Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence Supports the FDA Ban of 'Electronic' Cigarettes

[Krakkan]

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BURLINGTON, Vt. and ROCHESTER, Minn., May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for the Treatment of tobacco Use and Dependence (ATTUD), the premier professional organization of tobacco treatment specialists, today announced its support of the FDA ban on so-called "electronic" or e-cigarettes. The letter addressed to Acting Commissioner Sharfstein (see below) stated that there is no scientific evidence that the e-cigarettes are safe and effective.
"As tobacco treatment professionals we are concerned that smokers desperate to quit will place their faith in unproven therapies," said John Hughes, MD, President-elect of ATTUD and professor of psychiatry at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. "Money spent on unproven treatments is money unavailable for proven, FDA-approved treatments," Dr. Hughes continued.
Furthermore, an unsuccessful attempt can precipitate a sense of failure, which can delay another quit attempt for years. Unfortunately, this can mean that some smokers will die or suffer serious disease after an unsuccessful quitting effort. While ATTUD supports the quit attempts of all tobacco users, it strongly encourages all smokers to use FDA-approved and proven medications with the support of tobacco treatment professionals.
Organization Info: http://www.ATTUD.org
The Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence is a non-profit organization of providers dedicated to the promotion of and increased access to evidence-based tobacco treatment for the tobacco user.
Full text of letter to Acting Commissioner Sharfstein: http://www.ereleases.com/pr/2009-ATTUD.pdf
Contact:

Matthew Bars, MS, CTTS
Matt.Bars@yahoo.com
201-225-1600
This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.


SOURCE Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence

 

[TropicalBob]

Anyone want to wager where this group gets funding? This PR crap smacks of Big Pharmaceutical. "Buy our 'proven' treatments." Your failures, you mean.

But that sure is an impressive title, don't you think? First I've ever heard of them.

 

[Angela]

So the best argument they can come up with is that if you buy an e-cig and it doesn't work, you might not have the money to buy some gum or patches afterwards LOL!

 

[Boston George]

I wish we could get these jokers on camera. Just ask them what is the success rate of the 'approved' methods? Also how many suicides have been attributed to Chantix. I would love to hear those two statistics on the morning news...

 

[LuckySevens4U]

They say they are not safe and EFFECTIVE? Well gee, I'm on day 58 without their disgusting chemical loaded tobacco because of using e cigarettes. and they want to tell ME it's not effective? Safe? You are telling me that 4,000 chemicals with 60 of them when combusted that is a known fact to cause cancer is safer than an e cigarette? mmmmmmmmkay. FDA approved sources? Okay....FDA approved Chantix? F's with people brains and screws people up - SAFE? mmmmmmmmkay What is the difference if I get my little bit of nicotine from their FDA approved gum mints or patches vs a little low amount of nic and some FDA approved VG or PG? PFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTT middle finger up at these dudes.

 

[gep]

Anyone want to wager where this group gets funding? This PR crap smacks of Big Pharmaceutical. "Buy our 'proven' treatments." Your failures, you mean.

But that sure is an impressive title, don't you think? First I've ever heard of them.

Yep! Here's a list of their Board of Directors.....Mayo Clinic and others that stand to lose income from addiction and from tobacco related illness if you quit smoking.

Elected Officers
President: [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Michael Burke, Ed.D. MHS
Coordinator, Treatment Services Nicotine Dependence Center
3rd Floor Colonial, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Ave. SW, Rochester , MN 55905
Disclosure Information [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Vice President: Christine Sheffer, PhD
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]4301 West Markham, Slot #820, Little Rock, AR 72204
Disclosure Information [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Treasurer[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]: Martha Dwyer, MA, LCADC, CTTS
Dept. of Psychiatry- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
671 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Disclosure Information[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Secretary: Nancy Speelman Edwards, CSW, LCADC, CMS, CTTS
Tobacco Dependence Program, UMDNJ, School of Public Health
317 George Street, Suite 210, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Disclosure Information[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]President Elect: John Hughes, M.D. (Chair)
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Department of Psychiatry
University of Vermont
Univ Hlth Center, Mailstop 482
1 So Prospect St
Burlington, Vermont 05401 Disclosure Information [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Vice President Elect: not filled[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Treasurer Elect: Michael Anders PhD, MPH, RRT
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
#704 (NLR VA - 14B)
4301 West Markham Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205[/FONT]<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>

 

[TropicalBob]

This is depressing, however much as we want to diss them.

With this release, the FDA sees a group of nicotine addiction professionals, doctors even, calling for a ban on e-cigarettes, joining the anti-tobacco senator from New Jersey, the four major health organizations in America, etc.

