The European Union is banning menthol cigarettes. Are legalization advocates troubled by this? I'm asking sincerely. Same thing with K2 and Spice. They were banned in Michigan earlier this year, without protest. At what point does the conversation turn to the issue of eliminating restrictions on access to prescription drugs? If recreational use of pot … Continue reading New drug bans
Tag: Tobacco smoking
What should we think about e-cigarettes?
Motherlode notes a trend in e-cigarettes and is concerned: I was standing outside our neighborhood ice cream shop one recent evening when I noticed a plume of smoke rise above a gaggle of teenagers waiting in line ahead of me. “Wow,” I thought, “that takes some serious chutzpah.” These kids were smoking in public without … Continue reading What should we think about e-cigarettes?
The benefits of harm reduction are not as obvious as they seem
Theodore Dalrymple points out the inconsistency in the British Medical Journal's vigorous advocacy for harm reduction where heroin is concerned and its squeamishness with harm reduction for nicotine. He pulls a passage from BMJ and inserts comments: What, then, does the BMJ, so much in favour of harm reduction for heroin addicts, say about harm reduction … Continue reading The benefits of harm reduction are not as obvious as they seem
Quitting Smoking and Anxiety
A recent study finds that quitting smoking reduces anxiety: The study followed 491 smokers attending NHS smoking cessation clinics in England. All participants were given a nicotine patch and attended eight weekly appointments. Of the sample, 21.6% (106 people) had a diagnosed mental health problem, primarily mood and anxiety disorders. All participants were assessed for … Continue reading Quitting Smoking and Anxiety
The social cost of smoking
Apparently, Singapore was an early adopter of designated smoking areas and non-smoking areas. However, this wasn't driven by health concerns. Rather, it was driven by aesthetic concerns--primarily smell. In a fascinating paper published recently in Urban Studies, Qian Hui Tan observes that smokers are "purveyors of sensory pollution" – creating a scent that, like all odors, … Continue reading The social cost of smoking
The political left and prohibition
Andrew Sullivan picks up on Jack Meserve's discussion of the political left and prohibition: Meserve: Think of a few of the currently illegal vices: recreational drug use, gambling, prostitution. With some exceptions, the left has been in favor of legalization or decriminalization of these activities. Now think of legal vices: gluttony, cigarette smoking, alcohol use. … Continue reading The political left and prohibition
No. 1 Littered Item in the United States is on Roads and Beaches?
...cigarette butts are the No. 1 littered item every year on U.S. roadways and beaches. It had to be about 19 years ago that I flicked a cigarette butt to the ground and stepped on it outside of a meeting. My sponsor ran over and picked up and threw it out saying, "What's wrong with … Continue reading No. 1 Littered Item in the United States is on Roads and Beaches?
Recovery Review 