Smoke, not nicotine, is the problem

Sun Times ^ | November 18, 2004 | Dr. Brad Rodu

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Today is the American Cancer Society's 28th Great American Smokeout. The event is certainly a smoke-out -- clean air laws kick smokers outdoors for their nicotine fixes. But is it really ''great''?

No! Because the event suggests a wrongheaded option: Quit tobacco or die. The reality is that for the 400,000 American smokers who die each year, total abstinence was impossible and entirely unnecessary.

Medical research shows that you can achieve almost all of the health benefits of quitting smoking without quitting tobacco.

Nicotine, while powerfully addictive, is about as safe as caffeine, another widely consumed addictive drug. It's tobacco smoke, with thousands of toxic agents, that leads to cancer, heart disease and emphysema. Eliminate the smoke, and you eliminate virtually all of the risk.

Modern smokeless tobacco products can satisfy your nicotine craving, and save your life. Research proves that smokeless products are 98 percent safer than cigarettes -- a fact that even tobacco prohibitionists have begun to acknowledge. Our university research group has documented that smokers who switch to smokeless tobacco reduce their risk for all smoking-related illnesses, including mouth cancer.

On average, smokers live eight years less than those who never used tobacco; smokeless users lose just 15 days. Statistically, smokeless users have about the same risk of dying as automobile users.

Newer smokeless tobacco products deliver the nicotine kick you crave and can be used invisibly. They are available as wafers or small tobacco pellets the size of breath mints; some completely dissolve during use, leaving no tobacco residue.

Smokeless tobacco is already working as a safer alternative for many former smokers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1.5 to 2 million former smokers have already switched. For more information on how you can be smoke-free, visit our research-based university Web page at www.uab.edu/smokersonly.

[peyton randolph]

I'll continue to enjoy my cigars (Monica-free and I don't inhale).

[Izzy Dunne]

Beware of that secondhand spit.

[Minn]

So what should we think of all the lip and throat cancer threats we've been told of?

[Gabz]

Good grief..............

[gubamyster]

Unfortunately, chew is taxed at the same rate as cigarettes. Everytime the tax on smokes goes up, supposedly to deter smoking & fund treatment for tobacco-related illnesses, so does the tax on chew.

[MediaMole]

Research proves that smokeless products are 98 percent safer than cigarettes... and 98percent grosser.

Especially if you are one of the people who develops cancer and has to have his jaw removed.

[k2blader]

Well, the smoke literally stinks. So, I'd say, yeah, it's pretty undesirable.

[theDentist]

I'll light up a cigar once I get home on honor of the Smoke-Out.

[mlbford2]

I plan on smoking 20lbs of pork butt and 3 racks of spare pork ribs this weekend. Oh well.

[TFine80]

I think they are talking about these nicotine breath mints....

[<1/1,000,000th%]

People are born that way and can't change. /sarcasm

[Just another Joe]

The reality is that for the 400,000 American smokers who die each year, total abstinence was impossible and entirely unnecessary.

There's that made up number again.
Amazing how even doctors, professors, and even professional researchers won't do their own research to see how that number is achieved.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

I tried to smoke pork butt once, but it kept going out...

[peyton randolph]

So what should we think of all the lip and throat cancer threats we've been told of?

We all takes risks. Cigars are one of mine. I'm more likely to die in an auto accident than from smoking cigars.

[Odyssey-x]

Nicotine, while powerfully addictive, is about as safe as caffeine, another widely consumed addictive drug.

http://www.prn2.usm.my/mainsite/bulletin/1995/prn2.html

The fatal dose of pure nicotine is approximately 40-60 mg (0.6-1.0 mg/kg, 1-2 drops) i.e. the quantity contained in 2 g of tobacco (equivalent to 2 common blend cigarettes; 15-25 mg of nicotine per cigarette)

Caffiene is far safer.. http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Caffiene The LD50 is estimated to be about 192 mg/kg of body mass, or about 72 cups of coffee for an average adult.

[Jaysun]

Nicotine, while powerfully addictive, is about as safe as caffeine, another widely consumed addictive drug.

Right. I happen to believe that nicotine is beneficial to one's health. I'm virtually covered in nicotine patches and I keep a golf ball sized wad of nicotine gum in my mouth at all times.

[KarlInOhio]

The fatal dose of pure nicotine is approximately 40-60 mg (0.6-1.0 mg/kg, 1-2 drops) i.e. the quantity contained in 2 g of tobacco (equivalent to 2 common blend cigarettes; 15-25 mg of nicotine per cigarette)

How much of that nicotine actually makes it to the blood stream as opposed to being burned or inhaled and exhaled without being absorbed?

