Thinking 'bout THR Newsletter
July 22-26, 2024
Another Key Unlocking the Pearly Gates of Fearland
Introducing a new page from the SNW team!
The merry band of citizen scientists who volunteer their time at the Safer Nicotine Wiki (SNW) are hard at work seeking more data on reduced-risk nicotine products.
Their latest page is called “Myth: Alternative nicotine products are a gateway to smoking.” The team wanted to see if there is proof that vaping (and other reduced-risk products) is a gateway to smoking (and other things). They also wanted to learn if policies meant to reduce the risk of a gateway have unintended consequences.
An Exchange about “Population-Based Disease Odds for E-Cigarettes and Dual Use versus Cigarettes” After that article was published, two groups of readers shared feedback about the data presented and the conclusions drawn; their comments are detailed below as “Remarks from Readers.” We relayed these points to the authors of the original article; their responses follow.”
Anti-Nicotine Hiring Policies Exacerbate Inequalities. “It’s part of a demonization campaign,” Michelle Minton told the audience, “but it’s also part of an anti-compassion campaign.”
VA, Smoke Less Vets aim to help U.S. military service members stop smoking. “One campaign, Smoke Less Vets, takes a different approach to helping veterans snuff out the habit by advocating for the use of alternative tobacco products not supported by the VA. Those products include e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches that do not contain tobacco.
As an advocate for Smoke Less Vets, Taylor is concerned about the VA dissuading people from using e-cigarettes, pouches and other alternative forms of nicotine as cessation methods.”
Formaldehyde In Vapes? Exposing Another Chemical Scare. “For instance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asserts that “vaping can expose you to formaldehyde, which is used in taxidermy!” Aping FDA, the tobacco industry-funded Truth Initiative warns that nicotine vapor “contains … formaldehyde (used to embalm the dead).” Likewise, in Australia, a well-funded campaign alleges that e-cigarettes contain formaldehyde, a chemical “meant for dead bodies not living ones.” … “Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring organic compound. It’s an essential component of various biological processes, including the synthesis of amino acids and proteins; with every breath you exhale a little bit of formaldehyde. As we explained recently, the chemical is found in foods like apples and fish as well as a variety of consumer and medical products; it’s also produced in small quantities during any combustion process, including cooking. “
The Pathway to Solving the Combustion Problem Is Clear. “The harsh reality is that the PMTA review process is fundamentally flawed, and pouring more funds into it is unlikely to yield a solution that caters to consumers’ needs or effectively addresses the issues of the illicit marketplace and illegal youth access.”
Will SCOTUS Break Big Tobacco’s Grip on Nicotine? “Before FDA oversight, the top-selling e-cigarette brand was not owned by big tobacco. Most popular brands now are owned by Atria or RJ Reynolds (leading the pack with 38.5 percent market share). They are proving that the FDA-mandated PMTAs are an effective barrier to entry into the US market.”
FDA's Tobacco and Vape Regulation Is Still a Failure. “Since 2013, the FDA has issued authorization orders for more than 16,000 tobacco products—including cigars, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, hookah tobacco, and smokeless tobacco. As of June 2024, only 49 products have been authorized via the premarket pathway, in stark contrast to over 3,000 products approved via the substantial equivalence pathway. Alarmingly, out of the 16,000 products authorized, only 27 e-cigarette products have FDA authorization to be sold.“
A media-generated moral panic drives the vape debate. “AN ANALYSIS OF AUSTRALIAN NEWS STORIES has exposed the media’s role in creating a moral panic about youth vaping. The resulting outrage and distorted public opinion leads to knee-jerk, heavy-handed responses by regulators, without considering the unintended consequences or alternative options.”
A Missed Opportunity - E-cigarettes and older smokers. “Amid the intense media focus and regulatory action directed toward youth vaping in the U.S., there is another population demographic whose e-cigarette use is worthy of attention—though in this case, more as a result of their relative lack of use of these devices. There are an estimated 17 million adults in the U.S. aged over 45 who are smoking every day or some days.”
Scotland joins forces with Westminster on vaping. “Kate Forbes, Scotland’s deputy first minister, said her government welcomed the new approach of working in unison following Labour’s election win. It follows years of repeated confrontations between the Scottish National party government and the Conservatives at Westminster.”
