Unfortunately, there are those who try to suppress information that consumers should have because it doesn't support their agenda or they deem it 'unnecessary' for us to know. That is inappropriate and insulting to the American public.

For instance, did you know that a number of medical researchers such as Dr. Brad Rodu (University of Alabama-Birmingham - http://main.uab.edu/smokersonly/show.asp?durki=63612) conclusively found that smokeless tobacco is significantly less of a health risk than smoking cigarettes? No? That is not surprising. Most Americans -- particularly smokers -- are not aware of this research. The primary reason we don't know about these studies is because various government agencies have not taken action to allow commercial speech that would allow for companies to communicate this research to consumers.

Everyone knows that tobacco has health related risks as is evidenced by the extensive health warning labels on every package and the tobacco industry's status as one of the most regulated industries in the United States. But according to Dr. Rodu's research, if you or a loved one is a smoker and cannot or will not quit, you can choose to reduce your health risks by switching from cigarettes to smokeless tobacco. This is a noteworthy piece of information, especially to the 19.7 percent of Hawaiians that smoke.

Yet, somehow the anti-tobacco lobby and government regulators have teamed up to ensure this research is not disseminated, or even worse -- mis-communicated to the general public. There is no better example of this disservice to the American public than the National Legal and Policy Center's (http://www.nlpc.org) recent regulatory challenge to the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The NIA had produced a publication, which incorrectly stated: "Some people think that smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco and snuff), pipes, and cigars are safer than smoking cigarettes, they are not." The NIA's inclusion of smokeless tobacco products in this statement directly contradicts research that is readily available for the NIA's use in the practice of "harm reduction" policies.

Furthermore, not allowing factual medical research to be advertised to the American people is a slap at the freedoms we cherish. Consumers must be allowed to have all the data available to make informed choices for themselves regardless of the current politically correct view.

Personal freedom is one of our country's founding principles and is highly valued by most Americans. We believe it is reprehensible that our government is attempting to hide important medical research that could save lives. No matter how well intentioned, it is not the anti-tobacco lobby or the government's place to decide what is best for us. Consumers -- and smokers in particular -- need to know that there are alternative, less harmful tobacco products available that could reduce their health risks.

And, smokeless tobacco is not restricted to snuff and such. A small flavored lozenge placed between cheek and gum can deliver the nicotine of several cigarettes. Peppermint anyone? How about cherry?

Stephanie Ghilarducci is Director of Development for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Hawaii's first and only free market public policy institute focused on individual freedom and liberty, and can be reached via email at: mailto:mailto:grassroot@hawaii.rr.com

This editorial is intended to provoke thought, discussion and an examination of issues. It does not reflect official policy of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. See the GRIH Web site at: http://www.grassrootinstitute.org/

HawaiiReporter.com reports the real news, and prints all editorials submitted, even if they do not represent the viewpoint of the editors, as long as they are written clearly. Send editorials to mailto:Malia@HawaiiReporter.com

Offshoots

NEW DRUG PRESCRIBERS

Daily Policy Digest

HEALTH ISSUES /

Tuesday, June 01, 2004

Scribbling out prescriptions was once a task reserved for doctors with years of specialized training. But a growing number of states are allowing health-care providers with less medical education -- including pharmacists, certified midwives, and naturopaths -- to prescribe drugs to patients.

The shift is occurring as state lawmakers look for ways to cut health-care costs and make it easier for people to get routine medications such as vaccines or birth control. The new laws are often supported by insurance companies, which stand to save money since they can reimburse nondoctors at lower rates. In some cases, major drug makers are also lobbying for new rules, although the industry is divided on the issue.

While some nondoctors with substantial medical training -- including nurse practitioners and physician assistants -- have long been able to prescribe in most states, the list of professions seeking their own prescription pads is growing:

Last fall, California became the latest state to allow naturopaths, who specialize in herbal remedies, to prescribe some regular pharmaceuticals.

Naturopaths in Arizona and Hawaii can already write some prescriptions and lawmakers in Alaska recently established a task force to evaluate a similar proposal.

In February, Washington state launched a pilot program that lets pharmacists prescribe birth-control pills and patches to women.

This year, eight state legislatures dealt with bills that would let women get prescription emergency contraception, known as the morning-after pill, directly from a pharmacist -- without seeing a doctor.

The future of many of the proposals hasn't been determined, but this year Maine became the sixth state to let pharmacists give the prescription drug to patients who haven't seen a doctor.

In a handful of other states, lawmakers are considering bills that would expand prescriptive rights for groups including nurse anesthetists, and optometrists.

Source: Jane Spencer, “Getting Drugs Without the Doctor: States Extend Prescription-Writing Powers To a Growing Range of Nonphysicians,” Wall Street Journal, June 1, 2004.

For text http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB108604654386225299,00.html

For more on Health Care and Drugs http://www.ncpa.org/iss/hea/

Sprout of the Day

"Rational Rationing in Oregon." Combing through the Oregon Health Plan's list of priorities, Linda Gorman observed that vasectomy for surgical sterilization, #93, is ahead of repairing a cleft palate with airway obstruction, repairing a liver rupture, or treating skin cancer. Treatment of elective mutism, #433, in which a child will speak perfectly well in some situations but fail to speak in others, ranks ahead of gall bladder cancer, tick-borne diseases, joint dislocations, or immune system disorders.

Rooted in Common Sense

Paul Jacob is Senior Fellow at http://www.termlimits.org and is on the Board of Advisors for GRIH. With all the hooplah about tobacco in this country you'd think the story would be straightforward, right? Not so, it's really just about the money, your money, as Paul elucidates in this commentary.

http://www.termlimits.org/Press/Common_Sense/cs1077.html

Grassroot Perspective...