[tfecw]

good work on those stats...but we forgot something, smoking doesn't give you a full dose. Its similar to the idea that you can smoke a lot more crack than you can inject into your blood.

I'm kind of confused how (yes i smoke) if the lethal does of nicotine is 40-60 mg, the amount of 2 normal cigs. I've already smoked 4 today...I'm still going strong. In fact how are people surviving when they smoke upwards of 1,2, and 3 packs a day? are these some sort of super humans? Probably not.

I'm not going to say that nicotine is better then caffeine, but you've left out some facts that are important to those stats. Come on now, you almost sounded like Dan rather ;) Just helping keep the fact straight

[Bigh4u2]

"The fatal dose of pure nicotine is approximately 40-60 mg (0.6-1.0 mg/kg, 1-2 drops) i.e. the quantity contained in 2 g of tobacco (equivalent to 2 common blend cigarettes; 15-25 mg of nicotine per cigarette) "

So you are trying to say that smoking 2 cigarettes is enought nicotine to kill you???

[boop]

Exactly! I can buy the 72 cups of coffee being lethal to 50% of people who would drink such an amount, but 2 cigs "killing" 50% of the people who smoke them, no.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

How many people are killed in automobile accidents each year? Why does one drive?

Last year my state appropriated nothing from their federal tobacco tax allocation towards cancer, education...

If one chooses to partake in anything related to tobacco, why isn't it their responsibility to either learn the possible consequences or accept them? How would your MD feel about it?

Tobacco companies will go broke if big government continues it's aggressive tax measures. Ensuing consequences include unemployment, sudden decreased federal spending, increased health care costs... It's the same old game time and time again, if some guy wants to be wealthy, why tax his incentives? Leave the tobacco companies alone and allow the users to make personal choices. Intrude upon their freedom and soon you won't be eating fast food, driving an SUV, owning a gun...

[SheLion]

Medical research shows that you can achieve almost all of the health benefits of quitting smoking without quitting tobacco.

Oh! Ok.  I will go buy myself some C H E W!  Let's see, where can I spit!

 

[SheLion]

Well, the smoke literally stinks. So, I'd say, yeah, it's pretty undesirable.

Well, then, my vote veto's out your vote. I love it.

[SheLion]

The reality is that for the 400,000 American smokers who die each year, total abstinence was impossible and entirely unnecessary.

There's that made up number again.
Amazing how even doctors, professors, and even professional researchers won't do their own research to see how that number is achieved.

American Cancer Society Admits "Mistake" in Ad

As someone who has closely followed the scientific claims surrounding the smoking issue, I wasn't particularly surprised to see the 53,000 figure. Though no U.S. government agency publishes or endorses it, this number pops up regularly in anti-tobacco ads whenever and wherever the push is on for a smoking ban. And, indeed, the purpose of the Herald ad was to campaign for removal of the preemption clause in the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, thus enabling city and county commissions to enact local smoking bans. Predictably, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the American Lung Association were the ad's sponsors.

I followed up with a letter to the ACS and copied the Herald and the Tampa Tribune, which had also run the ad. My letter pointed out that the ACS had not substantiated their claim that the EPA was the source for the 53,000 figure and that the organization could well be guilty of false and misleading advertising.

Was the exercise worth it? You bet it was. The anti-smoking zealots believe they can get away with saying or doing anything if the subject is smoking. This proves they can't if we remain vigilant.

The reality is that for the 400,000 American smokers who die each year, total abstinence was impossible and entirely unnecessary.

There's that made up number again.
Amazing how even doctors, professors, and even professional researchers won't do their own research to see how that number is achieved.

American Cancer Society Admits "Mistake" in Ad

As someone who has closely followed the scientific claims surrounding the smoking issue, I wasn't particularly surprised to see the 53,000 figure. Though no U.S. government agency publishes or endorses it, this number pops up regularly in anti-tobacco ads whenever and wherever the push is on for a smoking ban. And, indeed, the purpose of the Herald ad was to campaign for removal of the preemption clause in the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, thus enabling city and county commissions to enact local smoking bans. Predictably, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the American Lung Association were the ad's sponsors.

I followed up with a letter to the ACS and copied the Herald and the Tampa Tribune, which had also run the ad. My letter pointed out that the ACS had not substantiated their claim that the EPA was the source for the 53,000 figure and that the organization could well be guilty of false and misleading advertising.

Was the exercise worth it? You bet it was. The anti-smoking zealots believe they can get away with saying or doing anything if the subject is smoking. This proves they can't if we remain vigilant.

[appalachian_dweller]

Hello Ladies.

Question: I've seen this LAME antismoking add about 'fire safe' cigarettes being sold in NY. Do either of you know anything about these so-called fire safe smokes? The add said they were the only smokes allowed to be sold in NY.

