No, vaping isn’t driving a “surge in rage incidents” on airplanes. Vaping and civil disobedience. CASAA in action. Blame game for teen substance abuse is illogical. Allowing vapes in prison is far more than just tobacco harm reduction. Prioritizing mental health. CDC unduly concerned about teen vaping. Baseless smoking bans. Calls to Action and more!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to the audio/video versions of this post!
CALL TO ACTION // Maine Flavor Ban!
LD 1215 would put many adult lives back at risk by banning tobacco and nicotine products in any flavor (even “cooling”) other than “tobacco.”
A second hearing was held on May 18th!
READ MORE: Maine – Stop a Flavor Ban!
MEDIA MISINFORMATION // No, Vaping Isn’t ‘Driving’ a Surge in Rage Incidents
This headline is ridiculously untrue. The IATA report (see screenshots) says nothing about vaping or any other non-compliant behavior driving a surge of “rage incidents.” The report (see screenshots below) describes smoking and vaping as leading causes of non-compliance, not “rage” incidents. Furthermore, because smoking/vaping were lumped together in the report, we have no idea if vaping non-compliance happened more or less than smoking non-compliance.
READ MORE: Vaping ‘driving worrying surge in number of air rage incidents on flights’
TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION // Misplaced Blame
The explanation for teen substance use is that adolescents are strongly attracted to adult behaviors and adult products. Blaming the vape industry while giving the alcohol industry a pass is illogical. Teen marijuana use underscores the fact that young people will adopt adult behaviors regardless of industry marketing.”
~ Dr. Brad Rodu
READ MORE: Is Industry to Blame for Teen Substance Use?
TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION // Allowing Vapes In Prison
“The moment that legal routes to cigarettes were eliminated, an illicit market flooded in. Debts mounted. Some people pay theirs with sex work. Some are unable to pay. The smoking ban made the community I live in less safe.”
https://twitter.com/jessicashortall/status/1663991563561713666
READ MORE: Allowing Vapes in Our Prison Would Be Violence Harm Reduction, Too
TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION // Prioritizing Mental Health
It’s estimated that somewhere over 20 percent of people in the US live with a mental illness. But this population smokes almost HALF of all the cigarettes sold around the country each year. It’s past time that we prioritized their health.”
~ Skip Murray
READ MORE: Mental Health Awareness? Prioritize Safer Alternatives to Smoking
TOBACCO CONTROL // Unduly Concerned About Vaping
Teens overwhelmingly die accidentally from distracted/impaired driving, poisoning (alcohol, household chemical abuse, drugs) and drowning, followed by homicide and suicide, but the CDC remains unduly concerned about low risk nicotine vaping—even when statistics show that the vast majority of teens who vape would otherwise be smoking deadly cigarettes.
Educators can create a trusting space to discuss the dangers of youth vaping. Support students by helping them navigate stress without vaping. Learn more: https://t.co/rvfdwM476u pic.twitter.com/v2lQsuaHHs
— CDC Tobacco Free (@CDCTobaccoFree) June 2, 2023
TOBACCO CONTROL // Baseless Bans
According to an article about an outdoor smoking ban in Buena Park, CA:”The move to ban smoking in some public spaces comes in response to growing concerns over the health risks associated with secondhand smoke….
The potential ban on tobacco products represents a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to reduce nicotine use.”
First of all, when did it become an effort to “reduce nicotine use” instead of the original tobacco control goal of reducing disease and early death associated with smoking?
Secondly, the science about second-hand smoke exposure risks indoors is already sketchy (read more at links below.) The idea that a few whiffs of smoke outdoors have any real health risks (or that bans have any health benefits) is pure fiction, but lawmakers won’t let that stop them.
Why does this have anything to do with tobacco harm reduction? Because these baseless outdoor “smoking bans” are increasingly not even limited to smoking. Many are attempting to include not only vaping in the bans, but even smoke-free products that create no emissions at all.
“The updated science debunks the alarmist fantasies that were used to sell smoking bans to the public, allowing for a more sober analysis suggesting that current restrictions on smoking are extreme from a risk-reduction standpoint.”
