Tobacco Center Faculty Blog

November 9, 2011

Stanton A. Glantz, PhD

USA Today and the New York Times recently published articles that uncritically accepted assertions that smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes were useful as cessation tools.  Both of these studies were funded by tobacco/e-cigarette companies that had direct financial interests in the outcome of the work.  Both Brad Rodu (smokeless tobacco) and Riccardo Polosa (e-cigarettes) also worked as consultants to the companies making products they were evaluating.

The USA Today story on Brad Rodu's "Switch and Quit" smokeless tobacco study did note that he was (and has been for years) supported by tobacco companies and included Rodu's claim that "There's absolutely no influence whatsoever" by the companies.  USA Today did not mention all the evidence of bias in industry funded studies.

In both stories, people and organizations who questioned claims that smokeless tobacco and e-cigs were useful cessation measures were painted as closed minded prohibitionists

November 9, 2011

Stanton A. Glantz, PhD

The evidence that strong smokefree laws provide large and immediate health benefits just keeps piling up.

The latest study, released today, found a 21 percent drop in emergency room admission for heart attacks during the first year of the law, saving an estimated $3.4 to $4.3 million in heath care costs.  This is serious money, particularly as both government and the private sector struggle to keep health costs down.

These real documented and rapid benefits not just in terms of health, but the economy, show that the economic argument on smokefree policies has clearly shifted away from the tobacco industry and its allies to the health side.

The NC Department of Health press release is available at http://www.ncdhhs.gov/pressrel/2011/2011-11-09_heart_attack_down.htm  and the actual study is at http://tobaccopreventionandcontrol.ncdhhs.gov/smokefreenc/docs/TPCB-2011SFNCReport-SHD.pdf .

November 8, 2011

Stanton A. Glantz, PhD

We just published, a study in the December issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine showing that strong clean indoor air laws are associated with large increases in voluntary smokefree policies in the home, as well.  Although the aim of clean indoor air laws is to reduce second hand smoke exposure in public venues, our results show that these laws have the important additional benefit of stimulating smokefree homes, with a larger association in homes occupied by smokers, protecting kids and other family members from second hand smoke.    We analyzed data from the Tobacco Use Supplement to Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS), a nationally representative household survey of tobacco use. They looked at the likelihood of a person living in a home with a 100% smokefree ban, and how that related to individual characteristics, household composition, and whether the residential region is covered by clean indoor air laws. Living in a county fully covered by a 100% clean indoor air law in workplaces or restaurants and bars is associated with an increased likelihood of having a voluntary 100% smokefree-home rule, for both smoking and nonsmoking households.  In addition the presence of children in the home makes a smokefree rule more likely.

October 27, 2011

Stanton A. Glantz, PhD

The bizarre Herman Cain campaign ad featuring his campaign manager, Mark Block, smoking is just the latest in their longstanding tobacco promotions. Cain has a longstanding working relationship with the tobacco industry.

October 22, 2011

Stanton A. Glantz, PhD

Major Hollywood studios will release at least two more PG-rated movies with smoking by the end of 2011:

1) Hugo, produced and directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Johnny Depp, will open November 23, 2011 in the United States. Set in Paris in the 1930s, the story of a boy and his father has been rated "PG for mild thematic material, some action/peril and smoking." 

Distributed by Viacom (Paramount), the live-action movie was produced by GK Films (Graham King), whose other smoking productions include Rango (PG), The Tourist (PG-13), Next (PG-13), Blood Diamond (R) and The Departed (R). Earlier this year, Rango delivered more than 800 million tobacco impressions to US theater audiences.

Pages