Tobacco.org

Kinetics of brain nicotine accumulation in dependent and nondependent smokers assessed with PET and cigarettes containing 11C-nicotine 

Two of the popular hypotheses to explain the development and maintenance of strong nicotine dependence in cigarette smokers posit (i) a rapid brain nicotine accumulation during cigarette smoking and/or (ii) puff-associated spikes in brain nicotine concentration. To address these hypotheses, we investigated the dynamics of nicotine accumulation in the smoker's brain during actual cigarette smoking using PET with 3-s temporal resolution and 11C-nicotine loaded into cigarettes. The results of the study, performed in 13 dependent smokers (DS) and 10 nondependent smokers (NDS), suggest that puff-associated spikes in the brain nicotine concentration do not occur during habitual cigarette smoking. Despite the presence of a puff-associated oscillation in the rate of nicotine accumulation, brain nicotine concentration gradually increases during cigarette smoking. The results further suggest that DS have a slower process of brain nicotine accumulation than NDS because they have slower nicotine washout from the lungs and that DS have a tendency to compensate for their slower rate of brain nicotine accumulation compared with NDS by inhaling a larger volume of smoke. For these reasons, smokers' dependence on cigarette smoking, or the resistance of NDS to becoming dependent, cannot be explained solely by a faster brain nicotine accumulation.

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CHILDS: Historians in Tobacco Litigation 

Jon Wiener of The Nation has an interesting cover story, "Big Tobacco & the Historians: A Tale of Seduction and Intimidation," in last week's issue. It's well worth a read, especially to see the view of the tort system from the academic historian's perspective.

Some quick observations:

* The piece addresses R.J. Reynolds's attempt to subpoena an unpublished work-in-progress by plaintiffs' expert Robert Proctor, describing the effort as "harassment-by-subpoena." The subpoena was ultimately rejected, according to the story, but the story doesn't suggest (at least to me) that the attempt to obtain the material was facially frivolous, dealing as it did with fairly unusual issues of Constitutional dimension. And of course, it seems fair to observe that Proctor's expert work is compensated, pretty well ($40,000 per year over a dozen years), so I expect he's not having to pay for his lawyers out of his academic salary. . . .

As a general matter, the defense experts testify, per Wiener, that "'everybody knew' smoking causes cancer. So if you got cancer from smoking, it's your own fault." If there is a factual dispute about the level of knowledge of the risk of cancer at a particular time, that seems to me to be a reasonable situation to use expert testimony, and like a reasonable thing for a historian to do. To the extent that plaintiffs' witnesses rebut that testimony, again, that seems reasonable, and indeed, in at least some cases, that's what Proctor testifies about. . . .

On the other hand, a mistrial was granted when Proctor started to testify about the history of racism in tobacco marketing, including highly offensive brands -- brands not, so far as I can tell, marketed by any extant company or defendant -- that included racial epithets in their names. The mistrial motion is termed a "tactic[] practiced by tobacco lawyers," again with evident disapproval. . . .

As with many cases of academics venturing into the world of high-stakes litigation (see also Pathophilia's recent post about my Nebraska Law Review article), much of the story suggests some shock that the litigation world is what it is. And certainly it can be ugly, and perhaps ought to be changed. But that doesn't mean its ugliness is directed specifically at any particular expert, or solely at experts for one side or another. It does suggest that experts should be better educated early on about what is likely to happen in litigation.

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Bill Summary and Status - S.1147 

Title: A bill to prevent tobacco smuggling, to ensure the collection of all tobacco taxes, and for other purposes.

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Bill Summary and Status - H.R.1676 

Title: To prevent tobacco smuggling, to ensure the collection of all tobacco taxes, and for other purposes.

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Tax-free tobacco a health concern  

The proliferation of tax-free tobacco products on reserves will be addressed in next week's provincial budget, Premier Brad Wall said in a speech Wednesday.

In his "state of the province" address to the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce at TCU Place, Wall said the province needs to take some steps to reduce tobacco use and cited a report saying one of the biggest obstacles to that has been the lack of taxation on tobacco products sold on First Nations.

"Smoking remains one of the most harmful and costly health issues. The financial cost is great; the human cost is greater," said Wall. "And the problem continues to be greatest among our First Nations people."

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JT'S SMOKELESS TOBACCO PIPE OFFERS SATISFACTION WITHOUT STIGMA  

Japan Tobacco Inc. (TSE:2914) unveiled a new product Wednesday that allows smokers to enjoy the taste of tobacco in the increasing number of places where lighting up is banned.

Zerostyle Mint is a pipe fitted with a cartridge containing shredded tobacco leaves. Few cigarette companies make pipe-shaped smokeless tobacco products, according to JT.

The new offering hits stores in mid-May. A set with two cartridges, good for about 600 puffs each, will cost 300 yen (US$3.32). A package of four replacement inserts will go for 400 yen.

