The whole harm reduction and reduced exposure frameworks that the FDA and others use to assess alternative inhaled tobacco products assumes that the specific details of the aerosol that these products deliver to users has a substantial effect on risks. New research by Poonam Rao, Matt Springer, and their colleagues at UCSF raises serious questionsContinue reading “A wide range of e-cigarettes similarly harm artery function as much as cigarettes”
Category Archives: smoking
High school student use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes fell after the San Francisco flavor ban took effect
San Francisco’s experience continues to be a central issue as localities and states continue to debate legislation ending the sale of flavored tobacco products, including the tobacco companies’ effort to overturn California’s flavor ban by forcing a referendum on it. Results from the 2019-20 California Student Tobacco Survey show that that, compared to the surveyContinue reading “High school student use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes fell after the San Francisco flavor ban took effect”
The e-cig gateway has two doors
When people talk about the “gateway effect” of e-cigarettes, they are usually referring to the first gateway: the fact that never-smoking kids who initiate nicotine use with e-cigarettes are more likely to start smoking cigarettes than youth who never try e-cigarettes. E-cig enthusiasts dismiss these studies by invoking the “common liability” theory which asserts thatContinue reading “The e-cig gateway has two doors”
Ecig enthusiasts respond to criticism that they selectively cited the science by ignoring the conclusions of the papers they do cite
In addition to the excellent paper by Samet and Barrington-Trimis the American Journal of Public Health recently published two letters to the editor — one from Wasim Maziak and one from me — criticizing the paper “Balancing consideration of the risks and benefits of e-cigarettes.” That paper argues that concerns over youth e-cigarette use needsContinue reading “Ecig enthusiasts respond to criticism that they selectively cited the science by ignoring the conclusions of the papers they do cite”
E-cigs: What about helping the smokers?
A lot of the discussion of e-cigarettes has been about the millions of youth who are starting nicotine addiction with them. While the tobacco companies are obvious beneficiaries of this fact, no one — not even the companies — publicly claims that this is a good thing. The goal is to “help addicted smokers quitContinue reading “E-cigs: What about helping the smokers?”
Youth smoking and vaping growing in e-cig friendly New Zealand
New Zealand, like England, the US FDA, and a few other countries, has embraced e-cigarettes. Like other e-cig enthusiasts, the Health Ministry minimizes risks to kids. In particular, its “Position statement on vaping” says: There is no international evidence that vaping products are undermining the long-term decline in cigarette smoking among adults and youth, andContinue reading “Youth smoking and vaping growing in e-cig friendly New Zealand”
Vaping disrupts mitochondria and promotes inflammation independent of the effects of past smoking
The fact that many e-cigarette users are former or current cigarette smokers (dual users) complicates understanding the health effects of e-cigarette use. Stella Tommasi, Ahmad Besaratinia and their colleagues at USC have used sophisticated genomic analysis of white blood cells (leukocytes) collected from people to pry these effects apart. In their paper, “A novel roleContinue reading “Vaping disrupts mitochondria and promotes inflammation independent of the effects of past smoking”
E-cig inventor Hon Lik is still smoking
Popular lore is that Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik invented e-cigarettes in 2003 to help people quit smoking. The Times of London reported that it didn’t work for him. Instead of “switching completely” he is a dual user, vaping and smoking at the same time. Hon Lik’s experience is what you would expect from the strongContinue reading “E-cig inventor Hon Lik is still smoking”
FCTC stimulated smoking bans and pictorial warnings but not tax increases or ad bans
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) committed Parties to, among other things, implement tobacco demand reduction measures including smokefree laws, strong health warning labels and increase tobacco taxes. Previous studies, including some of our work, have generally shown that countries followed treaty ratification by implementing at least some of these policies. Now HeikkiContinue reading “FCTC stimulated smoking bans and pictorial warnings but not tax increases or ad bans”
E-cigarettes don’t help smokers stay off cigarettes
Last week the FDA authorized the sale of RJ Reynolds’ (BAT’s US subsidiary) Vuse e-cigarette despite heavy use by kids because “the manufacturer’s data demonstrates its tobacco-flavored products could benefit addicted adult smokers who switch to these products – either completely or with a significant reduction in cigarette consumption – by reducing their exposure toContinue reading “E-cigarettes don’t help smokers stay off cigarettes”
Stanton Glantz blog 