Author Archives: Stanton Glantz

Which health care companies treat tobacco diseases — but also buy tobacco stocks?

As You Sow, a Smokefree Movies partner, released a new report on October 28, 2020:  Smoke & Mirrors: Healthcare company retirement plans are addicted to tobacco The report uncovers the surprising fact that tobacco firms — and media companies that push tobacco — are embedded in retirement plans at Abbott Laboratories, Becton Dickinson, CVS Health, DaVita, HCAContinue reading “Which health care companies treat tobacco diseases — but also buy tobacco stocks?”

New Cochrane review concluding e-cigs used as clinical therapy increase quitting is not relevant to assessing e-cigs in the real world

In 1971 Scottish physician Archibald Cochrane published a short book, Effectiveness and Efficiency: Random Reflections on Health Services, that made the point that most medical and surgical therapies in common use had never been shown to work.  He argued that for the use of randomized controlled trials (RCT) in which people in the trial wereContinue reading “New Cochrane review concluding e-cigs used as clinical therapy increase quitting is not relevant to assessing e-cigs in the real world”

Evidence supporting banning menthol keeps piling up, making it even more of a social issue

Nicotine and Tobacco Research recently published four papers on menthol (menthol preference associated with greater nicotine dependence and greater urge reduction after smoking, biological effects of menthol on addiction. menthol use has not dropped among Black and Hispanic students, 85% of pregnant women smoke menthol and quit less) adding to the already-compelling case that mentholContinue reading “Evidence supporting banning menthol keeps piling up, making it even more of a social issue”

Money talks. Why are top healthcare companies invested in … Tobacco?

As You Sow, one of our partners in the Smokefree Movies project, is releasing a new report, Smoke & Mirrors: Healthcare company retirement plans are addicted to tobacco, on Wednesday Wed, October 28 at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT.  The report uncovers the surprising fact that tobacco (and media companies that promote tobacco) is embedded inContinue reading “Money talks. Why are top healthcare companies invested in … Tobacco?”

California Dept of Public Health releases video summing up and celebrating 30 years of tobacco control progress

The California Department of Public Health recently released this video, “California Tobacco Control Program, “Celebrating 30 Years Of Health Justice,” describing the Program’s philosophy, messaging, evolution. It started being “the sharp end of the spear” 30 years ago by confronting — and continuing to confront — the tobacco companies and by focusing on reinforcing theContinue reading “California Dept of Public Health releases video summing up and celebrating 30 years of tobacco control progress”

A new source of danger from e-cigs: The heater coil

There has been a lot of attention to what elements of e-cigarette liquids cause e-cigarette and vaping induced lung injury (EVALI), the serious, and sometimes fatal, lung disease that was identified in vapers in the summer of 2019. There is now good evidence that vitamin E acetate, a chemical used to dilute THC in marijuanaContinue reading “A new source of danger from e-cigs: The heater coil”

Reduce your risk of serious lung disease caused by corona virus by quitting smoking and vaping

Updated October 18, 2020 When someone’s lungs are exposed to flu or other infections the adverse effects of smoking or vaping are much more serious than among people who do not smoke or vape. Smoking makes COVID worse if you get it and smoking — and vaping — increase the risk of being infected andContinue reading “Reduce your risk of serious lung disease caused by corona virus by quitting smoking and vaping”