International and National Organizations

[LaceyUnderall]

March 2007- International Harm Reduction Association

"The rationale behind tobacco harm reduction approaches is that, while dependence on nicotine (the addictive substance in tobacco) underpins most tobacco use, it is not what causes most of the harm. Cigarettes are the dominant global nicotine delivery devices and are highly engineered and sophisticated, yet extremely harmful and largely unregulated. Harm reduction approaches to tobacco use are aimed at reducing the adverse effects of tobacco use for continuing users. This can be achieved through education, promoting reduced consumption as a viable alternative to abstinence, and promoting alternative forms of nicotine delivery which, relatively at least, carry less risks of harm. This section includes papers, book chapters and reports that examine the need for a harm reduction strategy alongside other tobacco control strategies, and what the scope of such a strategy might be."

EDIT: CONFUSED: Read this first!!! http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...isten/36764-organizations-ability-listen.html

 

[LaceyUnderall]

Organizations for United States (ISIL Freedom Network)

To note alcohol and tobacco freedom groups: United States Institutes, Organizations, and Clubs on Alcohol and Tobacco (ISIL Freedom Network)

 

[LaceyUnderall]

About - Institute of Medicine of the National Academies

"The Institute provides a vital service by working outside the framework of government to ensure scientifically informed analysis and independent guidance. The IOM's mission is to serve as adviser to the nation to improve health. The Institute provides unbiased, evidence-based, and authoritative information and advice concerning health and science policy to policy-makers, professionals, leaders in every sector of society, and the public at large"

 

[LaceyUnderall]

Welcome to American Council on Science and Health

A recent opinion piece written by Jeff Stier, associate director, American Council on Science and Health in The Hill. The Hill is distributed to all members of Congress and their staffers.

From their website:

"Can the electronic cigarette help smokers quit?
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently criticized electronic cigarettes, or nicotine-delivery devices that simulate the act of smoking. "The WHO is arguing that they haven't been assessed for safety and they might not help people quit smoking real cigarettes," Dr. Whelan says. "In any case, it seems like there are far better ways to get a nicotine hit."

Stier counters, "We need to give people as many tools as possible to help them quit smoking. Electronic cigarettes could be a valuable harm reduction tool" -- and harm reduction options are something ACSH consistently advocates. Dr. Ross adds, "Doesn't the WHO have more important things to do than to criticize this rarely-used technology whose only possible effect would be to reduce the consumption of lethal cigarettes among addicted smokers?" ACSH Dispatches Round-Up: PETA, CEI, Arnold, Plants' Rights, Erin Brockovich, Greek Food, Ritalin, and More > Facts & Fears > ACSH

Also:

E-Cigarettes Get Predictably Bad Publicity


ACSH staffers were disappointed, though not surprised, to see an FDA news release declare yesterday that “a laboratory analysis of electronic cigarette samples has found that they contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze.” Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated nicotine delivery devices that closely simulate cigarette smoking and could be a promising cessation device. Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, principal deputy commissioner of the FDA, led the FDA charge against e-cigarettes.


Stier is not surprised to see him taking a counter-productive approach, as he warned us about Sharfstein in his Forbes.com article upon Dr. Sharfstein’s appointment in May: “I talked with Dr. Sharfstein while he was on Rep. Waxman’s staff, working on legislation that would give the FDA authority to regulate tobacco. I tried to encourage him to be open to the concept of harm reduction for smokers...What startled me was that, despite his knowledge of the facts, he was still ardently against it...He dismissed the approach out of hand, choosing instead the ‘quit or die’ approach that has been failing smokers for years.”


“It looks like he’s falling in line with that prediction,” says Stier. “The attack on e-cigarettes is wrong, and unscientific. Ironically, they have legitimate legal grounds to say that this is a cessation product that has not been tested for safety and efficacy, and it should indeed undergo more scientific scrutiny before being approved for widespread use, just as other cessation devices and pharmaceuticals must, but that’s not what [FDA] did. Instead they took the low road and talked about carcinogens in e-cigarettes in order to scare people away from them as an alternative to cigarettes. This is a harbinger of how this FDA will regulate tobacco, and it’s not a good sign.”


“The implied message to smokers is to stick to cigarettes,” says ACSH’s Dr. Elizabeth Whelan. “While the White House is claiming to try to lower health care costs, they’re actually making it harder to quit smoking.”


ACSH’s Dr. Gilbert Ross agrees: “They’re calling these devices a health concern. There are 45 million addicted adult smokers in this country. Over 400,000 of them will be dying in each of the coming years and running up health care costs in the process. Is that a public health concern?” ACSH Dispatches Round-Up: #500, Radon, Stossel, Amalgam Fillings, More > Facts & Fears > ACSH

 

[LaceyUnderall]

AAHF - Leading advocates for: alternative medicine, dietary supplements at federal and state level

Says it all: AAHF - Stand Apart From the Crowd

Note: They focus mostly on alternative medicines and the freedoms to not have to take pharmaceuticals. However, the ecig does fall under their umbrella being it is an alternative and the FDA is saying prove the benefits.

For example: The idea that by eliminating combustion automatically makes the product "safer" than tobacco... scientifically this has been proven through various studies regarding vaporization vs combustion, however, the FDA requires it be proven on a product by product basis over and over.

 

[SMILIN]

Lacey,

Thank you, very interesting. I am working on getting ecigs into the Psycology Institute of Chicago(over 2000 members), to be tested as a smoking cessation device, as well as having doctors, from University of Chicago, Northwestern, and UIC medical center look into the benefits. Your posts are being used to help sway attitude here.

Once again, Thank you

Steve

 

[LaceyUnderall]

Lacey,

Thank you, very interesting. I am working on getting ecigs into the Psycology Institute of Chicago(over 2000 members), to be tested as a smoking cessation device, as well as having doctors, from University of Chicago, Northwestern, and UIC medical center look into the benefits. Your posts are being used to help sway attitude here.

Once again, Thank you

Steve

Steve,

While I thank you for your efforts and kind words, I would be very careful regarding getting into the smoking cessation business. Unless these groups you mention can guarantee and ensure that consumers will continue to have a say and that the marketing restrictions on NRT's will be lifted to some degree so that they can openly compete with tobacco cigarettes, which currently they cannot, then I would be very hesitant to go that route.

Cheers!