Study: Heated Tobacco Products Increase Smoking Cessation Chances; 99.4% of Users Switched from Traditional Cigarettes. “A recent research study conducted by experts at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade revealed that the majority of heated tobacco product users were previously smokers of traditional cigarettes before switching to newer products that heat tobacco instead of burning it.”
Bhutan’s Tryst with Health Imperialism. “What was touted as a role model for other countries for eliminating harms from tobacco has instead become a cautionary tale for poor policymaking done to pander to international funders and organizations.”
Positions Available
Rutgers Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies. Open Rank Research Track Faculty Position. Application deadline July 31, 2024.
*NEW* The Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program. The program is a full-time, hands-on training and educational program that provides early career individuals with the opportunity to spend 12 weeks at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, DC learning about science and technology policy and the role that scientists and engineers play in advising the nation. Application Deadline is September 9, 2024.
Wanted: Conference/Seminar Submissions…
*NEW* Call for abstracts for SRNT 2025 (←link to info). Submissions may be for symposia, individual paper presentations, and posters describing cutting-edge research in nicotine and tobacco. Notes: There is a new submission portal, and applicants need to create a new account and familiarize themselves with the system. There are restrictions on who is eligible to participate. The submission deadline is August 23, 2024.
*NEW* Poster abstract submissions for the Vermont Center on Behavior and Health 12th Annual Conference. 2024 Theme: "Tobacco Use: Intersections with Other Addictions, Chronic Disease, and Health Disparities." Please send details (including title, authors, affiliations, and 250-word abstract) to Eric Thrailkill, PhD by September 1, 2024. Abstracts will be evaluated on the basis of scientific merit. They will be reviewed on rolling basis and decisions will be communicated within 14 days of submission.
TOPS Tobacco Online Policy Seminar call for papers/nominations. The submission deadline is October 7, 2024.
Call for Comments
On June 5, the FDA announced the closing date for the public comment period on Swedish Match U.S.A., Inc’s applications, submitted for the renewal of existing modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) orders for their General Snus products. Public comments on these applications must be submitted to the docket—pointers for making comments here. Submission Deadline is August 14, 2024.
Call for Papers
A 10-year Update on Nicotine and Tobacco Research Related to Sex/Gender. The submission deadline is July 31, 2024.
Health Effects of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS): What Can Be Learned from Human and Experimental Studies? A special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024
Health and Risk Behaviors in Adolescents and Youths. A special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024
Substance Use, Stigma and Social Harm. A special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2024.
Themed issue/section on Non-Medicinal Oral Nicotine Products. Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024
Tobacco Use in Adolescents and Youth. A special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024
Tobacco Use, Vaping, Heating, Nicotine Dependence, Smoking Cessation, and Public Health. A special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024
Cancer prevention. Submission Deadline: 11 October 2024
Mental Health, Stigma and Addictive Behaviors. A special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2024
Empirical modeling. Submission deadline: 28 November 2024
Generating stronger evidence to inform policy and practice: natural experiments on built environments, health behaviours and chronic diseases. Submission deadline: November 30, 2024
A Means to an ENDS: The Uncertainty of ENDS Use and Cardiovascular Disease From Human Research to Basic Science Mechanisms. Submission deadline: 31 December 2024
Cancer Causes and Control. A special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024
Factors Associated with Successful Smoking Cessation. A special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024
Scroll down for 2025 opportunities
The events listed below focus on nicotine. Some may not support reduced-risk products. Some have covered nicotine in the past but may not cover that topic every year.
Aug 9, 2024, (Virtual) 2:00-3:00 PM ET - TOPS Tobacco Online Policy Seminars.
Aug 18-21, 2024, Mobile, AL, US - Federation of Tax Administrators - 2024 Tobacco Annual Meeting
Aug 23, 2024, (Virtual) 2:00-3:00 PM ET - TOPS Tobacco Online Policy Seminars.
Sep 4, 2024, (Virtual) 2:00-3:00 PM ET - New Approaches to Tobacco Smoking Cessation Among People Who Use Drugs
Sep 6, 2024, (Virtual) 2:00-3:00 PM ET - TOPS Tobacco Online Policy Seminars.
Sep 7-10, 2024, San Diego, CA, US (In-person & Virtual) World Conference on Lung Cancer.
