The recent acquisition of cessation products manufacturer Niconovum by Reynolds American International reveals much in the way prevention advocates should treat a harm reduction perspective and provide greater emphasis on challenging the rogue capitalists that market nicotine. Mr. Ezekwesiri Eluchie has quite astutely pointed out that the industry is once again setting the agenda within which tobacco control advocates find themselves.
The acquisition of Niconovum displays just how much harm reduction is of necessity product centered and by definition unconcerned w the corporations that profit from the spread of nicotine addiction. Harm reduction advocates do little more than collaborate with sophisticated marketing strategies that subtly shift the onus of addiction back to the user. Until advocates can unite in recognition that it is not merely tobacco, but the rogue capitalism practiced by nicotine profiteers we must challenge, they will continue to set the agenda.
As well this casts umbrage on those that profit from NRT and pharmacological solutions to nicotine addiction and unfortunately raises questions about funding from these companies for tobacco control. Given how woefully and comparably underfunded advocates are I have no immediate solution. But Mr. Eluchie’s suggestion that we fully acknowledge the magnitude of death and disease from tobacco as simply criminal seems a very good place to start.
