Exposing the truth about Truth Initiative. Anti-harm reduction propaganda is working. Researchers confirm vaping has lower risks to heart than smoking. CASAA statement on menthol bans and more!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to the audio/video versions of this post!
CALL TO ACTION // National – Menthol Ban
Starting on May 4, 2022, the FDA is accepting comments on two proposed rules banning the use of flavors other than tobacco in combustible tobacco products.
Whether you’re supporting the rule or opposed, one thing we can all agree on is that people who smoke need safer alternatives to cigarettes — mentholated or not!
While the FDA is moving ahead with banning more tobacco products, it is failing to authorize a meaningful variety of e-liquids and devices that are responsible for recent accelerated declines in smoking.
In addition to sharing your views on banning menthol cigarettes and other flavored combustible products, take this opportunity to urge FDA to ensure that people have access to safer forms of nicotine delivery that are enjoyable and affordable–like vaping, nicotine pouches, and smokeless tobacco products.
TAKE ACTION: FDA Menthol Ban – Submit Your Comments
TOBACCO CONTROL // Exposing the Truth
Excellent, must-read exposé by journalist Marc Gunther of the anti-vaping tactics of the Truth Initiative.
“This has become a pattern at Truth Initiative: Draw questionable conclusions from scientific research to attack vaping, and ignore evidence to the contrary.”
READ MORE: The Half-Truth Initiative: How an Anti-Smoking Group Lost Its Way
Listen to our recent Twitter Space interview with Marc Gunther about his article!
TOBACCO CONTROL // Truth Initiative Hits Keep Coming
Anti-harm reduction organization Truth Initiative discusses a recent study of vapers on Reddit–where 93% of users are 18-49 years old–that found vapers are desperate for access to the flavors that have helped millions of adults keep from smoking.
Their response? Close all “loopholes” to make sure they can’t get them.
Truth justifies this cruelty by bringing up the unrelated EVALI outbreak, continuing with the outdated “epidemic” rhetoric and the disproven claim that teens vape because of the flavors.
What @truthinitiative neglects to mention in this article is that the people searching social media for flavors were ADULTS trying to find products that adults use to quit smoking & that Truth has worked to ban pushing its false claim of a youth epidemic.
https://t.co/PWF9xVLJnx— Lance Churchill (@LanceChurchill) August 8, 2022
READ MORE: E-cigarette users look to social media to circumvent flavored e-cigarette restrictions
TOBACCO CONTROL // Anti-Vaping Propaganda is Working
Gallup poll finds Americans are successfully brainwashed by anti-harm reduction propaganda–finding people want stricter vape regulations–but gives no details on WHAT the regulations are that people want. On the plus side, 8% of adults vape, but only 2% report dual use–contradicting the claim that “most” adult vapers still smoke.
If there was more emphasis on true science based focused campaigns that show vaping IS safer than smoking more Americans would rather allow vaping than want to ban something they do not understand. Gallup to the truth, not BS
— thejfreeman (@thejfreeman1) August 12, 2022
READ MORE: Americans Want Stricter Vaping Regulations, Mixed on Tobacco
TOBACCO CONTROL // Dual Confusion
After warning in May that dual use has no health benefits and expressing concern that those trying to quit would continue to dual use instead of quitting, the American Heart Association is now worried that daily vaping is rising. For adults, moving to daily vaping is a possible indicator for having completely quit smoking. So why didn’t AHA bother to investigate or report on how the increase in daily vaping related to dual use/smoking?
Despite researchers noting the significant decline in adult smoking & a decline in vaping for adults who were attempting to quit smoking, they continue to refuse to acknowledge any possible connection between increased vaping & declining smoking rates!https://t.co/m5Yt9HWNeb
— CASAA (@CASAAmedia) July 25, 2022
READ MORE: Daily e-cigarette use rising despite slight decline in current use among youngest adults
TOBACCO CONTROL // Anti-Harm Reduction
Anti-harm reduction group Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids continues its irrational attack on safer nicotine this week, still delusional in its assertion that banning flavored vapor products will stop youth from vaping–just like banning cannabis stopped people from smoking weed.
LEGISLATION // Bangor, Maine Update
City leaders in Bangor, Maine have again banned flavored vapor and tobacco products. Adults who smoke (or quit with low risk alternatives) will now have to travel to other towns for the low risk alternatives to cigarettes–which can still be easily purchased in Bangor.
