The UK Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) has issued a withering criticism of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)’s consultation letter calling for the regulation of electronic cigarettes as a medicine, pointing out out that there is insufficient evidence that the electronic cigarette poses a risk to public health. The MHRA, while acknowledging the [...]

Anti-smoking groups are claiming non-American cigarettes are a lot safer – but scientists say this rubbish.

According to a medical study in South Africa highlighted by News 24 45% of smokers using the electronic cigarette were able to quit within two months of switching to the innovative new product. Of coure, what counts is whether smokers can cease smoking for the long term. However, the results remain extremely encouraging. The survey [...]

Image above by Jim Frazier This is not our title, but that of Clives Bates, a previous director of ASH-UK. This short fascinating post points out that health campaigner’s insistance on pushing quitting on smokers rather than on suggesting alternative smoking methods could lead to millions dying. If the world tobacco market shifted to selling [...]

Congratulations to Obama, both on winning the election – and in resisting the temptation to smoke during the stress of the campaign. Although, as we revealed in Smoking Obama, he did have the occasional drag (in cigarettes he ‘bummed’ of other campaigners) he managed to avoid resuming the habit in total. Apparently, this was part [...]

In a fascinating article on nicotine addiction entititled The Brain’s Addiction Centre over on Science Blogs, Ed Yong looks at the realities behind addiction. Smoking causes 5 times as many deaths as all other non-medical causes put together, and eighty percent of smokers admit they want to give up. Yet despite this it often takes [...]

Ever wondered exactly what chemicals are contained in cigarettes? Here are a small selection of the chemicals contained in cigarettes. Arsenic – a common rat poison, and the murder weapon of choice for estranged lovers. Formaldehyde – used to preserve dead bodies. Causes cancer as well as to unpleasant ailments such as respiratory, skin and [...]