Thinking 'bout THR Newsletter
July 12-18, 2024
2009 saw the passing of the Tobacco Control Act in June and Michael Russell's passing in July.
In June, I wrote about the passing of the Tobacco Control Act in the United States and wondered if we’re accomplishing what we hoped that bill would achieve.
This week, Clive Bates has written about Michael Russell, who passed away 24 days after the signing of the Tobacco Control Act. A “celebration of his genius – a man truly ahead of his time.”
Clive's piece quotes Michael Russell’s wisdom. It will take some of you down memory lane and be an educational experience for others. Please give it a read.
The genius of Michael Russell – more right than ever.
Trends in long term vaping among adults in England, 2013-23: population based study. “The prevalence of long term vaping increased substantially among adults in England during 2013-23. Much of this increase occurred from 2021, coinciding with the rise in popularity of disposable e-cigarettes. Half of long term vapers now mainly or exclusively use disposable devices. The growth was concentrated among people with a history of regular smoking, but an increase also occurred among people who never regularly smoked, especially young adults.”
Increased e-cigarette use prevalence is associated with decreased smoking prevalence among US adults. “Population-level data continue to suggest that smoking prevalence has declined at an accelerated rate in the last decade in ways correlated with increased uptake of e-cigarette use.”
Major Psychiatric Disorders, Substance Use Behaviors, and Longevity. “We used genomic methods facilitating simultaneous investigation of the major psychiatric disorders and substance use behaviors and found the genetic liability for smoking, but not drinking, major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, had an adverse independent association with longevity and EAA.”
Measures of youth e-cigarette use: strengths, weaknesses and recommendations. “We find that current literature employs a range of definitions of e-cigarette use, from lifetime use (“even a puff”) to daily use. More lenient measures capture more potentially at-risk youth, but much of this is transient experimentation that has negligible risks in and itself, if not persistent. More stringent measures such as daily use are more relevant to individual and public health. Future research should examine possible improvements to definitions which include intensity of use (e.g., number of puffs per day) and persistence/duration of use, either via self-report or technology-assisted data capture.”
FDA Authorizes Marketing of Vuse Alto Tobacco-Flavored E-Cigarette Pods and Accompanying Power Unit. “FDA issued marketing granted orders to R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company for the Vuse Alto Power Unit and six Vuse Alto tobacco-flavored pods, which are sealed, pre-filled, and non-refillable.” (As a side note, many of us who have been vaping for a long time can point you to videos of how to open and refill several brands of “non-refillable” pods.” Humans are a creative bunch, aren’t they? ~Skip)
In Sweden, Where Tobacco Deaths Fell Dramatically, Nicotine Isn’t the Enemy. “What would it take for the rest of Europe to approach these products differently?”
Experts Slam “Ridiculous” WHO Tobacco Cessation Guidelines. “Riccardo Polosa, professor of internal medicine at the University of Catania, Italy, told Filter it’s “appalling that a trusted organization like the WHO continues to recommend varenicline.” The drug, he said, is “known to contain unsafe levels of carcinogenic nitrosamines and [was] withdrawn by Pfizer nearly three years ago.” Varenicline (Chantix) is largely unavailable worldwide.”
Calling out fake news part 5: WHO getting owned by community notes. “This time, they’ve gone all in, claiming that vapes are “designed to kill” while citing no evidence whatsoever.”
“You’ll Get That Bounce!” NY Harm Reduction Org Hosts Vaping Group. “Access to safer nicotine products must be seen as part of people’s right to health, and harm reduction organizations are increasingly recognizing the need to integrate this into their other critical work.”
More or less Addicted or Dependent? “I really think many of these terms are used in a stigmatising, pejorative manner…”
Vaping Continues To Decline Among Kentucky Middle And High School Students, Tobacco Use Remains Low. “The survey brings encouraging news for policymakers: the use of traditional tobacco products among youth remains low, and the use of vapor products has significantly declined since its peak in 2019.”
Approval of Menthol Vapes Should Be Celebrated, Not Criticized. “In the addiction treatment world, the philosophy of harm reduction is a proven strategy. When someone is struggling with an addiction or involved in risky behavior, sometimes quitting or abstinence isn’t realistic. In those situations, reducing risk is the best first step. This can apply to cigarette smokers, too.”
NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. “Costello refused to be interviewed by RNZ but a spokesman said she had made the move to reduce the cost of the products to encourage smokers to switch to safer alternatives.”
SOUTH AFRICA CAN SOLVE ITS SMOKING PROBLEM BY HEEDING NEW ZEALAND’S VAPE SUCCESS STORY. “Smoking is on the increase in South Africa due to misinformation and hostility towards vapes, while other nations are using these safer alternatives to win the war against the deadly toll of tobacco, according to leading health experts.”
Do Flavour Restrictions On Vapes Impact Smoking Or Youth Vaping Rates? “Prima facie, this is suggestive of the flavor bans generating an unintended consequence by raising smoking participation among youth.”
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.
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.
*NEW* 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
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.
*NEW* 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
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.
Positions Available
Behavioural Research UK Research Fellow in Behavioural Environmental Research (BR-UK). Application deadline July 21, 2024
Rutgers Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies. Open Rank Research Track Faculty Position. Application deadline July 31, 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. Updated information: Extension of the submission deadline: *NEW* Submission Deadline is August 14, 2024. On July 3, 2024, FDA extended the comment period on Swedish Match U.S.A., Inc’s MRTP renewal application to provide time for the public to review application materials that were recently made available.
Wanted: Conference/Seminar Submissions…
TOPS Tobacco Online Policy Seminar call for papers/nominations. The submission deadline is October 7, 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
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
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