The Bangor City Council has once again voted to ban the sale of flavored tobacco. https://t.co/2yv8uDtd0b
— Maine Public – Celebrating 60 Years! (@MainePublic) August 9, 2022
READ MORE: Bangor once again bans the sale of flavored tobacco
AROUND THE WORLD //New Zealand’s ‘End Game’ is Prohibition
New Zealand–a country recently more open to tobacco harm reduction than most–is now fully embracing prohibition. Lawmakers have introduced a bill mandating very low nicotine smoked tobacco, reducing tobacco outlets by up to 95% and prohibiting people born after 2008 from ever buying tobacco. If nothing else, this should boost the country’s already thriving black market.
I'm no statistician but 'modelling' used to justify prohibition in NZ doesn't disclose its underlying assumptions & no mention of the black market. This head-in-sand insistence that NZ is immune to tobacco smuggling due to our 'water border' is ridiculous. https://t.co/idx6r4kuDd
— john elliott (@johnelliott413) July 27, 2022
REGULATION // Menthol Ban is a Bad Idea
While a menthol cigarette ban may seem reasonable on the surface to some, it’s far more complicated than you may think. CASAA just submitted our formal comment to the FDA and you can read it, along with our position statement, below.
https://twitter.com/Noll_Marsh/status/1555357570327625729
READ MORE: CASAA: Think Bigger Than a Menthol Ban
REGULATION // Bans Still Don’t Work
Massachusetts has arraigned four men for “illegally trafficked marijuana and THC-infused products, including some that contained traces of fentanyl, and distributed untaxed, black-market tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products—the majority of which were counterfeit and flavored, in violation of the state’s ban on flavored tobacco and ENDS products…”
It’s complete insanity that the very low risk vapes helping millions of adults quit smoking are only on that “illegal” list because of FLAVORS.
Bans👏Don’t👏Work👏
Policymakers should be wary of shoddy research purporting that flavor bans work.
Don't miss @lmstroud89 latest blog, 'State Lawmakers Be Wary, Flavor Tobacco Bans Result in Loss of Revenue, Increased Costs for Enforcement' here:https://t.co/el93Dv4Z4o
— Taxpayers Protection Alliance (@Protectaxpayers) August 13, 2022
RESEARCH // Nicotine Vapes Reduce Heart Risks Compared to Cigarettes
Findings from a new study conducted by an international group of researchers at 6 independent laboratories “are a strong rebuke to repeated claims by medical societies that using e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products are just as dangerous as smoking.”
The findings are critical when heart disease is a major factor in smoking-related deaths, writes @aftariak. And the study is part of a wider project to replace junk science with credible data:https://t.co/WpPiyLpnVK
— Filter | harm reduction journalism (@Filtermag_org) August 11, 2022
READ MORE: Replication Study Confirms Vapes Reduce Heart Risks Compared to Cigarettes
RESEARCH // Another Gateway Junk Study
With this study article being shared by anti-harm reduction groups, it’s important to highlight what the study also says: overall association at the population level is likely QUITE SMALL. Also, smoking has long been known as a precursor to cannabis use, so it may be good news that low risk vaping may just be replacing high risk smoking in this case.
https://twitter.com/cjsnowdon/status/1556776094203772930
READ MORE: Study: Kids who vape tobacco are more likely to go on to use cannabis
CASAA MEDIA // Spotify
CASAA’s podcast is now on Spotify! Please give us a follow here:
CASAA IN ACTION // Twitter Spaces
We were thrilled to have Marc Gunther on this week’s Twitter Space to discuss his recent exposé on the Truth Initiative for Filter Magazine. You won’t want to miss this episode – now available on CASAA’s YouTube channel, too!
We are thrilled to have @MarcGunther on this week’s Space to discuss his recent exposé on the Truth Initiative for @Filtermag_org
You won’t want to miss this episode, so hit the reminder button below and join us TODAY at 3 PM Eastern / 7 PM GMT!https://t.co/O2dWYgAgfd
— CASAA (@CASAAmedia) August 3, 2022
CASAA IN ACTION // CASAA Live
NOTE: CASAA Live will be on hiatus for the summer and will be returning in September. In the meantime, replay audio from the CASAA Twitter Spaces will be broadcast on our YouTube channel in the same Saturday timeslot.
If you missed the most recent CASAA Live show, check out the replay now! CASAA Live is on alternating Saturdays at 4:30 PM ET/3:30 PM CT/2:30 PM MT/1:30 PM PT on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter!
*This Twitter Space was originally recorded on April 27, 2022.
CASAA Live is proud to present this replay of our conversation with Dr. Marewa Glover, director of the Centre of Research Excellence in New Zealand. She is a behavioral scientist with over 30 years of experience in public health and over 100 scientific papers. Dr. Glover is well known for her compassionate insight, advocacy on tobacco harm reduction for people who smoke and–despite the great risk to her career and reputation–calling out Tobacco Control for its harmful policies and priorities.
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: