I am posting this here because it contains a wealth of links to journal articles that can be used as references when writing to legislators, letters to the editor, or commenting on news items.
CDC Finds, But Fails to Report, Record Low Adult Smoking Rates in 2009
BRFSS finds record low daily and overall smoking rates (12.7%, 17.7%), significant declines from 2008-2009 (-5%, -3%), from 2007-2008 (-8%, -7%), and from 2005-2009 (-17%, -14%)
BRFSS Prevalence Data Comparison - Display Comparison
State-Specific Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco Use Among Adults --- United States, 2009
BRFSS Median % Cigarette Smokers
Year Everyday Some days
2005 15.3 5.2
2006 14.7 5.1
2007 14.5 5.2
2008 13.4 4.9
2009 12.7 5.0
But two months ago, CDC claimed no decline in smoking rate from 2008-2009, no significant decline from 2005-2009 (9/10/10)
Vital Signs: Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults Aged â¥18 Years --- United States, 2009
And last year, CDC claimed no significant decline in smoking rate from 2007-2008 (11/13/09)
Cigarette Smoking Among Adults and Trends in Smoking Cessation --- United States, 2008
So why does the CDC continue claiming that smoking rates aren't declining when CDC BRFSS data find exact opposite?
- - -
Instead of reporting record low smoking rate when releasing 2009 BRFSS tobacco use data, CDC chose to mislead the public about smokeless tobacco products and cigarettes.
State-Specific Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco Use Among Adults --- United States, 2009
CDC claim: "The health consequences of cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use both have been well documented, including increased risk for lung, throat, oral, and other types of cancers (1,2)."
FACT: cigarette smoking poses 10-1000 times greater mortality risks than smokeless tobacco use.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
CDC claim: "Research suggests that persons who use multiple tobacco products might have a more difficult time quitting, which might result in longer durations of product use and an increased likelihood of experiencing tobacco-related morbidity and mortality (5,6)."
FACT: Research in US, Sweden and Norway has found that smokers who begin using smokeless tobacco products are twice as likely to quit smoking as cigarette-only users.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
The association between use of snus and quit rates for smoking: results from seven Norwegian cross-sectional studies - Lund - 2010 - Addiction - Wiley Online Library
"Other reports also have found that young men have a high prevalence of cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use in the United States and that smokeless tobacco might be a starter product for cigarette smoking among young men (6,7)."
FACT: The majority of studies and reports have found that twice as many smokers have switched to smokeless tobacco (than smokeless tobacco users who switched to cigarettes). If the CDC truly desired to discourage smokeless tobacco from switching to cigarettes, the agency would truthfully inform smokeless tobacco users that cigarettes are far more hazardous alternatives.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
State-Specific Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco Use Among Adults --- United States, 2009
More inaccurate and misleading claims (this past week) about smokeless tobacco compared to cigarettes
"Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in this country and unfortunately smokers are also using smokeless
tobacco," CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said in an agency news release.
HealthDay Articles
FACT: Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in this country and increasingly more smokers are reducing their health risks by switching to or substituting far less hazardous smokeless tobacco.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
State-Specific Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco Use Among Adults --- United States, 2009
"The bottom line here: Smokeless tobacco makes it more likely that kids will start smoking and make it harder to quit smoking," said the CDC's director, Dr. Tom Frieden.
The Associated Press: Wyoming, W. Va. lead in chewing tobacco use
FACT: Smokeless tobacco makes it less likely that kids will start smoking and makes it easier for smokers to quit smoking.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
Smokeless Tobacco Use, Initiation, and Relationship to Cigarette Smoking: 2002 to 2007
"Using smokeless tobacco can keep the nicotine habit alive, making it even harder to quit than going cold turkey," Terry Pechacek, PhD, of the CDC, tells WebMD.
"The tobacco companies market smokeless tobacco as a substitute for smokers, but they dont help people quit smoking," Pechacek tells WebMD.
Smokeless Tobacco Rates on the Rise
FACT: Substituting smokeless tobacco for cigarettes can sharply reduce health risks. Tobacco companies are marketing smokeless tobacco as a substitute because many smokers want less hazardous smokefree alternatives to cigarettes.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
"Using smokeless tobacco products, like chew, is not a safe way to quit or a healthier alternative to smoking," said Daniel Deschler, MD, chair of the AAO-HNS Head and Neck Surgery/Oncology Committee. "The use of these products just shifts the increased risk of cancer to the mouth, head, and neck."
"But many people use smokeless tobacco products as a temporary aid while they try quit smoking cigarettes," said Dr. Deschler. "Everyone needs to know that this is not a healthy or useful way to wean yourself off smoking. For many, it can turn into another deadly habit."
Kicking Tobacco Means Kicking It All!
FACT: Switching from cigarettes to smokeless tobacco products signficantly reduces risks for heart disease, respiratory disease and cancer of the mouth, head, neck, lung, larynx. More than a million smokers have already quit smoking by switching to smokeless tobacco.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
So why does the CDC continue deceiving tobacco consumers and the public to believe that smokeless tobacco is as hazardous as cigarettes, and why does the CDC oppose smokers reducing their health risks (by switching to far less hazardous smokeless tobacco)?
