In the United States, tobacco companies have been required to pay settlements to 46 states to help off-set the cost tobacco-related medical-costs. Tobacco companies agreed to cease certain marketing practices and pay annual payments to states. The question is not if those funds should be paid, but where they should go.

In a report recently released, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that most states are not spending the recommended amount of settlement funds and tobacco taxes on programs and marketing to prevent tobacco use.

In Kentucky an estimated $389 million of the state's income derived from these sources in 2011. The CDC recommends $57.2 million be allocated to fund anti-tobacco programs. Kentucky falls short of that amount, noting they are slated so spend a mere $2.2 million on preventative programs in 2012. That is a hair under 4 percent of the recommended figure. Continue Reading

Thursday was the Great American Smokeout. President Obama, who was declared "Tobacco Free" in his physical in October, congratulated those participating in the smokeout event hosted annually by the American Cancer Society, further stating in his message that he understood how difficult it is to quit smoking. Obama took the opportunity to address Big Tobacco during the same statement concluding "they don't want to be honest about the consequences of using their products."

Earlier this year, the FDA released nine graphic images intended to be used on cigarette packaging as a means to deter people from smoking and educate on the health risks associated. Big Tobacco companies have since filed legal challenges against the new packaging requirements calling them an anti-smoking advocacy tactic.

The images include a deceased smoker, a premature infant in an isolette, rotting teeth, diseased lungs, and a person smoking through a tracheotomy hole. For tobacco companies it is easy to see their point of view. Why would they want to place images of the worst effects of smoking on the product Continue Reading

Reports

The New York Times published an article yesterday about the use of electronic cigarettes being used in Italy as a means to help smokers quit. "The user 'vapes,' or puffs on the vapor to get a hit of the addictive nicotine (and the familiar sensation of bringing a cigarette to one's mouth) without the noxious substances found in cigarette smoke."

The last decade and more has been dedicated to bringing awareness of the harmful effects of cigarette and tobacco use by many organizations globally. The World Health Organization has made smoking one of their highest concerns and the plight to counsel those still smoking leave many in public health positions frustrated with their positions. No matter how frustrating many find their positions in the fight against tobacco, Italian researchers are finding great success in eliminating cigarettes from smokers with the aid of electronic cigarettes.

Riccardo Polosa lead a team of researchers at the University of Catania. They recruited 40 hard-core smokers Continue Reading

Tobacco companies knew for over 40 years that cigarettes contained a radioactive substance, Polonium-210, a new study of historical documents revealed.

Scientists from the University of California in Los Angeles reviewed 27 documents released by tobacco companies that were not previously analyzed. The findings are shocking.

The study's lead author, Hrayr Karagueuzian said the companies' level of deception surprised him.

Tobacco companies knew of radioactive properties found in cigarettes as early as 1959. Not only were they aware of the dangers, they tested and found that snakes developed lung cancer as a result of exposure to Polonium-210. Continue Reading

Were Cigarettes to Blame?

Smoking is addictive and it kills. The chemicals entering the body cause a host of issues including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and multiple types of cancers. The effects of smoking were the center focus of a lawsuit against R. J. Reynolds, tobacco maker of Camel cigarettes.

Reinaldo Ojeda, son of Juan Ojeda, brought forth a lawsuit claiming that tobacco company, R. J. Reynolds' product was to blame for his father's premature death. Juan smoked two packs of Camel cigarettes per day. In 1991, Juan had breathing difficulties and was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In 1996, Juan was diagnosed with lung cancer and died a few months later. Continue Reading

In August, a group of tobacco companies filed suit against the FDA stating that the graphic images released to the public as part of the 2009 Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act are against their constitutional rights. The 41-page complaint filed in Washington, D.C., federal district court states that the labels are an unprecedented attempt to force the industry to serve as a spokesperson for the FDA's plight to end tobacco use.

This is precisely the type of controlled speech the First Amendment prohibits. While the government may require plaintiffs to provide purely factual and uncontroversial Continue Reading

Big Tobacco companies have sued the U.S. government in an attempt to keep data on menthol tobacco away from the FDA and Congress.

A federal district court could force big tobacco companies to fund and publish corrective statements about their own tactics and dangers related to smoking.

The fight between the FDA and Big Tobacco companies is heating up as the menthol debate could soon face serious changes.

37 hospitals are getting their chance to gain reimbursement for unpaid smoking related bills that they claim are Big Tobacco's fault.