The FDA’s Mitch Zeller & Dr. Scott Gottlieb have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
“A Nicotine-Focused Framework for Public Health”
While claiming nicotine is the center of “addiction” and the reduction of nicotine as the answer to reduce tobacco use… their seemingly contrived objective is in part below:
“The agency’s new tobacco strategy has two primary parts: reducing the addictiveness of combustible cigarettes while recognizing and clarifying the role that potentially less harmful tobacco products could play in improving public health. We must also work toward a greater role for medicinal nicotine and other therapeutic products in helping smokers to quit and remain nonsmokers.”
While I am completely opposed to the framing of the nicotine addiction theory without tobacco, there were two other parts I’m not convinced quite yet that we’re on the right path; bold is my emphasis:
“reducing the addictiveness of combustible cigarettes”
“We must also work toward a greater role for medicinal nicotine and other therapeutic products in helping smokers to quit and remain nonsmokers.”
The focus on “nicotine” is, in my eyes, a subliminal way to keep the definition of e-liquid as tobacco, manipulate e-cigarette products as tobacco, and collect unjust & undue tax – on a product that is not addictive without tobacco, and not tobacco.
The teetering on medicinal nicotine & other therapeutic products gives a direct odor of pharmaceutical product and control, something they’ve already had and failed miserably with.
Nicotine, though not benign, is not directly responsible for the tobacco-caused cancer, lung disease, and heart disease that kill hundreds of thousands of Americans each year.
Excellent….and goes on to add
…within a landscape including other, noncombustible products such as e-cigarettes, represents a promising foundation for a comprehensive approach to tobacco harm reduction. In working toward this vision, the FDA is committed to striking an appropriate balance between protecting the public and fostering innovation in less harmful nicotine delivery.
That’s the first positive thing I’ve heard in some time from the government:
Tobacco Harm Reduction.
Are there other chemicals that cause addiction in tobacco?
MAIO’s?
Via Michael Siegel (bold & underlining is my emphasis):
“Importantly, only one perspective on this issue was presented to us in the trainings. There was no room for disagreement or challenge. These ideas were presented as scientific facts, not subject to debate. In fact, if we were to challenge the ideas, the implication was that we – ourselves – might be accused of working for Big Tobacco or receiving secret payoffs.
The most prominent and dogmatic idea presented to us was that “The debate is over.” There is no room for questioning of the link between secondhand smoke and chronic disease. Anyone who challenges that link or suggests that it is being exaggerated must therefore be a front for the tobacco industry. No reasonable person – acting of their own accord – would challenge this undebatable science.”
It’s been more than a year since my wife & I traveled to Milwaukee to the premier of A Billion Lives.
They’re not done, and neither are we.
In case you’re not on Facebook:
“After the big FDA news, there’s been a resurgence of groups looking to host educational screenings of #ABillionLives in their local theaters for politicians & media.
Great news! The major US theater companies will do another run, but will require about 50 tickets pre-ordered for each showing. No other costs, and group leaders will get 5% of their ticket sales to put towards advocacy.
Vape Shop Employees: Public Health Advocates? ~ Is vapor also unhealthy for lungs? ~ TRIPLE cessation. ~ Dance, monkey, dance ~ Huh ~ Budget Cuts ~ FDA Announcement
Doing more than tobacco control does:
“…relish their role in assisting others in taking what employees view as positive health actions…”
“…it is impossible to find any evidence – and difficult to find any reasonable argument – that vaping will not turn out to be 99.9% safer than smoking, +/- 0.1%, since there are no visible routes to serious health issues visible at this time.”
President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation — Johnson & Johnson, is concerned… about his front groups & revenue falling from sales of patches & gums.
FDA delays regulation of E-cigs and cigars. I find this very concerning. https://t.co/SMp1esB5Nj
I didn’t quit smoking. I didn’t stop smoking. I switched to a less harmful alternative. I chose to try a “cig-a-like” and I didn’t want a cigarette within 48 hours, and my wife chose to do the same thing.
My journey was no different than most others who accidentally found an alternative to smoking that actually worked with no withdrawal and no noticeable side effects.
After more than four years, I’ve found myself in a cesspool of adults – specifically professionals with titles and “I love me” walls – who pretend to have no common sense.
I take that back, there are side effects to not smoking with my chosen path.
Reading. LOTS of reading.
Research. Finding answers myself.
Asking questions and “networking”. I have found that if I don’t know or understand, someone will, without fail, answer my question both truthfully and in a way I will understand.
Blogging. To get what I do learn & understand out to others who hopefully will find it – and understand it.
Twitter. Immense knowledge and reference from worldwide advocates.
Questioning.
I am constantly questioning everything I thought I knew I was told about smoking.
Tobacco Harm Reduction.
Health and government organizations don’t subscribe to tobacco harm reduction. With them, you will find cessation.
According to Merriam-Webster, “cessation” is to stop.
: a temporary or final ceasing (as of action) : stop mutually agreed to a cessation of fighting
What “organizations” and government are doing is promoting a highly profitable and repeatablebusiness.
The vulnerability of someone with great expectations isn’t considered, it is mocked.
They wrongfully blame the consumer. They blatantly blame “nicotine“.
What they “give away” are products made by pharmaceutical companies and an air of authority, combined with an illusion of an answer to help someone stop smoking.
The reality of these methods and the failure rates is dismal and never discussed.
Entertain yourself.
Call a quitline and ask them about the success rates with the patch or gum.
Success?
Well, I’ll let the display of an “expert” organization speak for themselves below:
For the record, I am not against the patch, gum, lozenge, hypnosis, a self-help book, accupuncture, heat not burn, snus, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes, and other alternatives.
Only if used with extreme cautionand understanding the well documented side effects, medication is also avaible to help someone choose to stop smoking.
I am, however against giving improper or bias information to those who don’t know any better and rely on “trusted” organizations, public health & government officials.
I will do this until I can’t type, call, scream, tweet or blog any longer.
Think of the possibilities.
I am a consumer. I have no ulterior motive.
I take that back, I have ulterior motive. The choice of smoker, the non-smoker and education of the consumer.
I have proudly joined the Board of Directors of THR4Life (Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life) along with 5 others:
Kevin Price, Lindsay Stroud, Skip Murray, Jenny Ho and David Goerlitz.
This group of individuals are strong, opinionated, intelligent and, without question, looking out for the consumer.
Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life is are a Public Charity 501c3 and we are Tax-Deductible for bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the IRS.
Clive Bates ~ Advocacy ~ Carl V. Phillips (x’s2) ~ THRA Survey Results ~ Why Should Vapers Defend Smokers? ~ ECigIntelligence Survey Results ~ Please Keep Smoking ~ WHO declares they need more money ~ Silencing Public Dissension ~ Frank Davis ~ Robert Morgen ~ Bill Godshall ~ Countdown ~ Kevin Price: THR4Life ~ David Goerlitz
An idea, in fact – a vision – from Ray Yeates of the THRA (Tobacco Harm Reduction Association of Canada) quite a while back is breathing air.
Kevin Price announced the Board Of Directors of Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life (A 501c3) July 17th, 2017. The Board consists of Lindsay Stroud Skip Murray, Jenny Ho, David Goerlitz and myself.
This organization willinclude a 1-800 number for smokers to call in with questions.
I am a Vaper ~ ♫ I’m just a shill… ♫ ~ That word ~ Brian Fojtic ~ Coffee ~ Colin Mendelsohn ~ Deeming Regulations ~ THR4Life
I am a Vaper
“I am a vaper. That’s not a confession, by the way; it’s a statement I’m proud to make. I used to smoke and now I don’t. For many that’s a difficult journey, but it doesn’t have to be.”
When will W.H.O. stop tobacco “CONtrol” from interfering with success of e-cigarettes instead of denying their proven potential and continuing their agenda of the fiscal con.
Rhetorical.
I’m calling on a resolution to prevent all tobacco control activites.