Bill Godshall
Executive Director
Smokefree Pennsylvania
CDC Finds, But Fails to Report, Record Low Adult Smoking Rates in 2009
BRFSS finds record low daily and overall smoking rates (12.7%, 17.7%), significant declines from 2008-2009 (-5%, -3%), from 2007-2008 (-8%, -7%), and from 2005-2009 (-17%, -14%)
BRFSS Prevalence Data Comparison - Display Comparison
State-Specific Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco Use Among Adults --- United States, 2009
BRFSS Median % Cigarette Smokers
Year Everyday Some days
2005 15.3 5.2
2006 14.7 5.1
2007 14.5 5.2
2008 13.4 4.9
2009 12.7 5.0
But two months ago, CDC claimed no decline in smoking rate from 2008-2009, no significant decline from 2005-2009 (9/10/10)
Vital Signs: Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults Aged â¥18 Years --- United States, 2009
And last year, CDC claimed no significant decline in smoking rate from 2007-2008 (11/13/09)
Cigarette Smoking Among Adults and Trends in Smoking Cessation --- United States, 2008
So why does the CDC continue claiming that smoking rates aren't declining when CDC BRFSS data find exact opposite?
- - -
Instead of reporting record low smoking rate when releasing 2009 BRFSS tobacco use data, CDC chose to mislead the public about smokeless tobacco products and cigarettes.
State-Specific Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco Use Among Adults --- United States, 2009
CDC claim: "The health consequences of cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use both have been well documented, including increased risk for lung, throat, oral, and other types of cancers (1,2)."
FACT: cigarette smoking poses 10-1000 times greater mortality risks than smokeless tobacco use.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
CDC claim: "Research suggests that persons who use multiple tobacco products might have a more difficult time quitting, which might result in longer durations of product use and an increased likelihood of experiencing tobacco-related morbidity and mortality (5,6)."
FACT: Research in US, Sweden and Norway has found that smokers who begin using smokeless tobacco products are twice as likely to quit smoking as cigarette-only users.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
The association between use of snus and quit rates for smoking: results from seven Norwegian cross-sectional studies - Lund - 2010 - Addiction - Wiley Online Library
"Other reports also have found that young men have a high prevalence of cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use in the United States and that smokeless tobacco might be a starter product for cigarette smoking among young men (6,7)."
FACT: The majority of studies and reports have found that twice as many smokers have switched to smokeless tobacco (than smokeless tobacco users who switched to cigarettes). If the CDC truly desired to discourage smokeless tobacco from switching to cigarettes, the agency would truthfully inform smokeless tobacco users that cigarettes are far more hazardous alternatives.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
State-Specific Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco Use Among Adults --- United States, 2009
More inaccurate and misleading claims (this past week) about smokeless tobacco compared to cigarettes
"Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in this country and unfortunately smokers are also using smokeless
tobacco," CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said in an agency news release.
HealthDay Articles
FACT: Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in this country and increasingly more smokers are reducing their health risks by switching to or substituting far less hazardous smokeless tobacco.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
State-Specific Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco Use Among Adults --- United States, 2009
"The bottom line here: Smokeless tobacco makes it more likely that kids will start smoking and make it harder to quit smoking," said the CDC's director, Dr. Tom Frieden.
The Associated Press: Wyoming, W. Va. lead in chewing tobacco use
FACT: Smokeless tobacco makes it less likely that kids will start smoking and makes it easier for smokers to quit smoking.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
Smokeless Tobacco Use, Initiation, and Relationship to Cigarette Smoking: 2002 to 2007
"Using smokeless tobacco can keep the nicotine habit alive, making it even harder to quit than going cold turkey," Terry Pechacek, PhD, of the CDC, tells WebMD.
"The tobacco companies market smokeless tobacco as a substitute for smokers, but they dont help people quit smoking," Pechacek tells WebMD.
Smokeless Tobacco Rates on the Rise
FACT: Substituting smokeless tobacco for cigarettes can sharply reduce health risks. Tobacco companies are marketing smokeless tobacco as a substitute because many smokers want less hazardous smokefree alternatives to cigarettes.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
"Using smokeless tobacco products, like chew, is not a safe way to quit or a healthier alternative to smoking," said Daniel Deschler, MD, chair of the AAO-HNS Head and Neck Surgery/Oncology Committee. "The use of these products just shifts the increased risk of cancer to the mouth, head, and neck."
"But many people use smokeless tobacco products as a temporary aid while they try quit smoking cigarettes," said Dr. Deschler. "Everyone needs to know that this is not a healthy or useful way to wean yourself off smoking. For many, it can turn into another deadly habit."
Kicking Tobacco Means Kicking It All!
FACT: Switching from cigarettes to smokeless tobacco products signficantly reduces risks for heart disease, respiratory disease and cancer of the mouth, head, neck, lung, larynx. More than a million smokers have already quit smoking by switching to smokeless tobacco.
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/e226ee0c-ccef-4dba-b62f-86f046371dfb.pdf
Harm Reduction Journal | Full text | Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers
So why does the CDC continue deceiving tobacco consumers and the public to believe that smokeless tobacco is as hazardous as cigarettes, and why does the CDC oppose smokers reducing their health risks (by switching to far less hazardous smokeless tobacco)?
Bill Godshall
Executive Director
Smokefree Pennsylvania
