Snus brought up during menthol hearings

[danielan]

http://www.acsh.org/factsfears/newsI...ews_detail.asp

Dispatch: Stier Testifies At FDA Menthol Conference

ACSH’s Jeff Stier testified today at the Food and Drug Administration's Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC), which began meeting yesterday in Gaithersburg, Md. At the conference, TPSAC is discussing the possibility of proscribing the use of menthol in cigarettes. His testimony was based on ACSH’s position paper on mentholated cigarettes.

“Tobacco companies have provided a vigorous defense against the argument that menthol is an important factor in inducing young people to initiate smoking, or that it impedes cessation. But both sides are equally guilty of cherry picking certain studies to make their case — honing in on technical data analysis that has been inconclusive,” observes Stier.

He adds, “The real issue is how do we lower the toll of cigarette-related disease and death? Conflicting data on menthol certainly does not put this high up on the list.”

At the meeting, the tobacco companies presented a study demonstrating that mentholated cigarettes may confer on African-Americans a statistically insignificant protective effect against lung cancer. Stier facetiously quips, “Given this information, and other vague standards, maybe the FDA should require that menthol be added to cigarettes. That is, if the panel is actually planning to do what FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg advises — go where the science takes them.”

Stier suggests that, if the FDA panel really wants to do something useful, instead of spending days and days on menthol, they should figure out how to use snus or e-cigarettes to help addicted smokers quit.

[Jimbob_Rebel]

Man, they ban menthol cigarettes and the Rodney King riots will look like an ice cream social.

[snusgetter]

http://www.acsh.org/factsfears/newsI...ews_detail.asp

Stier suggests that, if the FDA panel really wants to do something useful, instead of spending days and days on menthol, they should figure out how to use snus or e-cigarettes to help addicted smokers quit.

Do something useful -- now, there's a novel thought!!

Unfortunately, that takes more effort than just taking note of the
prevailing winds of dissent and acting accordingly. Doin' it
for the children doesn't take much effort to seem productive
(and it gets the vultures of anti-anything off FDA backs quickly!).

[Langdell]

If they really want to do something useful "for the children" they would ban Vick's VapoRub and Mentholatum! Those heinous ointments are the real culprit in this. They're what get the kiddies hooked on the mediciney goodness of menthol. Then the kids outgrow their cases of the sniffles and learn that menthol cigarettes are the only way to get that mentholy fix. Vick's and Mentholatum--the gateway ointments!

[snusgetter]

Now, here's the right message that needs further dissemination..

.
Smokeless tobacco merits more support..

"The products that have helped many thousands of people quit smoking and benefit their health are the same products that tobacco control groups — including SmokeFree Wisconsin and the FDA — are trying to ban.

There is something seriously wrong when groups that are supposedly looking out for public health are doing everything they can to work against the public good. It's time the public was told the truth about the great benefit to public health that tobacco harm reduction products can have.

— Alan Selk, Madison"

[snusgetter]

If they really want to do something useful "for the children" they would ban Vick's VapoRub and Mentholatum! Those heinous ointments are the real culprit in this. They're what get the kiddies hooked on the mediciney goodness of menthol. Then the kids outgrow their cases of the sniffles and learn that menthol cigarettes are the only way to get that mentholy fix. Vick's and Mentholatum--the gateway ointments!

Unfortunately, there don't seem to be any acceptable
('natural' or otherwise) rubs/ointments that don't contain
eucalyptus oil, the active ingredient in so many everyday products...

Eucalyptus Oil, Herb Monograph - Flora Health Herb Encyclopedia
"Eucalyptus oil is an active ingredient in such familiar over-the-counter remedies as mentho-lyptus cough drops, Vicks VapoRub and Mentholatum ointment."
http://www.florahealth.com/flora/hom...alyptusOil.htm

I can vouch from personal experience that menthol is addictive
(Hall's Drops, anyone?) ... When I was a heavy smoker I used
Hall's as a breath mint; its flavor was strong enough to overpower
the meanest smoker's breath. Unfortunately, when I came down
with a cold I reinforced the drops with heavy doses of mentholated
cigarettes and OTC medications heavy in menthol -- and ended up
with a dose of menthol poisoning. I'm leery to this day of any
product with menthol as an active ingredient!!

[Langdell]

I was being a little sarcastic.

[snusgetter]

I was being a little sarcastic.

But there is usually much truth in sarcasm!!
You hit the nail on the head but I think it's the
over-consumption of such products that leads
to real problems.

Sarcast (??) onward and forward!!

[dreed2]

Jeff Stier is a pretty bright guy. I'm happy he got to speak during the witch hunt hearings. Have you seen this article by him? How Obama Can Quit Smoking

[LaZeR]

Man, they ban menthol cigarettes and the Rodney King riots will look like an ice cream social.

lolwut?

[BadAxe]

Why can't all the adults stand up and tell the FDA and the gov't to stop using "protecting the children" as a reason for everything they do to control ADULTS and get ADULTS money out of their pockets. That shit doesn't fly.

Protecting the children is NOT a job of the FDA or the gov't, and they should stop trying to parent our children. (Well they should stop pretending to be parenting our children). I can't believe we put up with it, and most of the sheep actually buy into it and believe its all about the children. Why can't people think for themselves and stand up and call bullshit.

Ok, back to reality. BTW, They were mostly redundant questions. I do not expect answers, because I realize how messed up this country and this world is these days. People no longer think for themselves, nor do they accept any responsibility for their actions, so itsno wonder that parenting is being taken out of their hands. Everything is someone else's fault.