American Lung Association wants FDA to withhold life-saving information. FDA has (partial) loss to Blu in D.C. court. Spontaneous pneumothorax strikes again. The “youth vaping crisis” lie used several times despite contradicting CDC data. Law enforcement warns against menthol ban and more!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to the audio/video versions of this post!
TOBACCO CONTROL // American Lung Association Wants FDA to Lie About Vaping
The ALA asks the FDA to remove any reference to the scientific fact that smoke-free tobacco products are vastly safer than cigarettes. They are effectively urging the agency to withhold lifesaving information about safer products from smokers and their loved ones.”
~ Dr. Brad Rodu
READ MORE: Say Goodbye to the American Lung Association
TOBACCO CONTROL // PAHO Says to Ban Vaping
Although smoking “kills one million people in the Region of the Americas per year,” the Pan American Health Organization/WHO says governments should BAN the marketing of HARM REDUCING vapor products that could save millions of lives, “including their importation, distribution or sale.” Meanwhile, no country under PAHO bans actual CIGARETTES, nor do they call for that to happen (because they know a cigarette ban would just create a black market.)
Sweden uses nic pouches in their THR portfolio along with nic vaping and heatnotburn. They will soon have a smoking rate under 5%; lowest in the world. Stop lying to protect your funding and start saving smokers lives.https://t.co/2l4EULfGs8
— AddyTuney (@AddyTuney) August 26, 2023
READ MORE: Eight countries in the Americas ban electronic cigarettes
IN THE NEWS // Ignore the Facts, Just Blame Vaping
“The young [male] patient, who was thin…”
This doctor MUST know that tall and thin adolescents are at greatest risk for spontaneous pneumothorax (sudden onset of a collapsed lung without any apparent cause,) but chooses to blame vaping without presenting any evidence to back up that claim.
Google tells me that spontaneous pneumothorax was around before vaping was a thing.
Surely that can’t be true, right?https://t.co/fjMZGQodHj
— Phil (@phil_w888) August 29, 2023
READ MORE: Vape escape: 16 year old’s lung goes bust after e-cigarette causes collapse
IN THE NEWS // Using Anecdotes (to Lie) Instead of CDC Data
Anecdotal “evidence” seems to rule in this newscast, claiming youth vaping is a “growing crisis” to scare parents. They confusingly reference both THC & e-cigs then make false claims about the e-cigs.
But the data on the most recent Texas youth use charts tells a very different story. Smoking, vaping and overall tobacco use has declined dramatically.
READ MORE: E-cigarette use among Texas students called a crisis
TOBACCO & NICOTINE POLICY // They Didn’t Get the Memo
Two years ago, Philadelphia ended its 3 year, “science-based” ban on smoking at drug treatment centers, because in the real world it failed miserably by losing the most vulnerable patients who couldn’t or wouldn’t quit smoking.
Unfortunately, it seems these drug treatment centers in Minnesota didn’t get the memo.
After nearly three years, Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services has quietly ended its controversial smoking ban at drug treatment centers.https://t.co/jyLs58aNvi
— WHYY News (@WHYYNews) November 13, 2021
READ MORE: Why Some Minnesota Treatment Centers are Going Commercial Tobacco-Free to Improve Health
FDA // Delusional Policy Recommendations for Vaping
These tobacco control geniuses think it’s a good idea for the FDA to cap nicotine in cigarettes AND e-cigs, pushing 11.6 million adults back to smoking or ineffective cessation methods because 2.14 million youth vape at least once a month and just 640,000 vape daily.
They point to the UK, which has a scientifically-baseless cap at 20 mg/mL, but ignore that nicotine cap has clearly resulted in a thriving illicit market for sketchy vapes with higher nicotine strengths and larger tank sizes.
They say NRT “delivers nicotine into the body without exposure to other harmful chemicals found in e-cigarettes,” but that’s only if people actually CHOOSE to use NRT. Unlike NRT, e-cigs have been shown to help people quit even if they didn’t intend to.
