How Should Society Deal With the Drug Nicotine?

How should our society deal with nicotine? There are millions of people who use this legal drug. Many people love their cigarettes. Others can't stand their smoking and wish they could stop the addictive habit. Some people can control their smoking -- they'll have a few cigarettes (over a few drinks) and then don't smoke for awhile. Others, like me, can't do this. If I smoke even one, before I know it I am smoking a pack a day. We all know people who smoke. We all know people who have quit. We all know someone who has died prematurely from smoking.

Every week I read about new legislation or policy proposals about how we will limit smoking in our society. Below is my analysis of the good, the bad and the terrifying proposals that are on the table.

The Good

Smoke-Free Workplaces, Restaurants and Bars:

I lived in both California and New York when they passed their laws prohibiting smoking at restaurants and bars. While many smokers and businesses were outraged and complained about the potential loss of business or personal freedom, I think we can now agree that these bans have been a success. Smokers can walk a few feet outside to enjoy their smoke. Nonsmokers can enjoy bars without being exposed to secondhand smoke -- and most people, including smokers, enjoy waking up the next morning without their clothes reeking like smoke.

Offering Nicotine Replacement (Gum, Patches) to Those Trying to Quit:

Mayor Bloomberg has made it a personal mission to get people to quit cigarettes. One thing he has done right is offer New Yorkers free nicotine replacement, like patches and gum, to those who want to quit. It is both cost-effective and humane to offer non-punitive ways to help people who want to give up cigarettes.

Age Restrictions and Honest Drug Education for Young People:

Anti-smoking advocates have prioritized education and age restrictions to keep cigarettes out of young people's hands. Programs like the Truth Campaign, an innovative ad campaign directed at young people, have been successful in reducing smoking. It speaks honestly about the harms of smoking and treated young people with respect.

Compared to the over the top "Just Say No" anti-drug commercials that exaggerated and lied to young people, this approach is much more effective. Young people have long ridiculed and ignored messages like the "This is Your Brain on Drugs" and absurd claims that if you smoke marijuana you will become a homeless heroin addict. Drug education campaigns need to be honest and truthful if we want young people to be open to the message.

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office raids jail following rise in cigarette seizures

More than a hundred Maricopa County Sheriff's Office employees conducted an extensive search for contraband Friday at Tent City Jail and the Durango complex jails in Phoenix.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the search was in response to authorities finding "many" cigarettes in the jails over the last several days.

Deputies, detention officers and members of the sheriff's posse found a cell phone, radios and several metal objects that could be used as weapons after searching beds, blankets and everything in the tents, Arpaio said.

They also found spice, homemade alcohol and tobacco, said Jeffrey Sprong, a sheriff's office spokesman.

Arpaio said inmates sometimes bring contraband in after working outside the jails during the day.

Authorities also searched visitors and their vehicles for illegal substances. Ten people were arrested, including a woman arrested on suspicion of drug possession, the sheriff's office said.

Menthol cigs don't pose greater risk

The tobacco industry argues in a report to the Food and Drug Administration that menthol cigarettes aren't riskier than regular cigarettes.
The industry is trying to defend a lucrative business as the agency weighs whether to ban the minty flavoring.

According to a summary obtained by The Associated Press, the industry says it believes there's no scientific basis to regulate the menthol any differently. It concludes that menthol cigarettes don't make it easier for people to start, harder for them to quit or raise their risk of disease.
An FDA advisory panel meets Thursday and Friday to discuss its own report on the impact of menthol.
Draft chapters of the panel's report show while menthol cigarettes may not be more risky, use is high among minorities, teenagers and low-income people.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.
We have introduced a new commenting system called Disqus for our articles. This allows readers the option of signing in using their Facebook, Twitter, Disqus or existing MiamiHerald.com username and password.

