How to waste $115 million in Nicotine Research

The NIH has received $115 to study smoke cessation, according to the NY Times, of which they spent $2.5 million on nicotine free cigarettes. It sounds like a good thing and I’m sure they mean well.

But aren’t they really just protecting the industry? And their agenda with it?

The key question is – is why are you covering this when the biggest issue is Electronic Cigarettes – or vaporized alternate nicotine delivery system. They are obviously the future – but not in this study.

Here’s a summary of why this study is about protecting the tobacco patch:

1. Nicotine free cigarettes like Quest have been around for years – and smokers don’t want them. Even weekend smokers.

2. Nicotine is not the problem. The problem is why people seek out an addictive property. Nicotine can help offset Alzheimer's and it works for many as a poor man’s anti-ADD product and general calmant.

3. Tars are the problem, since they cause the cancers – but that is not being researched here. The objective is to support the tobacco growing industry.

4. Alternate nicotine delivery systems a/k/a Electronic Cigarettes are not being discussed. It is the biggest issue in smoking – but not even mentioned.

Then there is the issue why do young people want to smoke anyway – because if you don’t answer that, they will just find something similar or probably more dangerous as a substitute.

Smoking is more than a medical or scientific proposition – it a psycho-spiritual calmant and empowerment substance that is perceived to have slightly magical powers and can be just as powerful as any religion.

If this is not part of the research then we are getting much new here.

At the end of the day, the superficiality of this study almost laughable - especially when we know that the market has overwhelming rejected nicotine-less cigarettes. Just as alcohol-free beer and wine don't exactly get people to stop drinking - this is a fairly good exercise in wasted tax dollars and diversion of the genuine conversation.

As for the beleaguered tax-payer - they are just kissing away $115 million and the tobacco industry is getting a backdoor support system.

Big Win for e-Cigarette Importers

News Flash - the Federal Court turned down the FDA's efforts to ban e-Cigarettes. (See the New York Times article.)

The bigger question is why would Government agencies and anti-tobacco groups be against a product that relieves some of the greatest harms of smoking (second hand smoke, the smell, the hacking cough) and works as an anecdotally acclaimed means of quitting?

3 reasons:

1. Money
2. Power
3. Self-righteousness

Their attitudes are so repugnant that I feel like smoking again. I won't, but I am willing to fume.

Here's why.

1. Money. The government has found a fantastic source of revenue built on the backs of tobacco addicts. Like any addict - in this case, revenue addicts - they are deeply reluctant to give it up. When the time is ripe - we'll discuss a 12 step method for the tobacco taxers.....

The same applies to the major anti-tobacco groups. There are a small handful that get the lion's share of the paltry few million the government doles out from its tobacco revenues. They are just as dependent on this tax income and so they too have every incentive to attack (Tobacco Free Kids being high on his list). The game has become fixed to the point where they actually function as a handmaiden to the tobacco industry - warding off newcomers (competition) and making it seem like the tobacco companies are staying away from kids. They also support big pharma and its plethora of patches, gums, pills and other cessation paraphernalia.

2. Power. Agencies like the FDA derive their power from what they control. First you ban, then you control. Overlaps with money. (Also reminds us of the record companies and downloading - is it any coincidence that Time Warner's Richard Parsons told Napster "first you stop, then we talk." Now he runs Citibank. Guess what - all are in ruins. Note to FDA: the internet has changed all that - dictatorships just don't work like they used to.)

3. Self Righteousness. Everybody loves to point out somebody else's weakness and health groups are notorious in this regard. The fact that people have reasons for smoking - however troubling - is of zero interest to them. Just stop. Have will power blah, blah, blah. Smokers are motivated by deep reasons that rarely disappear just because they quit - they are typically sublimated to other practices. Often medication - both good or bad (e.g. how many smokers were really using tobacco as a crude form of Ridalin, or Prozac, or an upper or a downer).  The worst fears of these zealots emerge when smokers appear to be enjoying themselves. You can't really respond to them - unless there truly is a skeleton in their closets - except to let their own fanaticism do its own discrediting.

Guaranteed - all 3 of these types will have something to say about the children. This makes children smoke blah, blah. I say this makes children distrust politicians. As usual this is just a smokescreen, no one is promoting this for kids just for people who already smoke.....but the tactic always pulls at someone's heartstrings - including smokers'.

Bottom line - for better or worse there are approximately 40 million smokers in the U.S. as they get up from the back of the bus they will realize that fate has given them a reprieve in he form of e-Cigarettes. Once the word truly gets out and they learn to rust these products, and understand the actions of these high-placed malefactors - I predict there will be a huge backlash. Some heads will roll. The argument will change completely.

He fact that this innovation came to us from China will also deliver a lesson about what happens when Government gets too involved - its stifles ideas and protects the insiders who become effectively corrupt. Of course, they never see it that way - hence point 3. self-righteousness. But there it is - another little vignette about why we are on our way to becoming a lost force in the world.

What's Selling e-Cigarettes? Are they being UNsold by supporters and SOLD by Opponents?

Here’s a proposition for smokers – we’ll make cigarettes safe, we’ll take you out of the cold and we’ll save you 70% to boot.

You’d think Americans would drop their Marlboros and head for these products in a heartbeat!

But they're not – at least not anywhere in the volume you’d expect.

This is despite the fact that some e-Cig Co’s are practically giving away the devices so you only have to pay as you go - the nicotine version of giving away the razor to sell the blades.

If you’d done your homework on how the tobacco companies understood their customers’ motivation and then spoke to your average smoker, you’d quickly understand why.

Smokers don’t necessarily want a safer cigarette. They say they do but they are much more neurotic about their habit than that – and self-flagellation is part of the deal. Paying too much and being forced out into the cold to smoke has become a misery-loves-camaraderie ritual. Then there is the familiarity of the always-available soft little tube of reassurance – something that can’t be found with an electronic tube.

The amazing irony is that the people whom you might think would support eCigarettes, health groups and government officials are not. We get the revenue issues – both are dependent on the fabulous tax bounty of smoking. But this where it gets sticky – they also claim these products are not safe. Or at least, not proven safe – unlike cigarettes, which are proven deadly. In other words, once they’re proved deadly then they can take a position on eCigarettes.

That’s the irony – once they’re proven deadly, they become appealing to smokers again! So the eCigarette people (sometimes referred to as vapers) are effectively un-selling eCigarettes while the anti-eCigarette people, by claiming these are not safe are actually selling these products.

Welcome to the looking-glass world of marketing!

© 2009 Alan Brody