Learning Objectives: Identify the public health concerns associated with "harm reduction" or "reduced risk" products. Describe the key aspects of legislation to grant FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products. Explain why the FDA needs this authority. Demonstrate an understanding of the lessons learned from the last 50 years about "harm reduction" products.
Abstract: An increasing number of new tobacco and nicotine-based “harm reduction” products are being marketed and sold in the United States. Participants will discuss these new products and identify the public health care concerns associated with selling and marketing these products in an unregulated environment. A recent Institute of Medicine Report, Clearing the Smoke: Assessing the Science Base of Tobacco Harm Reduction, made clear that these new products have not been evaluated sufficiently.
The panel will discuss the need for regulation of all tobacco and nicotine-based products, including products making harm reduction claims. Panelists will highlight the key aspects of legislation to grant the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate the sale and marketing of these products.
Participants will discuss the lessons learned from past changes in tobacco products. The recent National Cancer Institute report, detailing the 50 year history of light and low tar cigarettes, concludes that there is no health benefit to smoking light and low tar and the marketing of these products has been deceptive. The report is instructive about the past and also provides an indication of what is needed to prevent a repeat of history as new products are introduced.
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