Let There Be Smoke

A recent Harvard study claims that major tobacco and cigarette manufacturers intentionally increased nicotine levels in cigarettes. The late Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy promised he would reintroduce a bill that would allow the FDA to regulate cigarettes; last round the bill failed in the House after receiving Senate approval. Cigarette maker Philip Morris released a statement intending to undermine the study, yet at the same time Philip Morris ironically claimed it supported Kennedy’s bill. Morris claimed internal research indicated that nicotine levels for its Marlboro brand were unchanged since 1997. Philip Morris went on to say that any fluctuations in nicotine levels were due to simple variations in tobacco harvests. Harvard professor Dr. Gregory Connolly, a signatory to the study, was quoted as saying there was nothing random about the growth in nicotine yields, which were consistent across all brands and makers: “We know from our data that there are intentional design changes that result in more nicotine in smoke that increases the capacity for the cigarette to cause and maintain addiction.” A federal judge later found that the major tobacco companies had consistently “manipulated the use of nicotine so as to increase and perpetuate addiction… [and] lied, misrepresented and deceived the American public.”

SmokeShopTalk’s take:

Does the world need another Harvard study reminding us that smoking is addicting? The label clearly states as much. Ask any smoker and he/she will tell you that there is no doubt, nicotine is addicting. The issue is not whether or not tobacco companies manipulated the nicotine levels but rather the carcinogens inherent in the combustion of and inhalation of tobacco cigarettes. We believe the nicotine argument, while relevant is simply misguided. The conversation should not be about nicotine in and of itself if only for the fact that nicotine is not a carcinogen. There are 4,000 toxic chemicals that are introduced into tobacco during the manufacturing process and all of which end up in your lungs if you smoke tobacco. Arguing over nicotine is akin to arguing over the caffeine levels in Starbucks coffee. At some point you have to admit that people don’t necessarily drink their 32 oz super mocha double espresso Venti Machiatto coffee for its fabulous taste and low cost. The point we all should be focused on is why there are 4,000 toxins and known carcinogens intentionally added to the tobacco cigarette manufacturing process. Moreover, we should be asking how smokers can AVOID those toxins and carcinogens. The only reason people smoke is for the nicotine, plain and simple. Therefore, if a smoker can reduce his or her ingestion of these 4,000 toxins and carcinogens, the better he or she will be. Therefore, we believe that a natural approach toward harm reduction and risk mitigation would naturally be therapies and products which help smokers migrate away from tobacco products, reduce their tobacco dependency and their second hand smoke exposure. Products such as electronic cigarettes are an important step along that path.