Anti-Smoking Groups' Propaganda Campaign is Working: Policy Maker Says that "Hundreds of Thousands" of Vapers Will Die

Today brings evidence that not only is the misinformation coming from many electronic cigarette opponents unethical because it violates the public health principles of transparency and honesty, but the propaganda campaign is actually working.

In a Reuters article from Monday, state Senator Mark Leno is quoted as stating: "Whether you get people hooked on e-cigarettes or regular cigarettes, it’s nicotine addiction and it kills. We're going to see hundreds of thousands of family members and friends die from e-cigarette use just like we did from traditional tobacco use."

The Rest of the Story

There is absolutely no evidence to support the contention that e-cigarettes are going to kill hundreds of thousands of vapers. In fact, there is currently no evidence that e-cigarette use carries with it any mortality risk. Clearly, this policy maker is under the mistaken belief that e-cigarette use is as harmful as smoking.

Where could he possibly have gotten that idea?

Let's see .... could it be? ........SATAN?! (apologies to those who did not get the Church Chat reference)

The answer appears to be much simpler. He most likely got this ridiculous idea from the propaganda campaign being waged by electronic cigarette opponents. Over the past few days and months, I have documented one story after another of major anti-smoking groups and agencies disseminating the false claim that vaping is no less hazardous than active smoking. This propaganda has come from reputable health agencies and groups, including the FDA, the American Lung Association, the American Thoracic Society, and the American Legacy Foundation, as well as from numerous physicians and public health practitioners. It should therefore come as no surprise that policy makers are picking up on this, believing it, and then relying on it to formulate e-cigarette policy.

Making matters even worse, some of this misrepresentation and deception is occurring in the presence of severe financial conflict of interests which are being hidden from the media and the public.

Where is the error in simply being honest and truthful to American consumers?