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• Smoking out the big tobacco-users — and they're not in China ($$) 

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• Attempt stalls to ban smoking at Calif state parks 

An attempt by the California Legislature to impose what is believed to be the nation's most far-reaching smoking ban in state parks stalled Thursday over objections it would inappropriately punish smokers.

The bill in the 80-member Assembly fell five votes short of the simple majority needed to approve the ban, in part because several lawmakers who were expected to vote for it were absent.

"We'll bring it back and go again," said Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica. "I think we'll have the votes."

Another vote could be held as early as Monday.

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FDA Announces Stricter Marketing Regulations to Curb Youth Smoking  

The Obama administration is primed to begin enforcing the first nationwide tobacco restrictions, broad new rules that in just a few weeks will make once-common marketing practices a federal offense.

The Food and Drug Administration's regulations will for the first time, impose a uniform nationwide ban on the sale of cigarettes to children under 18 and will require an ID check for sales. Also off limits will be free samples, advertising near schools, tobacco company logos on clothing and sponsorship of sports or entertainment events.

At a news conference today, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called her department's action a "historic" move that will cut youth smoking.

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Rex continues fight for cigarette tax increase, calls SC House action ‘not good enough' 

Superintendent of Education Jim Rex called on the state Senate Thursday to raise South Carolina's cigarette tax to the national average, saying a 30-cent-per-pack hike approved by the House is "woefully inadequate" for health care and education needs.

Rex proposed moving the tax from 7 cents to $1.34 per pack and splitting the increased revenues between public education and health care. According to Rex, his proposal negates the need for school districts to furlough teachers and would add more than 20,000 health-care related jobs to the state's employment rolls.

The House spending plan would put its extra 30-cents-a-pack increase in a Medicaid reserve account, said Rex in a Thursday press release. He claimed the House budget would also mean schools would see a multi-million dollar reduction.

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FDA Rules Crack Down on Tobacco Marketing and Sales to Kids 

The Food and Drug Administration today has taken a crucial step in exercising its new authority to regulate tobacco products by issuing rules restricting tobacco industry marketing and sales to youth. When the rules take effect on June 22, it will mark the first time the U.S. government has put its full force behind specific, nationwide regulations intended to thwart the tobacco industry's continuing efforts to attract kids and turn them into lifelong addicts. This is a long-overdue step to stop the tobacco industry's predatory targeting of our children that continues even today.

While the nation has significantly reduced youth tobacco use, 20 percent of high school students still smoke, and the tobacco industry continues to spend $12.8 billion a year -- $35 million each day -- to market its deadly and addictive products, often in ways that appeal to children. In fact, despite the limited marketing restrictions in the 1998 state tobacco settlement, total tobacco marketing expenditures have nearly doubled since then, according to the latest Federal Trade Commission reports on tobacco marketing (for 2006).

The continuing high rates of youth tobacco use and the vast sums spent on tobacco marketing are directly related. As revealed by tobacco industry documents, court rulings and scientific studies, the tobacco companies have long targeted children, and their marketing has been highly effective at getting children to smoke cigarettes and use other tobacco products.

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Request for Comment on Implementation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (PDF) 

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number and Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this rulemaking. All comments received may be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. For additional information on submitting comments, see the Comments heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this document, into the Search box and follow the prompts and/or go to the Division of Dockets Management, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm.

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Juneau youth to support a statewide clean indoor air policy 

JUNEAU - During the 15th annual Kick Butts Day on March 24, SEARHC Tobacco Quit Program Health Educator Rowena J. Reeves and Juneau-Douglas High School students are spreading the word about the dangers of youth tobacco use and providing information about resources available to those wanting to quit using tobacco.

Kick Butts Day is a national day of activism that empowers youth to speak up and take action against tobacco use at more than 2,000 events across the nation. These events are designed to get tobacco users to think about quitting tobacco, and to help youth make the decision not to start.

This year's event takes place at 11:30 a.m. March 24 at Juneau-Douglas High School.

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VIDEO: Protecting Kids from Tobacco (03/18/2010 Press Conference) 

To prevent children and adolescents from becoming addicted to tobacco products, the FDA issued a new rule limiting the sale, distribution, and marketing of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

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Regulations Restricting the Sale and Distribution of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco, 

The FDA issued a final rule containing a broad set of federal requirements designed to significantly curb access to and the appeal of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products to children and adolescents in the United States. The new rule, Regulations Restricting the Sale and Distribution of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco to Protect Children and Adolescents, restricts the sale, distribution, and promotion of these products to make them less accessible and less attractive to kids. Published March 19, 2010, the new rule becomes effective June 22, 2010, and has the force and effect of law.

New Requirements Relating to Sale and Distribution

* Prohibits the sale of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to people younger than 18.

* Prohibits the sale of cigarette packages with fewer than 20 cigarettes.

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