This issue is stacked against us -- in terms of money, lobbying capabilities, public sentiment and political inclinations. The Ban Train is bearing down.

 

[gep]

ATTUD

Make sure you click on the link under each member and further down the page each committee's disclosure.

Very enlightening

 

[Wally]

Ah, yes, the *treasurer* is at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the RWJ foundation is the charitable arm of Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals which owns the Nicorette trademark.

 

[MonkeyMonk]

Don't get stressed... Think David and Goliath...

 

[TropicalBob]

My initial assumption was correct, eh? These folks are owned lock, stock and barrel by Big Pharma. As you say, very enlightening.

 

[Doc]

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BURLINGTON, Vt. and ROCHESTER, Minn., May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence (ATTUD), the premier professional organization of tobacco treatment specialists,

Why premier? What makes them premier? Have they been PROVEN to be the authority on smoking cessation. This is an example of self importance and conflict of interest. They would have no reason to support e cig use. As far as recommending a ban. Idiocy! Maybe you can ban liquid nicotine. No one is going to ban the e cig. Sell it as parts. An atomizer is not going to be illegal. A glass pipe would get banned first, and that's not happening.

 

[LaceyUnderall]

THIS right here is why it is SO important for all of those suppliers who wish to make cessation claims, to seek FDA approval. For those of us who wish to continue selling ours as an alternative to smoking cigarettes to those who WISH to continue smoking, should be left to regulations via an advisory group like the ECA.

Wow. Would that be a first or what? A product marketed two ways with two different types of approval.

 

[Wally]

These are people trying to sell their services treating tobacco use and to do that with the pharmaceuticals of the companies that are personally sponsoring them with clincial trial money, honoraria, etc. They are also lobbying for third party reimbursement for such services as these are not normally convered by medical insurance now. Insurance coverage would vastly increase the use of such services. The last thing they want is for people to find a way, themselves, to stop using tobacco. I am sure that the publicity about the e-cigarette is very concerning for them.

Since we have a list of the entire membership with addresses (on the organization website), I think it would be very helpful for members to receive letters from people who have stopped tobacco use with the e-cigarette. Among the membership are many, many honest, well-intentioned people whose primary concern is patient health. Let them hear from us. I believe writing to members who are not officers would be very useful.

 

[Vicks Vap-oh-Yeah]

"Money spent on unproven treatments is money unavailable for proven, FDA-approved treatments," Dr. Hughes continued.

Translation...."Spend your money on our overpriced, overhyped, inneffective crap instead of Chinese gadgets that.....ummmmm.....DO work!"

If I'm going to be David, anybody got a mountain sized boulder and one hell-of-a slingshot I can use?

Anybody here thinking the same thing I am? Methinks we're making noises in all the right places, and someone is trying to shut us up by manufacturing a new "Expert Group" to put the pressure on.

 

[Wildsky]

Anybody here thinking the same thing I am? Methinks we're making noises in all the right places, and someone is trying to shut us up by manufacturing a new "Expert Group" to put the pressure on.

Yes, its going to get more and more difficult, we'll be hearing all kinds of crap from the pharm companies, fda etc... they're afterall, fighting for their paychecks! 8-o

 

[LuckySevens4U]

I'd like to see scientific proof ecigs are dangerous and don't work from these people before even justifying a ban. It's all heresay at this point and spewing garbage. PROVE to me they don't work and PROVE to me it's dangerous. If you can't, then you have no right to ban them. The FDA approves so many things that are NOT good for you. It's ALL ABOUT MONEY MONEY MONEY!

 

[IntoxiNation]

Hmm so the President of this board gets paid from Pfizer, who makes Chantix. No - not a single conflict of interest there.

 

[Smokin'Sandy]

Translation...."Spend your money on our overpriced, overhyped, inneffective crap instead of Chinese gadgets that.....ummmmm.....DO work!"

If I'm going to be David, anybody got a mountain sized boulder and one hell-of-a slingshot I can use?

Anybody here thinking the same thing I am? Methinks we're making noises in all the right places, and someone is trying to shut us up by manufacturing a new "Expert Group" to put the pressure on.

I think the quote "Money spent on unproven treatments is money unavailable for proven, FDA-approved treatments," first occurred to them as to what might happen to their money if the e-cig works. That wouldn't sound very good though so they turn it around towards the tobacco users. Can't have something that will actually take away from their R&D. We couldn't have something that actually works because they would out of a job.

It probably sounded something like this in the begining, "Money spent on unproven treatments is money unavailable for us."

 

[lachesis]

"Money spent on unproven treatments is money unavailable for proven, FDA-approved treatments."

It's not your damn money, doc.