International Pediatric Association publishes position paper concluding that “e-cigarettes are not an effective harm reduction strategy for adults and pose a serious risk to nicotine naïve youth”

On October 10, 2025, the International Pediatric Association (IPA) published a landmark position paper, “E-Cigarettes and the Nicotine Epidemic: Statement From the International Pediatric Association,” in Pediatrics, the international peer-reviewed journal published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The paper concluded, “In contrast to early hopes and assumptions, e-cigarettes are not an effective harm reductionContinue reading “International Pediatric Association publishes position paper concluding that “e-cigarettes are not an effective harm reduction strategy for adults and pose a serious risk to nicotine naïve youth””

FDA Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee should recommend against FDA allowing Philip Morris Products continuing to make misleading reduced risk claims about IQOS

FDA has scheduled a virtual meeting of its Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) meeting for October 7, 2025, to discuss the modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) renewal applications submitted by Philip Morris Products S.A. for several IQOS heated tobacco products that is happening despite the government shutdown. (Participants can attend via a live webcast.)Continue reading “FDA Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee should recommend against FDA allowing Philip Morris Products continuing to make misleading reduced risk claims about IQOS”

Archived copy of Tobaccoscam website and ads on smokefree hospitality is available

In 2002 I developed an educational campaign called Tobacco Scam designed to counter tobacco industry propaganda directed at restaurants and to expose the industry’s cooptation of the state and national restaurant associations. It was called “Tobacco Scam” because it highlighted how the tobacco companies were scamming restaurants and bars into opposing smokefree laws based onContinue reading “Archived copy of Tobaccoscam website and ads on smokefree hospitality is available”

Archival copies of Smokefree Movies and Smokefree Media websites are available

I ran the Smokefree Movies campaign from 2001 through my retirement from UCSF in 2020. This education/advocacy campaign put pressure on the motion picture industry to stop promoting tobacco to young audiences through specific policy changes. We advocated for these policies though paid advertising in the trade and general press and the Smokefree Movies website.Continue reading “Archival copies of Smokefree Movies and Smokefree Media websites are available”

UCSF launches new improved Industry Documents Library

Today the UCSF Industry Documents Library launched a complete redesign of the website that aligns with evolving institutional and user research needs and delivers a new and improved user experience. What’s new? Save the date – On Tuesday, September 9, 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT UCSF is hosting a live website open house and Q&AContinue reading “UCSF launches new improved Industry Documents Library”

Order free CDC Office on Smoking and Health publications by Friday Aug 15. After that they will be destroyed.

As part of its campaign to keep the public in the dark, the Trump Administration is closing the CDC Publication Warehouse on Friday August 15.  You can still order these Office on Smoking and Health publications for free until then. You can order multiple copies if you want.  Items not ordered by Friday will beContinue reading “Order free CDC Office on Smoking and Health publications by Friday Aug 15. After that they will be destroyed.”

FDA ignores current science to give Juul a pass

Not surprisingly, on July 17, 2025, FDA authorized the sale of Juul tobacco and menthol e-cigarettes.  I wish I could say that I am “not surprised” because during the 2024 campaign President Trump announced that he would “save vaping,” but, on reading FDA’s scientific justification (the Technical Product Lead report [TPL]), I found that theContinue reading “FDA ignores current science to give Juul a pass”

New WHO report details progress and problems in global tobacco control

In June 2025 the WHO released its new comprehensive WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2025: Warning about the dangers of tobacco. The report contains detailed country-specific analysis and statistics about progress in reducing tobacco use, policies, and industry opposition. It is a valuable reference document. It recognizes that Overall, while progress since 2007Continue reading “New WHO report details progress and problems in global tobacco control”

Global Action to End Smoking (formerly Foundation for a Smoke Free World) lays off CEO Cliff Douglas

In October 2023 Philip Morris International’s Foundation for a Smoke Free World hired Cliff Douglas as its new CEO (Wikipedia entry). FSFW was the latest in a long string of “third party” organizations created and funded by the tobacco industry to support its political needs, in this case to promote what the industry calls “smokeContinue reading “Global Action to End Smoking (formerly Foundation for a Smoke Free World) lays off CEO Cliff Douglas”

ABC Day One story on tobacco industry documents available here

I just found a video of the first national TV story about the Brown and Williamson documents I received on May 12, 1994. This ABC Day One story produced by Walt Bogdanich, ran on May 19, 1994: While I appear in the story, ABC did not identify me as the source. I wanted enough timeContinue reading “ABC Day One story on tobacco industry documents available here”