Thinking 'bout THR Newsletter
June 30-July 3, 2024
Vaping and SCOTUS: Hope, Uncertainty, Disappointment
SCOTUS News and Reactions (Part 2)…
Supreme Court Will Hear Crucial Triton Vapes Case. “It might still be another year before we know the Supreme Court’s decision on Triton. But tobacco harm reduction advocates hope the outcome will cement earlier legal victories in the struggle to guarantee people’s access to effective smoking cessation tools.”
U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Case Involving FDA Marketing Denial Orders for Flavored E-Cigarettes. “The Supreme Court should overturn the Fifth Circuit decision because it is misguided and, if left to stand, would cause significant harm to public health and especially to the health of our kids. This decision is also in direct conflict with the decisions of seven other federal courts of appeals that have upheld FDA marketing denial orders for flavored e-cigarettes.”
Supreme Court Reverses Chevron. “However, some experts, like Mitch Zeller, Scott Gottlieb, and Cliff Douglas, are concerned that overruling Chevron will do more harm than good and will not yield the results that consumers and small vape businesses hope to see. The Consumer Advocates for Smokefree Alternatives Association share some of those same concerns.”
AVM Statement. “For too long, the FDA has been arbitrarily stripping Americans of our fundamental right to access the most effective smoking cessation method ever devised, nicotine vaping…”
U.S Supreme Court to review flavoured vapes ban decision. “The FDA has declined to comment on the latest review, saying it doesn’t discuss ongoing legal cases. The agency recently said it’s been overwhelmed by lawsuits challenging its denials of some products.”
Measures of youth e-cigarette use: strengths, weaknesses and recommendations. “We discuss strengths and weaknesses of different definitions, and recommend improvements in defining youth e-cigarette use. We find that current literature employs a range of definitions of e-cigarette use, from lifetime use (“even a puff”) to daily use.”
The ends do not justify the means when it comes to Australia's vaping policy. “Smoking kills. This is no longer a public health crisis where we do not know the outcome. Watching and waiting and holding back safer products while people keep accessing cigarettes are not a means that can be justified. Doing so contradicts the mission to improve the health of the public.” (This is the part where I, your fearless newsletter editor, shouts “Amen!”)
A clean slate for FDA’s e-cig application pile? “Under a federal court order that requires quarterly updates, the FDA must issue another status report by July 22 — and tobacco regulation watchers anticipate the agency will authorize or deny several applications in the coming weeks.”
National Harm Reduction Coalition to Work on Smoking Cessation. “Almost half a million people in the United States die of smoking-related causes each year, and some have asked why “traditional” harm reduction organizations don’t more squarely center smoking in their messaging and work.”
Consumers lead campaign to end smoking, save smokers' lives. “Consumer groups worldwide are at the forefront of a global campaign to end smoking and save smokers' lives by urging governments to adopt a science-based approach and recognize smoke-free alternatives as better substitutes to combustible cigarettes.”
Potential EU Flavour Ban? (Contains quotes from Clive Bates, ETHRA, and the WVA.)
Why the Minnesota Health Department took its anti-vaping campaign in a very uncool direction. “In Minnesota, the health department established a youth council that advised the state that it was inundated with fear-based messaging.”
Puff Puff Don't Pass—interview of Allison Boughner.
NEW STUDY SHEDS LIGHT ON YOUTH E-CIGARETTE USE: PROPOSES ENHANCED DEFINITIONS AND IMPROVED SURVEILLANCE MEASURES. “As a behavioral scientist, I’ve thought extensively about different ways of measuring how people use e-cigarettes, and how well the different definitions capture actual problematic use, as opposed to experimentation. I’m thrilled that this commentary is published, which I hope can start a dialogue in the field to evaluate and improve the definitions we use, so that we can more effectively track and prevent youth e-cigarette use” explains Dr. Arielle Selya of Pinney Associates and author of the commentary.”
Youth Vaping Declining Among Montana High Schoolers, Unfortunately Recent Increase In Smoking. “Montana is one of the few states offering insights into why youth use e-cigarettes. In 2023, 58% of students had never used one; 11.3% cited curiosity; 11.1% mentioned anxiety, depression, and/or stress; 7% wanted a nicotine buzz; 6.5% used them because friends or family members did; and 4.8% had other reasons. Only 0.9% cited flavors, indicating that recent efforts to restrict e-cigarette flavors in Montana may not address the primary motivations for youth vaping.”
Conclusion: Motives for the WHO’s Tobacconization of all Industry. “The WHO report does not believe industry can be an honest broker here. But they also do not believe individuals can be trusted or empowered to manage their personal health choices. As the last section noted, they are calling for a “narrative shift” away from leaving health choices to individuals. In other words, they want the health gurus to impose their solutions.”
Embracing nicotine pouches: a key to a smoke-free America. “Myths about nicotine pouches have been sparking moral panic in the US. But embracing nicotine pouches could be the key to ditching deadly cigarettes. Helen Redmond, a social worker, journalist and fighter for safer nicotine options for those who need them most, has some advice for American politicians aiming to lead the country into a smoke-free future.”
Wanted: Conference/Seminar Submissions…
Sep 16-17, 2024 - 7th Summit on Tobacco Harm Reduction by SCOHRE. Call for abstracts for short oral or poster presentations. The submission deadline for abstracts is July 12, 2024.
Call for proposals - FDLI Enforcement, Litigation, and Compliance Conference: For the Drug, Device, Food, and Tobacco Industries. Submission deadline is July 12, 2024
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 by the docket by 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 5 to ensure they receive consideration by FDA. Pointers for making comments here.
Call for Papers
CALL FOR YOUNG RESEARCHER EDITORIALS (YRE): PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTHY LONGEVITY. Manuscript Submission Deadline 14 July 2024
Maternal and Child Health. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: July 15, 2024
Rural Health Disparities: Contemporary Solutions for Persistent Rural Public Health Challenges. The deadline to submit an inquiry is July 19, 2024.
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
Generating stronger evidence to inform policy and practice: natural experiments on built environments, health behaviours and chronic diseases. Submission deadline: November 30, 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
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
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
For global coverage of calls to action: Advocating For Tobacco Harm Reduction.
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.
July 11, 2024, 2:00-3:30 PM ET FDLI Webinar: The Fate of FDA Authority: Addressing Recent Supreme Court Decisions on Mifepristone, Chevron, and Beyond.
Jul 12, 2024, (Virtual) 10:00-11:00 AM ET - TOPS Tobacco Online Policy Seminars.
Jul 21-23, 2024, San Marcos, TX, US - Texas Tobacco-Free Conference
Jun 26, 2024, (Virtual) 2:00-3:00 PM ET - TOPS Tobacco Online Policy Seminars.
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 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
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 28-29, 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
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.
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
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
