Cancer Society warns on smokeless products

Cancer Society warns on smokeless products
EDITOR:
I would like to respond to the article & quot;Area Smokers Put Product to the Test, & quot; by Cynthia Vinarsky in the March 11 Vindicator.
In 1986, the U.S. Surgeon General concluded that the use of smokeless tobacco is not a safe substitute for smoking cigarettes or cigars, as these products cause various cancers and non-cancerous oral conditions, and can lead to nicotine addiction.
This year about 28,900 new cases of oral cavity and pharynx cancers will be diagnosed in the U.S. and about 7,400 individuals will lose their lives to the disease. Currently over 15 percent of Ohio male high school students use smokeless or spit tobacco compared to the national average of 6.6 percent.
High school students who use spit tobacco 20 to 30 days per month are nearly four times more likely to currently use marijuana than nonusers, almost three times more likely to ever use cocaine, and nearly three times more likely to ever use inhalants to get high. In addition, heavy users of smokeless or spit tobacco are almost 16 times more likely than nonusers to currently consume alcohol.
The novelty and misconception that Revel is a safe form of tobacco use and the fact that it can be consumed less conspicuously at home, school and other locations is of great concern. Revel is appealing to children in its candy-like form and it is easy to conceal.
Revel can also have a discouraging effect on current smokers wishing to quit. The social stigmas associated with smoking, the inconvenience caused by smoking restrictions or a desire to protect their family and friends from secondhand smoke can encourage smokers to look to alternatives to quitting.
The only scientifically proven way to avoid the harmful affects of tobacco is to stop or never to start. Without FDA regulation over tobacco, the tobacco industry is free to mislead the American public about the dangers of their products.
Now is the time to end tobacco's special exemptions and begin to regulate tobacco manufacturing, sales and marketing. The FDA regulation would scientifically evaluate and bar unsubstantiated, false, or misleading health claims about tobacco that can discourage people from quitting. This is our call to action to address this public health epidemic and help protect our children.
DON W. McCLURE
Columbus
X The writer chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society, Ohio Division.
Traficant defends himself well against all the lies
EDITOR:
I recall being told by my father, Anthony DiCarlo, that I should not believe anything that I read or hear (regarding the media) and only half of what I see. Viewing the Traficant trial in person -- sitting in the actual courtroom four days so far -- I finally understand exactly what my father meant.
Congressman James Traficant Jr. is doing an outstanding job of defending himself and proving lie after lie is just that; lies. One cannot prevent others from telling lies about him -- but one can certainly rout out the liars in a court of law. Jim looks them in the eye -- and everyone in that courtroom knows that the truth will come to light.
Jim is doing a tremendous job of proving his honesty, and all honest people in that courtroom are aware that something truly historic is happening there. God made Jim strong, and Jim is using his incredible strength of character, his oratorical skill, his vast intelligence, his genuine appreciation of good people and his great sense of humor to battle the evil that surrounds him.
It really is something to see.
DIANE DiCARLO MURPHY
Canfield