Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction Biography
There are also prescription medications to help people quit the use of tobacco. The most common of these is Zyban (bupropion hydrochloride)  which will dramatically reduce withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit. OCF prefers non tobacco nicotine replacement therapies, with the eventual goal of a release from the addiction completely, not the continued long term addiction to an alternate product, even a non tobacco one. Other nicotine replacement strategies, such as inhalers, nasal sprays, etc. would allow an individual to wean themselves from the addiction, without introducing additional risks for other ailments. Spit tobacco, besides its ties to oral cancer, is also tied to other serious cancers such as pancreatic cancer, and there is still much we do not know about all the possible negative biological implications of its use over long terms.
The TRUTH which the harm reduction advocates do not speak to, is that there is more that we do not know about the long term negative effects than what we do. Research done in Sweden (decades in depth) for instance which is widely quoted by them is on a product which is not identical to products made in the US. The research dollars which exposed the extensive harm from smoking tobacco and brought down any belief that smoking was harmless, were not directed towards research of smokeless spit tobacco products. As a result, they frequently will talk about how little scientific evidence there is to argue against spit tobacco as a harm reduction strategy from an evidence based perspective.  But remember if you find that argument attractive, that the research dollars are only now being spent to explore the negative biological implications of spit tobacco use. The lack of numerous published studies at the current time, indicates that the are NO long term US STUDIES, it does not indicate that the product is safe. In our opinion beginning the use of smokeless tobaccos is a step in the wrong direction, and their use as a harm reduction strategy is misguided when other options exist.
Having taken a position of endorsing nicotine replacement for those who cannot quit but wish to reduce their risk of harm, OCF also acknowledges that there is conflicting information about the long term use of nicotine and its effects on the body. It is likely not as benign as caffeine as some insinuate, but until more data is available we find this to be the lesser of evils when it comes to the bigger picture of harm reduction. Bottom line, OCF cannot endorse a policy of adding to the cases of other cancers, including very deadly pancreatic cancers, but as a contributor to other serious ailments, even if there s a greater good (harm reduction in tobacco smokers) to be served if it means additional mortality and morbidity sacrifices via new cancer patients of a different type, or other disease states. If we are willing to advocate a different tobacco poison only on the basis that it  will help one group, but hurt another to a lesser extent, then there is a moral, not a science question here which needs to be addressed.

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction