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Tobacco and Smoking

commentary

Beyond Bans: How Cannabis Policy Reform Can Reduce Vaping-Related Illnesses
Policymakers can wield a multitude of tools to address vaping-related illness. Cannabis policy reform is one option. But policymakers may face challenges in balancing comprehensive regulatory design that promotes product safety with its potential to bolster the illegal and unregulated market.
Mar 27, 2020

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Vaping May Have Its Place, Just Not With Teens
While e-cigarettes may be a “safer” option for adult smokers, they are not safe for young people. Teens who vape are significantly more likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes in the future.
Dec 17, 2018
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If California Legalizes Marijuana, Consumption Will Likely Increase. But Is That a Bad Thing?
Legalizing and allowing profit-maximizing firms to produce, sell, and advertise recreational marijuana would likely increase marijuana consumption. But how would this increased consumption influence the use of other substances?
May 16, 2016
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The Smoke and Mirrors of Tobacco Regulations
With new regulations on more products such as e-cigarettes, the FDA is moving forward to protect the public from the harms of tobacco. But there are many ways the regulations as they're currently proposed could change.
May 9, 2016
essay

Fake Convenience Store, Real Implications for Youth Smoking
In a simulated convenience store, hiding the can't-miss display of tobacco products behind the cashier decreased kids' intention to smoke in the future.
Mar 3, 2016
commentary

What Works in Early Life to Prevent Tobacco and Alcohol Addiction?
Tobacco and alcohol addiction are widespread public health risks across the European Union. Both merit tackling at a young age. Evidence-based, early interventions are available that can be applied in small-scale settings to prevent underage alcohol and tobacco abuse.
Apr 23, 2015
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Last Week Tonight's Jeff the Diseased Lung Is No Joke
John Oliver's "Jeff the Diseased Lung," a cross between a warning label on cigarette packs in Australia and the Marlboro Man, has gone viral while research shows cigarettes are responsible for even more premature deaths than previously thought.
Feb 20, 2015
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Snuffing Out China's Deadly Habit
To help address China's smoking problem, China's parliament is considering a ban on all tobacco ads except those at point-of-sale retail locations. How does this compare to the current state of play regarding Chinese tobacco ads? And could the new law shift the tobacco-control landscape?
Feb 2, 2015
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Knowing When to Say Yes to Medical Technology
CT lung cancer screening turns out to be like many new medical technologies: It improves health but is quite expensive. Moreover, it needs implementation that targets those most likely to benefit and provides them the care they need efficiently.
Nov 18, 2014
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Graphic Warning Labels on Cigarettes Are Scary, but Do They Work?
'Graphic warning labels' pair gruesome images with warnings about the dangers of smoking, covering anywhere from 30 to 80 percent of cigarette pack 'faces' (the front and back). Do they prevent people from starting to smoke or cause current smokers to quit?
Sep 30, 2014
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CVS Health: Breathing a Little Easier and Holding Our Breath
CVS has officially stopped selling cigarettes and other tobacco products, a move that will cost the pharmacy chain about $2 billion in annual profits. It's difficult to say if this will affect smoking. For now, the ban is most significant for what it represents symbolically.
Sep 12, 2014
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FDA's New Tobacco Rules Go Far Enough—For Now
At this point, asking the FDA to restrict marketing or to ban flavored products would be premature. The base of scientific evidence is growing but it doesn't support additional regulatory action beyond what the FDA has already proposed.
Jun 12, 2014
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Where There's Vapor, Is There Fire? We Need Evidence on E-Cigarettes
Currently, evidence for the safety, harmfulness, utility, and addictiveness of e-cigarettes is lacking. The questions that research needs to answer, however, are clear as day—particularly since business is booming.
Mar 4, 2014
blog

CVS and the Effect of In-Store Tobacco Displays on Smokers
CVS Caremark will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products at its CVS/pharmacy stores beginning Oct. 1. Though it stands to lose $2 billion dollars in annual revenue, CVS CEO Larry J. Merlo said that selling tobacco products is at odds with the company's mission of improving health outcomes.
Feb 6, 2014
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Big Tobacco vs. Tobacco Regulation and Control: An Even Match?
Anti-tobacco policies that have clear scientific support will strengthen the FDA's regulatory position. While the evidence base is solid in this area, it needs to be much stronger and broader if the TCA is going to have any lasting success against the industry.
Aug 26, 2013
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The Super Bowl Halftime Show Should Not Be Promoting a Public Health Threat
People who consume just one or two sugar-sweetened drinks a day have a 26 percent greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people who rarely drink these beverages, write Kristin Van Busum and Lauren Hunter.
Feb 1, 2013
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Teen Employment May Not Always Be a Boon for At-Risk Youth
For all teens, and especially those who have already experienced problems related to alcohol and drug use, it is essential to monitor the quality of work experiences and keep in mind that some work environments might increase risk for substance use.
Dec 18, 2012
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Parents: That Summer Job Could Be Teaching Your Youngster to Smoke
Workplaces across the world that rely on a teenage workforce, like supermarkets and fast food restaurants, need to do a better job protecting young people from starting to smoke, writes Rajeev Ramchand.
Aug 30, 2012