More Nicotine Than Ever! - "Can't let you quit!"

[Just_Believe18]

U.S. report: More nicotine in cigarettes

By STEVE LEBLANC
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

BOSTON -- The level of nicotine that smokers typically consume per cigarette has risen about 10 percent in the past six years, making it harder to quit and easier to get hooked, according to a new report released Tuesday by the Massachusetts Department of Health.

The study shows a steady climb in the amount of nicotine delivered to the lungs of smokers regardless of brand, with overall nicotine yields increasing by about 10 percent.

Massachusetts is one of three states to require tobacco companies to submit information about nicotine testing according to its specifications and the only state with data going back to 1998.

Public Health Commissioner Paul Cote Jr. called the findings "significant."

The study found the three most popular cigarette brands with young smokers - Marlboro, Newport and Camel - delivered significantly more nicotine than they did six years ago. Nicotine consumed in Kool, a popular menthol brand, rose 20 percent, for example.

Jennifer Golisch, a spokeswoman for Altria Group Inc.'s Phillip Morris USA, the nation's largest cigarette maker and manufacturer of Marlboro cigarettes, declined to comment. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., manufacturer of Kool and Camel cigarettes, also declined. Reynolds is part of Reynolds American Inc.

The study has always measured nicotine levels based on the way smokers actually use cigarettes, health officials said, for example by partially covering ventilation holes as they smoke and taking longer puffs. Traditional testing methods, which don't take real-life smoking habits into account, typically report lower nicotine contents, researchers said.
"The amount of nicotine in a cigarette has increased steadily over the past six years," the department said, indicating in its reports that the smoking habits simulated had not changed in that period.

Of the 179 cigarette brands tested in 2004 for the report, 93 percent fell into the highest range for nicotine. In 1998, 84 percent of 116 brands tested fell into the highest range.

"We want health care providers to know that smokers are getting more nicotine than in the past and may need additional help in trying to quit," Cote said.

Smokers who choose "light" brands hoping to reduce their nicotine intake are out of luck, according to the report that found for all brands tested in 1998 and 2004, there was no significant difference in the total nicotine delivered between "full flavor," "medium," "light," or "ultra-light" cigarettes.

The finding means that health care providers trying to help smokers quit may have to adjust the strength of nicotine replacement therapies like nicotine patches and gums, according to Department of Public Health Associate Commissioner Sally Fogerty.

So the Tobacco Death Companies are increasing dosages of nicotin in their cigarettes to make users even more dependent and to offset theraputic dosages of nicorette gum and patches that would otherwise help them quit.

The greatest public health hypocricy within this nation are these tobacco companies. Those fields should be razed into ashes and those corporate towers stormed, pillaged, and vacated. Make your own cigarettes if you "have to" smoke, but these corporations should not be in existence. They are all murderers on a pandemic scale.

 

[Just_Believe18]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/1500AP_Increasing_Nicotine.html

 

[W10 Chubb]

This claim was made about five years ago. And the point then as now should be that tobacco companies have had to say how much tar and nicotene is in each packet of cigs. These are randomly and independently tested and not once has there ever been a 'loaded' cig with more nicotine than is stated on the packet.

So they are not adding nicotine - they are just supplying it.

 

[iman]

Since tobacco companies find it so easy to manipulate nicotine levels, why can't they be required to lower nicotine levels over a period of years? The Congress has set standards for cleaner air and gasoline efficiency, why not nicotine standards?

 

[W10 Chubb]

Since tobacco companies find it so easy to manipulate nicotine levels, why can't they be required to lower nicotine levels over a period of years? The Congress has set standards for cleaner air and gasoline efficiency, why not nicotine standards?

It is just a guess - but it might be because people want to buy cigs with the nicotine level that is in them. After all there are so many varieties with different levels of nicotine that it could be argued that in fact they are providing exactly what you say - its just the public who choose which nicotine level they want.

 

[W10 Chubb]

My Mom died of lung cancer -- it's the ugliest, most savage, grotesque and brutal way one can expire. I wish death on no one,

and then you went and wished the most ghastly death on people - nice to see you channelling that anger into a constructive positive vibe - your mother would be proud !

 

[smelter]

This might help smokers to quit:

Painted Ceiling in Smokers Room

 

[Just_Believe18]

No personal attacks, Chubb. Thats a mean thing to say. What are you, an executive to Marlboro? I've never heard of such an apologist.

Good idea Smelter.

 

[W10 Chubb]

Um, not on just anyone, sweetness, on tobacco company executives who market this poison and who have done eveything they can to keep people smoking and to recruit new, younger smokers. Now, if you want to defend that vermin, go ahead -- jump into the sewers with them.

I thought they were human beings - and should be treated like the rest of society. Obviously it seems ok to wish pain and suffering on people. I won't do that because I don't have that much internalised hatred. And the karma consequences of it are too high for me. I think it is so easy to blame these executives - when people who smoke who know the dangers and the addictive properties still do it. When apportioning blame it amazes me how you miss these people out - are they not responsible for their own actions? And if you end up in a hospital bed gasping - should you not have take some responsibilty for where you are?

 

[Just_Believe18]

So they are not adding nicotine - they are just supplying it.

That sounds like something Rumsfield would say. The article, explicitly states, that Tobacco companies, through independent testing (and testing done that does not interfere with detecting nicotine levels) reports the tobacco companies are increasing the amount of nicotine in their cigarettes to make it even more addictive and harder to quit.

You claim its the person's fault if they die of smoking because they made the choice to smoke. I disagree. The supplier has been notorious for encouraging children to smoke, to distributing their brand in a way that suggests being trendy, and their products are ultimately poisonous. They know this. They know it kills. You can't ignore the statistical facts that thousands, and I mean thousands are dying every year in the U.S. alone because of smoking related illnesses. Most people WANT to quit. But they can't! Why? Because of the nicotine. They are physically dependent on a drug, that the tobacco companies are now increasing to keep them hooked and to easily hook others. Where does choice come into play?

Its murder. I can't even fathom a society that places such an emphasis on human life, yet continues to allow this hypocricy that is Marlboro, Phillip Morris, Camel, and others to exist the way they do.

 

[W10 Chubb]

That sounds like something Rumsfield would say. The article, explicitly states, that Tobacco companies, through independent testing (and testing done that does not interfere with detecting nicotine levels) reports the tobacco companies are increasing the amount of nicotine in their cigarettes to make it even more addictive and harder to quit.

You claim its the person's fault if they die of smoking because they made the choice to smoke. I disagree. The supplier has been notorious for encouraging children to smoke, to distributing their brand in a way that suggests being trendy, and their products are ultimately poisonous. They know this. They know it kills. You can't ignore the statistical facts that thousands, and I mean thousands are dying every year in the U.S. alone because of smoking related illnesses. Most people WANT to quit. But they can't! Why? Because of the nicotine. They are physically dependent on a drug, that the tobacco companies are now increasing to keep them hooked and to easily hook others. Where does choice come into play?

Its murder. I can't even fathom a society that places such an emphasis on human life, yet continues to allow this hypocricy that is Marlboro, Phillip Morris, Camel, and others to exist the way they do.

I like a society that says you can smoke and inhale nicotine even if it eventually does kill you - thats called freedom of choice! As for the article - sorry still don't believe it - for the reasons I gave. As for the addictive properties. Having smoked on and off for years I am amazed - you make it sound like heroine or crack in trying to withdraw (and I have done these as well) it is not! As for saying that it is not people's fault if they die from a smoking disease what rubbish - there are warnings on the packets on the adverts and any number of dire and dreary adverts about death on radio and television. After seeing all this are you really saying that if a person smokes they are not responsible for what happens?

 

[W10 Chubb]

So, having done heroin (or did you actually mean 'heroine'?) and crack, do you support that the freedom of choice should extend to those substances as well?

Oh yes, indeed I would.

 

[W10 Chubb]

All drugs should be legalised - but why the need to tax them?

The last thing you want to do is give the state more money - look how it wastes what it steals already!

 

[Just_Believe18]

I like a society that says you can smoke and inhale nicotine even if it eventually does kill you - thats called freedom of choice! As for the article - sorry still don't believe it - for the reasons I gave. As for the addictive properties. Having smoked on and off for years I am amazed - you make it sound like heroine or crack in trying to withdraw (and I have done these as well) it is not! As for saying that it is not people's fault if they die from a smoking disease what rubbish - there are warnings on the packets on the adverts and any number of dire and dreary adverts about death on radio and television. [/b]After seeing all this are you really saying that if a person smokes they are not responsible for what happens?[/b]

Don't believe it? Well, Mr. Know-it-all, do you have evidence or a link of your own that counters a scientifically proven study? If you don't, then based on the guidelines of this discussion forum, you really don't have an argument.

Of course a person is responsible for the choice they make, but unlike what you say, most can't quit cold turkey because of how trapped they become from their addiction to nicotine. Look at this brave forumer here: http://www.justusboys.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117485

Its a hard thing for smokers to make the freedom of choice TO QUIT. The Tobacco Companies are trying to eliminate this freedom of choice, and thus, are responsible.