Even more ridiculous, they state that because actual cigarettes will no longer have the same nicotine levels as before, e-cigarettes at higher strengths will no longer be needed. As if people won’t want/need the nicotine because of a government-mandated limit.🤦♂️
OMG!!! 🤦🤦🤦 Why do you think only 2% of US high school students smoke? Maybe BECAUSE 14% vape instead🤦🤦🤦🤦 Lower the nicotine level, vaping becomes a LESS effective smoking cessation method. It's not really that difficult to understand pic.twitter.com/nOs8iiIzxq
— Miles Davis (@mrmiley) August 29, 2023
READ MORE: Including E-Cigarettes in the FDA Rule Limiting Nicotine
RESEARCH // A Weak Case Against Vaping
Study suggests male teen smoking MAY increase risk of asthma, obesity and wheezing in their children. While teen smoking is declining (thanks to vaping,) and despite the fact that smoking is far more harmful than vaping, nicotine as the POSSIBLE cause has only been seen in a few animal studies, and vaping wasn’t even part of this study, one co-researcher’s take-away from the study was that “we need to act now” against vaping.
READ MORE: Study reveals biological mechanism behind the impact of fathers’ early teenage smoking on offspring
FDA // Law Enforcement Opposition to Menthol Ban
This menthol ban will flood the streets, especially Black & Latino communities, with unregulated products, and if you think the products are unhealthy now, wait until the unregulated products are pushed into our communities.”
~ Major Neill Franklin (Ret.), Former Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership
FDA // Appeals Court (Partially) Rules Against FDA
Makers of Blu e-cigs accused FDA of failing to perform required analyses before issuing denials (at least regarding their unflavored products) and the D.C. Circuit agreed, becoming the 2nd court of appeals to find the FDA pulled a “surprise switcheroo.”
🚨⚖️🚨
Another defeat for FDA in federal court. @jadler1969 has all the salient highlights. Read the whole thing.https://t.co/NEbGMmjaAX— American Vapor Manufacturers (@VaporAmerican) August 29, 2023
READ MORE: Another Appeals Court Accuses the FDA of Committing “Surprise Switcheroo”
FDA // All Based on a Lie
A coalition of 33 attorneys general have urged FDA to ban ALL (already technically “illegal”) flavored e-cigs based on the LIE of a “youth vaping crisis.”
These AGs will find themselves on the wrong side of history when it’s proven these products would have SAVED MILLIONS OF LIVES.
Dear AG Nessel: Have you commissioned a Health Impact Assessment to learn how many:
-teen vapers will quit and become good-little-angels?
-teen vapers will switch to THC vaping or deadly cigarettes?
-adult vapers will relapse to smoking and die?
-fewer adult smokers will quit? pic.twitter.com/Enw5kY8ULf— Charles A. Gardner, PhD (@ChaunceyGardner) August 31, 2023
TESTIMONIALS // Real people. Real Stories.
“Anecdote” #13,525:
Successfully switched to vaping, DB can now look forward to the day his young son graduates from college. Kids need their parents and vaping is helping millions of them to live longer.
Share YOUR story: CASAA Testimonial Project
CASAA MEDIA // Spotify
CASAA’s podcast is on Spotify! Please give us a follow here:
CASAA IN ACTION // Twitter Spaces
The week we recap the Reagan-Udall sessions with Amanda Wheeler, Tim Andrews and CASAA CEO Alex Clark, who all presented to the panel about FDA’s issues regulating reduced-harm products. What grade would you give FDA? Also available on CASAA’s Spotify channel (above.)
— CASAA (@CASAAmedia) October 26, 2022
CASAA IN ACTION // CASAA Live
On this episode of CASAA Live, join CASAA CEO Alex Clark and CASAA Member Coordinator Kristin Noll-Marsh as they reveal why they started vaping and discuss the importance of consumer testimonials!
If you missed the last CASAA Live episode you can catch up NOW before the show comes back on Saturday, September 9th!
TAKE ACTION // CASAA State Facebook Groups
Have you joined your CASAA State Facebook group yet? Check it out now! Click the link below, click on your state on the map, then click the “Join Now” button to go to your state’s group page. It’s as easy as that to stay updated on local happenings, meet local advocates and never miss a Call to Action in your state!
Don’t forget to also follow our official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CASAAmedia
FIND YOUR GROUP: CASAA State Locator
CASAA STORE // Apparel and More
Show your support by shopping our store! Our president (and brilliant website/swag designer) Danielle has added some awesome new designs to CASAA’s apparel shop!
VISIT: CASAA Apparel and Swag Store
CASAA MEDIA // Podcast
Catch up on past tobacco harm reduction news with Alex and Logan on the CASAA podcasts on SoundCloud every Monday and now live on YouTube and Facebook every Saturday at 3:30 PM.
SoundCloud: