Tobacco Harm Reduction For Life

September 20, 2017 Vaping Links 149 Comments

Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life (THR4Life) was established to help smokers regain control over their lives by providing balanced and accurate information about tobacco harm reduction.

The primary goal for this organization is honesty and transparency in public health.

What Is “Tobacco Harm Reduction”?

Less harm. Freedom for the consumer choosing an alternative to smoking by being educated in different forms of reducing or elimination of tobacco.

From the traditional forms like a patch or gum, “heat not burn” products, reading an Allen Carr book, or e-cigarettes, the choices need to be clear. It is also imperative to educate the consumer in the failure rates, success rates and side effects of each product.

THR4Life wants to support and educate consumers, allowing them to understand their options in a way that hasn’t been attempted in the United States.

In finding a way to describe “tobacco harm reduction” while writing this, Carl V. Phillips had this to say:

“A harm reduction approach embodies basic human rights, concern for people’s welfare, an enlightened view of individual freedom and dignity, and an effort to resist egocentrism and appreciate others’ perspective and preferences.”

What is Tobacco Harm Reduction?

Whether by default or design, multiple attempts (failure), guilt and shame is “acceptable practice” with existing tactics in the field of “tobacco control“.

Imagine depending on a trained expert THIRTY times?

Why THR4Life Is Different

Informed choice is something standard “help” fails to focus on for the consumer. For a smoker or smokers families, helping to make an informed choice to reduce or stop tobacco use is a personal one.

With Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life, the consumer is the primary focus, and the organization is dedicated to providing balanced and accurate information about the myriad of available tobacco harm reduction (THR) products.

Instead of guilt or shame, information on risk and success rates of available products are paramount in helping someone choose the best method for them, and why.

Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life

This organization was a seed planted, an idea, in fact – a vision – from Ray Yeates of THRA (Tobacco Harm Reduction Association of Canada) quite a while back and is now breathing air in the United States.

Kevin Price announced the Board Of Directors of Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life (A 501c3) July 17th, 2017.

The Board consists of Kevin Price, Lindsey Stroud, Skip Murray, Jenny Hoban, Kevin Crowley (myself) and David Goerlitz.

Added 04/18: David is no longer on the board of directors.

Members of the Board have already spoken in Detroit Lakes, MN where efforts to raise the age of smoking, including vaping, would have been 21.

“At the Sept.12th public hearing, and after four months of deliberation, the Detroit Lakes City Council voted (6 – 2) to take no action, turning down all proposed anti-vape ordinance changes – including Tobacco 21! The two council members that did want to move forward, wanted to do so by excluding vapor from the language!”

Tobacco buying age raise ordinance in Detroit Lakes dead for now

Another goal is a national toll-free hotline for consumers. Yes, you read that right.

I’d like to introduce you to the Board of Directors:

Kevin Price

What was the primary reason you chose to take a position with Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life?

Bring correct information to smokers.

What advice can you give to someone who is choosing a product to help them choose to stop smoking?

I advise smokers to try the product that has the highest success rate.

In one sentence, what do you want consumers to know?

I want smokers to know the truth so they can make an informed decision.

Lindsey Stroud

What was the primary reason you chose to take a position with Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life?

Since getting involved with the ENDS community through my role at Heartland, I have been exposed to such a unique population of people who are promoting healthier lifestyles through tobacco harm reduction products. THR4Life is one of the few groups that chooses to embrace all of those products, including snus, electronic cigarettes, and heat-not-burn tobacco products. It is one of the few groups that seeks to inform the public that tobacco should not be demonized, but rather, its usage can be done safely through tobacco harm reduction products.

What advice can you give to someone who is choosing a product to help them choose to stop smoking?

The internet can be your friend, and it can be your enemy. There is a TON of useful information online, but there is always an angle of bias that companies, groups, and others use to push whatever it is that they are pushing. Use the internet like one would use Wikipedia when researching some topic, it’s a nice starting place, but it’s not the end all be all. Conversations with persons in the industry will always be the best go-to, and some of those will probably be able to take place online. Make sure to ask lots of questions and know that most persons in these industries do want to help you quit smoking and they are willing to help create a system that works for you, and it’s way better than the government’s federal helpline.

In one sentence, what do you want consumers to know?

