Pushing nicotine - September 1, 2006

Do you ever wonder why cigarette companies receive so many customers? Particularly in some states where packs are priced over six dollars. Well, ten years ago Clinton's Food and Drug organization attempted to control tobacco as a vastly addictive substance. The Supreme Court denied it because Congress didn't give power to regulate it. The following may give congress a reason to start changing their minds. A state Department of Public Health made studies that showed that tobacco companies amplified levels of nicotine in many cigarette companies by an average of ten percent between 1998 and 2004. Silently raising nicotine levels at a period when states were outlawing smoking in public places and raising tobacco dues has helped the industry to continue a steady twenty percent or possibly even extra adult Americans hooked as customers. One of three states to actually trail the contents that are in cigarettes is Massachusetts. Nicotine levels rose in 92 of 116 cigarette brands, according to the DPH study. In twelve brands nicotine stayed constant, and in twelve it fell. This study came out a little more than a week following a federal judge lined that the industry had steadily deceived the public about the risk of its products. Mike DeWine of Ohio would have given the FDA the power to control tobacco but not ban it completely. The DPH statistics make it apparent that, lacking an agency like the FDA riding pack on it, the industry will do anything it can to keep smokers addicted. Congress should put an American life before this authoritative lobby and order the FDA to regulate tobacco.