Sep 8-11, 2024, Atlanta, GA, US - 77TH TOBACCO SCIENCE RESEARCH CONFERENCE
Sep 16-17, 2024 (Virtual) - 7th Summit on Tobacco Harm Reduction by SCOHRE
Sep 20, 2024, (Virtual) 2:00-3:00 PM ET - TOPS Tobacco Online Policy Seminars.
Sep 23, 2024, NYC, NY, US - New Approaches Conference
Sep 24-25, 2024, Athens, Greece - GTNF
*NEW* Oct 3-4, 2024, Burlington, VT, US (In-person & Virtual) - Vermont Center on Behavior and Health 12th Annual Conference. 2024 Theme: "Tobacco Use: Intersections with Other Addictions, Chronic Disease, and Health Disparities."
Oct 4, 2024, (Virtual) 2:00-3:00 PM ET - TOPS Tobacco Online Policy Seminars.
Oct 13-17, 2024, Edinburgh, Scotland - CORESTA Congress 2024
Oct 15, 2024, US (Virtual) - FDLI Introduction to Tobacco Law and Regulation Early bird registration ends July 31, 2024
Oct 23-25, 2024, Lisbon, Portugal - LISBON ADDICTIONS European Conference on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies.
Oct 23-25, 2024, Broadbeach, Australia - Oceania Tobacco Control Conference 2024. See list of Conflict of Interest Principles.
Oct 23, 2024, Washington DC, US (In-person and Virtual) - FDLI Tobacco and Nicotine Products Regulatory Science Symposium
Oct 24-25,2024, Washington DC, US (In-person and Virtual) - FDLI Tobacco and Nicotine Products Regulation and Policy Conference. Early registration expires July 31, 2024
Oct 27-30, 2024, Minneapolis, MN, US - 2024 APHA Annual Meeting and Expo (Public Health). Register here.
Oct 28, 2024, Charleston, SC, US (In-Person & Virtual) 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM ET - Susan Rosenblatt lecture: Brian King
Oct 28-29, 2024, Charleston, SC, US (Virtual and In-Person) 2024 NICOTINE AND TOBACCO SCIENCE CONFERENCE
Nov 14-15, 2024, UK - SSA Annual Conference. Early bird discounts until September 9, 2024
Nov 14-16, 2024, Chicago, IL, US—AMERSA Conference—Note: We won't know until the agenda is announced if nicotine will be part of this year's conference.
December 5, 2024, UK (Virtual and In-person), E-Cigarette Summit UK
Scroll Down for 2025 and 2026 Events
Check out the public Google calendar of THR-related events created and maintained by Clive Bates. Also, check out the event calendar from Ecig Intelligence. Their listings include consumer/trade shows and expos that I don't include in this newsletter.
Call for Papers
E-cigarettes and Vaping Products: Health Effects and Toxicological Impacts. A special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Deadline for manuscript submissions: 21 January 2025
LGBTQ+ Health. Submission deadline: 04 March 2025
Consumer behaviour. Submission deadline: 25 March 2025
Wearable devices. Submission deadline: 27 March 2025
The Tobacco Endgame in Low- And Middle-Income Countries and Indigenous Communities: Evidence Syntheses and Systematic Reviews. Submission deadline: 25 May 2025
STRONGER Scholars: A Research Education Program to Reduce Tobacco-Related Cancer Disparities and Improve Health Equity. A special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025
Jan 15-19, 2025 Seattle, WA, US - Society for Social Work and Research.
Mar 12-15, 2025 New Orleans, LA, US - SRNT 31st Annual Meeting *UPDATED LINK*
Aug 26-28, 2025 Chicago, IL, US - The National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH) (Link is to the announcement, not event info)
Sep 10-12, 2025 Romania - SRNT-E Conference
Nov 17, 2025 (all week) Geneva - FCTC COP11
Nov 24, 2025 (all week) Geneva - FCTC MOP4
Mar 4-6, 2026 Baltimore, MD, US - SRNT 32nd Annual Meeting
Notes:
Deadlines are in bold type. Additions to the seeking participants and events sections since the last edition will be denoted by "*NEW*."
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 believe that everyone deserves a seat at the table. If you’re interested in nicotine with a focus on THR, this newsletter is for you.
Until next time,
Skip “#BeKind” Murray