Seems kinda dumb to me. What the crap is a fire safe cigarette?

[Conspiracy Guy]

I had the same problem smoking a turkey.

[Argh]

Get a picture of Helen Thomas. Insert face up into spittoon. Spit liberally, she'll appreciate that. You're welcome, Miss Lion. :^)

[SheLion]

Seems kinda dumb to me. What the crap is a fire safe cigarette?

I had a friend try them. They keep going out and they taste terrible.

[Mears]

God I wish I knew all of this stuff earlier.Thanks for the ping, She.

All the fun things I've been doing my entire life like drinking coffee,driving,smoking,and eating candy have shortened my life. If I had know all these statistics earlier I would have done none of them-------and then prayed for an early death.

Today's The Great American Smokout? Who knew!!!!!!

[SheLion]

Get a picture of Helen Thomas. Insert face up into spittoon. Spit liberally, she'll appreciate that. You're welcome, Miss Lion. :^)

Argggggggh! LOL!

She has been spit on enough, don't you think? haha! (Or maybe NOT enough. egads)

[SheLion]

Today's The Great American Smokout? Who knew!!!!!!

[Argh]

Well, I would have suggested Hillary, but a picture of Hillary is likely to make any right-thinking person lose his or her lunch. And merely spitting on Hillary just won't suffice.

[SheLion]

All the fun things I've been doing my entire life like drinking coffee,driving,smoking,and eating candy have shortened my life. If I had know all these statistics earlier I would have done none of them-------and then prayed for an early death.

The damn highly paid professional anti-smokers worry about smokers and our health and second hand smoke more then what they do about Aids. My Gawd! Aids is a SURE killer.

I wish they would go after something that is a sure killer and leave smokers alone!

[SheLion]

Well, I would have suggested Hillary, but a picture of Hillary is likely to make any right-thinking person lose his or her lunch. And merely spitting on Hillary just won't suffice.

errrrrr did you see her today in all that rain at the opening? But.....that's on another thread. :)

[Argh]

Miss Laura told me she got hit in the head with an umbrella due to some guy's (Bill's?) clumsiness. This was my response. Yes, I was pretty rambunctious this morning. This morning the Canadian gummint gave the green light for both Fox News and the NFL Channel to broadcast in Canaduh. FINALLY!! Yippee!!!

[SheLion]

Miss Laura told me she got hit in the head with an umbrella due to some guy's (Bill's?) clumsiness.

Well, I did note the military man that was holding the umbrella for Clintoon kept tilting the umbrella and water would roll down onto Clintoon's head. LOL!

[N. Theknow]

So what should we think of all the lip and throat cancer threats we've been told of?

File them under "Global Warming and Other Myths?"

[Argh]

Didn't Hillary melt in the rain?

[MeekOneGOP]

Oh! Ok. I will go buy myself some C H E W!
Let's see, where can I spit!

hehe!

Back in the 70's, I tried unsuccessfully to quit smoking a number of times.

One day, I thought I'd try Copenhagen and dump the cigs.

I stayed off the smokes for few weeks or a month and stayed with the Copenhagen.

What a nasty habit that was, though. I went back to the smokes.

I did finally dig the willpower out in 1983 and quit, though and am still smoke free.

[SheLion]

That urn is way to pretty to spit in. I would use it for flowers.

Good for you that you quit. I enjoy it too much to quit. If I ever come to tire of smoking, I will quit. But I am still enjoying it so.

You find the neatest pictures. :)

[MeekOneGOP]

That urn is way to pretty to spit in ..... I would use it for flowers.

haha! :^)

Good for you that you quit. I enjoy it too much to quit. If I ever come to tire of smoking, I will quit. But I am still enjoying it so.

When I run into someone that expresses an interest in quitting, I tell them that will quit when THEY decide to quit. Nobody ever successfully nagged anyone to not smoke. I tried to talk my Mom into quitting in the mid-70's, and she really got upset with me so finally I quit trying. It has to be self-driven, which is what got me off the smokes.

You find the neatest pictures. :)

Thanks.

[SheLion]

When I run into someone that expresses an interest in quitting, I tell them that will quit when THEY decide to quit. Nobody ever successfully nagged anyone to not smoke. I tried to talk my Mom into quitting in the mid-70's, and she really got upset with me so finally I quit trying. It has to be self-driven, which is what got me off the smokes.

My daddy was up to three packs a day for a long time. One morning, he went to light up and he just made the most horrible face. He crinkled that pack, threw it away and never touched another cigarette. I think a person has to reach that point to just kick them.

I tried quitting once for 5 days. The most miserable 5 days of my life. I wasn't ready. And I still enjoy smoking. Oh well. :)

[MeekOneGOP]

:^)