Quitting smoking is very difficult, but the tobacco harm reduction community is an enormous collaboration of individuals who’s goal is to reduce the negative health outcomes of tobacco usage in a manner that is more than “quit smoking or die.”

Skip Murray

What was the primary reason you chose to take a position with Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life?

As a Mom who almost lost her son before he was 30 to a smoking related heart attack, I feel it’s my duty to do what ever I can to help people quit smoking. It is also important to fight for modern methods that will reduce the harm of smoking and give people a greater chance at being successful in their efforts to quit.

What advice can you give to someone who is choosing a product to help them choose to stop smoking?

Don’t believe everything you hear in the news. People are afraid of change. Some people have financial reasons to fight change. Think about what you like the most about smoking, what gives you satisfaction. Then look at the various ways there are to quit smoking and try things that won’t make you feel deprived.

I’ll use myself as an example. I enjoyed the “social” aspect of smoking – taking a break at work with others and going and having a smoke. Smoking gave me something to “do” – I liked the hand to mouth, the inhale and exhale.

I liked having my cigarettes to lean on, my “crutch” when I was sad, stressed, or emotional. I think the reason I failed at things like the patch is that even if it was giving me nicotine, it wasn’t filling my physical, social, and emotional needs that were tied to my smoking. I think that is why vaping was the right “tool” for me. I am now meeting my physical, social, and emotional needs without the harm of lighting tobacco on fire.

In one sentence, what do you want consumers to know?

I want you to know that I believe in you, I care about you, and I support you.

Jenny Hoban

#1. What was the primary reason you chose to take a position with Tobacco Harm Reduction For Life?

A: Working with Thr4life is an opportunity to work along side some of the best THR advocates in the nation, to refocus tobacco prevention and harm reduction strategies back on the people who are affected by tobacco the most: the smokers and their families.

#2. What advice can you give to someone who is choosing a product to help them choose to stop smoking?

A: More people have quit smoking by switching to vaping, than by all pharmaceutical cessation therapies combined. I have witnessed first hand, thousands of people transform their lives by making the switch, after having failed with all other products on the market. Vaping has proven to be the most effective pathway to becoming smoke-free, but at the end of the day, folks just need to do what works best for them. And whichever avenue that may be, we are here for support, encouragement, and education.

#3. In one sentence, what do you want consumers to know?

A: Only YOU are in control of you, and capable of anything you set your intentions on; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Kevin Crowley

What was the primary reason you chose to take a position with Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life?

To make a difference. I am a consumer. I am familiar with and respect the other board members. I understand their passion. I appreciate involving myself with others who have a common objective of helping the consumer without them feeling shamed or obligated. Consumers should be educated – far better than the government allows, to make an informed choice about less harmful products from a consumer perspective.

What advice can you give to someone who is choosing a product to help them choose to stop smoking?

Ask questions about the side effects and success rates of any product. Don’t walk into a grocery store presuming they will work. Never assume the person telling you is knowledgable with the product they are referring you with. What may work for one person might not work as well for another.

In one sentence, what do you want consumers to know?

Government and those in the care and custody of “public health” are lying, to their advantage, of both the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of available products.

David Goerlitz

Added 04/18: David is no longer on the board of directors.

(David has chosen to resign to pursue other opportunities, and is no longer on the board of THR4Life and we all wish him well and hope to work with him in the future.)

What was the primary reason you chose to take a position with Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life?

The primary reason I joined tobacco harm reduction for life was because we are peers. We are compatible in that we all basically want the same thing and our core missions or similar. No lawyers, shoes, and hidden agendas that I see with other groups and organizations. Best hope for new and innovative strategies without the political crap.

What advice can you give to someone who is choosing a product to help them choose to stop smoking?

If smokers longing to quit and finally reached that transitional point to seek out what best will work for him or her the majority will already know that traditional methods do not work. We have already witnessed 9 million smokers transition to a 95% safer alternative and for the most part successfully. It really is quite that simple and not that profound.

In one sentence, what do you want consumers to know?

Consumers need to know that Vaping Is Not Smoking and they have everything to gain.

Check out our brand new fundraiser! Donate $50 or more and we will send you one of our legendary THR4Life t-shirts as our way of saying, “Thank You!” 100% of the funds raised will go toward establishing America’s first THR toll-free hotline!