference in Vapers’ Respiratory Symptoms Vs. Non-Vapers Is Minimal. “The study “highlights the need for balanced discussions about vaping,” he said. “Future studies, especially those tracking participants over time, are necessary to guide policies on vaping risks and benefits.”
Kentucky vape retailer faces inventory crisis due to new law that takes effect Jan. 1. “The people who are going to hurt the most in this are the stores like mine that truly want to help people quit smoking and quit vaping,” LeBlanc said.
Local legislator wants to phase out tobacco sales in Massachusetts. “During a press conference in the State House last week, Lewis, whose legislative district includes the Town of Reading, announced that he will team up with two state representatives in an effort to pass a bill that will forbid all persons turning 21 from purchasing nicotine-containing products in Massachusetts.”
Food and Drug Administration Defends Refusal To Approve Flavored E-Cigarettes Before the Supreme Court. “The FDA's requirement contradicts data and years of its own guidance for the end of reducing an exaggerated epidemic of underage nicotine use.”
America First Agenda Includes Protecting Vaping Freedom. “Today, flavored vapes that might have helped adults quit traditional combustible cigarettes are off the market only because they are flavored. Meanwhile, millions will continue to smoke because of the government limiting choice.”
The Case Against Nicotine Pouch Bans: Overlooked Potential for Smoking Reduction. “Recent global trends indicate a growing inclination among governments to impose bans or stringent regulations on nicotine pouches. While these measures are often driven by public health concerns, they may inadvertently overlook the potential of nicotine pouches as effective tools for smoking cessation and harm reduction.”
You’re Never Too Old to Quit Smoking, Study Finds. “Dropping the smokes even as late as 75 can meaningfully increase a person’s life expectancy, researchers reported recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.”
Vaping's Legal Battle With FDA to Shift Under ‘Friendlier’ Trump. “However, demand for relaxed e-cigarette guidelines should consider Trump’s stance on vaping during his first administration, industry watchers say.”
Understanding the Recent Wave of Litigation Targeting Tobacco-Free Wellness Programs. “A new wave of ERISA class action litigation is targeting companies that charge an additional insurance premium (e., surcharge) for participants who use tobacco products by claiming that the wellness programs violate ERISA's nondiscrimination test.”
Mexico’s lower house votes to ban vaping devices and e-cigarettes. “Mexico’s lower house of Congress on Tuesday easily approved a constitutional reform to ban e-cigarettes and vaping devices, as well as sanction synthetic drugs such as fentanyl. The proposal must now pass in the federal Senate to become law.”
The Global Burden of Smoking on Oral Health. “Smoking, a habit shared by 1.27 billion people worldwide, is the leading preventable cause of oral diseases, disability, and cancer. The report "Transforming Oral Health for All: The Case for Tobacco Harm Reduction" shines a spotlight on the urgent need for innovative strategies to address this crisis. With smoking disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries, where access to oral healthcare is limited, the report advocates for integrating harm reduction approaches into tobacco control frameworks to reduce smoking-related oral disease and improve quality of life.”
Christopher Greer - “Hi all: I wanted to circulate this to my network on the next steps in the evolution of Tobacco Reporter…”
December: Month - Universal Human Rights Month, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Awareness Month. Day - Dec 10 - Human Rights Day and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Dec 12 - International Universal Health Coverage Day, Dec 17 - (CA) Anti-Bullying Day (a reminder that being an advocate ≠being a bully), Dec 20 - International Human Solidarity Day. “International Human Solidarity Day is an annual observance that emphasizes the importance of unity, cooperation, and shared responsibility in addressing global challenges. It serves as a reminder that by working together in solidarity, we can create a better world for all and achieve common goals, including peace, social justice, and sustainable development.”
Notes:
I create these newsletters as a personal project. They are not affiliated with any current or past employers or groups I do volunteer work with. I receive no financial compensation for my efforts to create these newsletters.
My blog, Skip's Corner, has an X/Twitter account. My personal accounts are on BlueSky, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter).
Very thought provoking Skip. Far too much of everything is given to the snot gobblers. Adults need the most help to quit; enough domestic SF environments and less reason for youth to dabble.
Sleep 💤 😴 well my friend xoxo