BDA Applauds Tobacco Announcement, UK

The British Dental Association has joined other members of the Smokefree Action Coalition in applauding this week's Government announcement of a plan to reduce smoking prevalence. The plan includes prohibiting the display of tobacco products in large shops by April 2012 and small shops by April 2015 and a commitment to consult on forcing tobacco products to be sold in plain packaging. It also sets out targets for the reduction of smoking prevalence in adults, children and pregnant women.

Professor Damien Walmsley, Scientific Adviser to the BDA, said:

"Tobacco use has a significant negative impact on dental health, contributing to the increasing number of cases of oral cancers and conditions such as gum disease. Tobacco is one of the factors that creates and perpetuates oral health inequalities in the UK. As a member of the Smokefree Action Coalition the BDA is committed to eradicating the harm that tobacco does to the nation's health and we applaud this week's announcement as a positive step forward."

Australian Greens Want End to Future Fund Owning Tobacco Shares

The Australian Greens, who helped Prime Minister Julia Gillard win power, want the government’s Future Fund investment program changed to prevent the holding of tobacco company shares.

“It makes no sense for a Federal Government fund to be investing in a way which is so clearly at odds with current health policy,” Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said in an e- mailed statement. “This revelation should provide us with an opportunity to re-visit the Fund and see what we can do to improve this investment strategy.”

The Future Fund, established five years ago to cover the pension costs of retiring lawmakers, judges and public servants, had A$147.7 million ($148 million) invested in 14 tobacco companies as of Dec. 31, according to portfolio holdings obtained by Bloomberg News through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The investments are held as Australia introduces some of the toughest anti-smoking laws in the world, including becoming the first nation to ban brand names on tobacco packs. In addition to raising the excise on tobacco by 25 percent last year, the government banned the public display of cigarettes in stores.

Australia, where sales of tobacco products totaled A$10.9 billion in 2009, records about 15,000 deaths a year from related diseases, according to government statistics. Smoking is the largest preventable cause of death, according to the Australian Medical Association.

Health Care

Nicola Roxon, health minister in Gillard’s Labor government, last month said smoking cost Australia’s A$1.3 trillion economy about A$31.5 billion each year in health care and lost time due to illness.

“My personal view is no one should invest in tobacco companies,” Roxon told the Herald Sun newspaper. “No one should invest in products that are such dreadful killers.”

Youth takes tobacco in armed robbery

A youth with a pistol grabbed a woman by the throat in a Coromandel shop before making off with packets of tobacco, police said today.

The woman, who was behind the counter at the Boomerang Store in Te Puru, north of Thames on Saturday morning, was shaken by the incident, police said.

The offender, described as a male caucasian teenager, entered the shop alone at 6.48am with a pistol-type firearm.

Detective Constable Andre Kavanagh said the offender pointed the pistol at woman as he walked around behind the counter.

He grabbed her throat and pushed her into a freezer as he walked to the tobacco display.

The woman, who was not injured, was able to run out of the store to raise the alarm as the youth put a number of tobacco packets into a satchel and left on foot.

Mr Kavanagh said the offender was wearing a dark blue or black hooded sweatshirt with "AB" in white writing on front.

A light-coloured item covered lower the half of his face.

He also had on black shorts and black "Chuck Taylor" shoes with long black socks and was carrying a blue-and-black satchel-type bag with red padding on the shoulder strap.

Montana State president wants more input on tobacco ban following student vote

Montana State University President Waded Cruzado says she wants to give school employees a chance to voice their opinions before deciding on whether to make the Bozeman campus tobacco free.

Cruzado's decision follows a vote by students on Wednesday who 61 to 39 percent recommended making MSU tobacco-free within two years.

Cruzado tells the Bozeman Daily Chronicle that she has asked students to present more information about the vote to the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate and Professional Council.

Cruzado says she wants to make sure other constituencies at the university are involved in the conversation.

Cruzado has invited students to speak at an April 6 meeting of a group or representatives from the entire campus called the University Council.