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Before discussing the future of tobacco harm
reduction, this needs to be put in context by briefly reviewing the history
of tobacco harm reduction. One could start the story in 1950 when Sir
Richard Doll in the UK and Ernst Wynder in the US reported the close
association between lung cancer and smoking. A couple of years later Wynder
demonstrated that experimental animals grew tumors on the parts where
tobacco tars were applied. The tobacco industry were very concerned by this
and representatives of all the major US companies met in a NY hotel to plan
how to respond. They produced the famous “Frank Statement” which appeared in
full page ads in most of the major US newspapers. As we shall see, the
industry did not remain true to their commitment to value people’s health as
a paramount responsibility or to work closely with public health. |