“We find no evidence that legislated U.S. smoking bans were associated with short-term reductions in hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction or other diseases in the elderly, children or working age adults.”
READ MORE: We Used Terrible Science to Justify Smoking Bans
“What this study basically showed is what people kind of knew already: At low passive exposures the risk is not that great.”
“The strongest reason to avoid passive cigarette smoke is to change societal behavior: to not live in a society where smoking* is a norm.”
*That goal has clearly morphed into “to not live in a society where any form of nicotine use is a norm.”
READ MORE: Study Finds No Link Between Secondhand Smoke And Cancer
TOBACCO CONTROL // Anti-Tobacco or Anti-Death?
Are we trying to eradicate ‘tobacco’ from the face of the earth or are we trying to reduce disease and death caused by tobacco use–especially disease and death from the deadly cigarette?”
~ Scott D. Ballin, JD Health Policy Consultant
READ MORE: Is it time for the WHO to Upgrade and Redefine its MPOWER Program?
TOBACCO CONTROL // Deterring Harm Reduction?
“Advocates say the 70% tax will deter vaping use, especially among youth.”
Stating “especially among youth” means that they are well aware that it will also deter adults who smoke from switching to these much safer alternatives — and they don’t care.
Your Tweet suggests you’re happy about taxing harm reduction to a point where people may not have access to a way *out* of smoking due to its increased cost. Bravo?
— Janine Timmons (@grayjaynine) June 9, 2023
READ MORE: Vaping products will soon be taxed like cigarettes in Hawaii
CASAA IN ACTION // CASAA CEO In Filter Article
Alex Clark, CEO of the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association (CASAA), told Filter it’s “no surprise that giving vapor products a competitive edge over combustible cigarettes leads to more interest and more substitution by people who smoke.”
“Arguably, given the right policy environment such as, for example, low-to-no taxes on smoke-free alternatives and a diversity of products, a mandate requiring all cigarettes contain very low nicotine would be unnecessary,” he added in an email. “People are always up for saving money, whether it’s avoiding long-term medical costs or saving a couple of bucks at the check-out counter. We can do both if regulations were more aligned with science.”
If FDA follows through, 3 in 4 study participants would consider buying illicit full-nicotine cigs.
But "you see a large reduction in that to the degree that you make e-cigarettes available at a lower price," co-author @Drug_Researcher tells @badlin: https://t.co/JXR3ceqQ1Q
— Filter | harm reduction journalism (@Filtermag_org) June 6, 2023
READ MORE: Vape Pricing Critical If FDA Limits Nicotine in Cigarettes, Study Finds
CASAA IN ACTION // CASAA LIVE CLIP
CASAA VP Logan Evans and CEO Alex Clark had some opinions this week on civil disobedience & the illicit market in the vape industry.
New CASAA Live episode Saturday, June 17th at 4:30 PM EDT/3:30 PM CDT!
Watch the full replay here: https://youtube.com/live/BF3AY1Enavg?feature=share
LEGISLATION // Alabama Anti-Vaping Bill Update
Anti-vaping bill not passed before the session ends:
The bill was opposed by public health groups such as the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association due to the legislation continuing to “allow the tobacco industry and its retailers to run rampant across Alabama.”
Meaning the bill will be back and likely worse than Before
READ MORE: Anti-vaping bill not passed before session ends
CASAA TESTIMONIAL PROJECT
Anecdote #13,521:
After smoking for 48 years, Dee Dee was finally able to quit with a vanilla flavored vape. If she hadn’t had the opportunity to try MANY flavors to find “the ONE” that worked for her, she would still be smoking!
Share YOUR story at the link below!
Submit Your Testimonial: 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
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!
On this episode of CASAA Live, join CASAA CEO Alex Clark and CASAA vice president Logan Evans as they discuss what the true motivation might be for why many in the vape industry are responding defiantly to the current regulatory environment.
If you missed the last CASAA Live episode you can catch up NOW before the next show!
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: