Monday 30 September 2013

TOBAKKONACHT - THE ANTI-SMOKING ENDGAME




Michael J. McFadden, author of Dissecting Anti-Smokers' Brains just published a new book - TobakkoNacht-The Anti-Smoking Endgame  a must read for those who want to understand the politics and ''stratistics'' behind anti-smoking and want tips on how to fight them back effectively. Available at Amazon.  

In his own words ''The decision to call the book TobakkoNacht came about from the substance of the dystopian story that serves as the opening to the book, from the strong impression of the importance of the lessons of the Holocaust that had been left with me in my studies in college and graduate school, and an increasing and depressing awareness of how those lessons were being forgotten.  I had doubts about using it as a title because of the power of what it was associated with, but as I became more and more aware of how few people under the age of 40 were even aware of having heard of Kristallnacht, much less having any concept of what it meant, I felt the reminder was justified.''You can read more about the book at http://tobakkonacht.com/



La traduction française de la préface de l'auteur du nouveau livre de Michael J. McFadden peut être lu à UnAirNeuf.org


Sunday 8 September 2013

E-Cigarette

ENGLISH WILL FOLLOW



La conclusion d'un papier très exhaustif que le professeur Robert Molimard a livré sur la cigarette électronique que vous pouvez lire ici:  http://www.formindep.org/Avec-la-cigarette-electronique-est.html   

La cigarette électronique est toujours un gadget. Mais sans publicité tapageuse, uniquement par le bouche à oreille et les forums spontanés, elle est en passe de supplanter tous les autres moyens d’arrêter le tabac, sans faire courir de risque évident. Ce n’en fait pas pour autant un médicament, pas plus que des antidépresseurs comme le chocolat ou le café. Ses possibles propriétés antibactériennes et antivirales pourraient être étudiées et exploitées. Les inconvénients sont mineurs, se bornant à une irritation des voies respiratoires loin d’atteindre celle de la fumée de tabac, et à des problèmes de fuites de liquides ou de problèmes de batteries qu’une progression technique croissante devrait rendre exceptionnels. Le prix est déjà tout à fait compétitif par rapport aux cigarettes de tabac et devrait baisser, la concurrence aidant si le marché continue à croître. Il est peu probable que le combat d’arrière-garde que livrent ses détracteurs, puritains ou lobbyistes au service d’intérêts financiers arrive à bloquer son développement. Une liste des critères de qualité des composants et des ingrédients dangereux paraît nécessaire, avec un contrôle des services de répression des fraudes, sans pour autant passer par une médicalisation. La cigarette électronique a un bel avenir, et je le crois heureux pour la santé publique.


The English translation of the conclusion of a very technical paper Pr. Robert Molimard published on e-cigarettes that you can read here in French:  http://www.formindep.org/Avec-la-cigarette-electronique-est.html

The electronic cigarette is still a gadget. But with no fancy ads, mostly made popular only through word of mouth and spontaneous forums,  it is about to supplant all other smoking cessation means and with no evident risk. This however does not make it a drug nor an antidepressant such as chocolate or coffee. Its antibacterial and antiviral properties could be possibly explored and exploited. The disadvantages are minor, mere  irritation of the respiratory tract far from that of tobacco smoke and some problems due to leakage of liquids or problems with batteries which should be mostly corrected with the growing future technology. The price is already quite competitive compared to tobacco cigarettes and is expected to decrease, thanks to increasing market competition. It is unlikely that the fighting rearguard action that deliver its detractors, puritans or lobbyists serving financial interests, will succeed to block its development. A list of the criteria for quality of components and hazardous ingredients does seem necessary, as well as fraud prevention services but without necessarily going through the  medicalization of the product. The electronic cigarette has a bright future, and I believe that this is fortunate for public health.