Here’s where WHO FCTC pretends to bite the hand that feeds them:
Australia is still facing one of the most idiotic fights to keep people smoking in the world. Quit or die is an ineffective and worn out calling card – to keep smokers smoking.
Do you know about NNA?
Deeming Regulations
If you had doubts about the proposed new vaping rules in the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill — now working its way through the House committee process — take some comfort knowing that vaping’s biggest enemy doesn’t like it one bit. Maybe that’s a good sign.
An open challenge STANDS! Our 501c3 newly formed, would like ANY multi-million dollar TC org to have an OPEN & PUBLIC debate on THR. Anyone? pic.twitter.com/S6uOu9mEvN
Public Health’s dishonesty about vaping, hurts youth ~ Psychological Distress ~ Vapers In Power ~ 69% e-cig tax defeated ~ Mental Health ~ Wound Science ~ Respiratory Improvement ~ THR4LIFE
Public Health’s dishonesty about vaping, hurts youth
It’s the mantra chanted by public health anti-tobacco groups around the nation. On their self proclaimed mission to “protect the children”, these groups petition municipal and state legislators to pass strict and often over reaching regulations when it comes to tobacco use and sales.
“Smokers with Psychological Distress” (SPD) may be more vulnerable toward ENDS use, as they are for combustible cigarette use, due to greater positive expectancies of the products.
Chinese courts call for death penalty for researchers who commit fraud ~ Matt Myers ~ Jester ~ Sensible regulation of e-cigarettes: Opportunities for reform (Video) ~ Learning from our failures in smoking cessation research ~ NO Gateway ~ Understanding Nicotine Strengths and Percentages ~ Tobacco company outsmarts tobacco control experts again ~ Big Government, Public Health, and E-Cigarettes, I, II & III ~
Chinese courts call for death penalty for researchers who commit fraud
Sensible regulation of e-cigarettes: Opportunities for reform
American Enterprise Institute
If you’re a regular reader, you’ll recognize the names in the panel.
Learning from our failures in smoking cessation research
Be more forceful with things that don’t work – sounds like a plan.
“Widespread access to a range of treatments (perhaps more appropriately termed “cessation aids”), offered at little to no cost and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 12 months a year ought to be ubiquitous. We should, as Baker notes, be more forceful in bringing the treatment to the smoker.”
Tobacco company outsmarts tobacco control experts… again.
The tobacco control/public health sector is much more interested in taxing tobacco for its own financial gain via funding and what they call an “end-game”. The “end-game” is simply their business plan – with no thought other than their survival – not the public – to continue what seems to be their “fight” against tobacco, and to fund themselves.
On the other hand, tobacco companies are well ahead of TC and public health posturing – they are rightfully setting themselves up for the future with innovation & expectations – brought by consumer & market demand.
Combustible tobacco will never go away, but may lose its appeal. While tobacco control experts want to controltobacco for their own purpose, tobacco companies are finding a less harmful alternative to the traditional combustible products – like ecigs & heat not burn.
“Peter Nixon, the UK chief executive of the international tobacco giant said, “We are absolutely serious – one day, we want to stop selling cigarettes.” The company has committed to bringing about a smoke-free world that it has decided to pay brand ambassadors, termed “freelancers”, to persuade people to quit smoking.”
My memory fades at times, I do not know where or when I first came across Mr. Fojtik, but I am glad I have. He coined the phrase “Phino” some time ago.
Letter to Scott Gottleib ~ Do As You Are Told ~ Does the Gateway Effect Really Exist? ~ Clive Bates ~ Is Raising the Smoking Age A Good Idea? ~ Is the American Heart Association a terrorist organization? ~ GFN ~ Agent Ania
In loving memory of
Agent Ania
Dear Dr. Scott Gottlieb, MD, Commissioner:
A letter dated the 14th of June was sent to Dr. Scott Gottleib, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration from who I would call true Tobacco Control experts.
Is the American Heart Association a terrorist organization?
“Sure, the AHA isn’t beheading people in the streets or strapping bombs on children. But that’s not the only way to be a terrorist organization, is it?”
Vaping In The News June 24th-July 1st, 2017
