Avoid Bringing the UK’s Tobacco Ban Experiment to the U.S.
Tobacco Sales Ban in the UK Raises Concerns Recently, the UK enacted a significant piece of legislation that introduces a lifelong ban on tobacco sales for future generations. Specifically, the Tobacco and Vape Act prohibits anyone born after January 1, 2009, from buying tobacco products. This ban is set to take effect on January 1, […]
Meta and Google confront challenges similar to those faced by the tobacco industry following social media addiction rulings
Meta and Google have hit a troubling point in their history, similar to what tobacco companies faced long ago, as they experienced two significant legal losses this week. Experts suggest that these challenges are just the tip of the iceberg. This week, a jury in Los Angeles found that both Google and Meta, led by […]
Food companies used tactics like Big Tobacco to hook consumers, according to a study.
Study Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Tobacco Industry Strategies A recent article in the Milbank Quarterly highlights some concerning parallels between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and the tactics employed by the tobacco industry. Researchers note that both share similar engineering strategies, like dose optimization and hedonic manipulation. This overlap isn’t entirely unexpected, given the historical connections between […]
RFK Jr. attributes addictive food causing Americans to overeat to Big Tobacco.
Kennedy Accuses Big Tobacco of Promoting Unhealthy Foods Health and Humanities Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. has criticized large tobacco companies for creating harmful, highly processed, and addictive foods that contribute to obesity and chronic illnesses, effectively “addicting” the American population. In a 1977 interview on WABC radio, Kennedy pointed out that cigarette manufacturers like Philip […]
Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei Cautions That the AI Industry Might Encounter Similar Outcomes as Big Tobacco and Opioid Firms
Concerns About AI from Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, has raised serious concerns about the need for transparency in the AI sector. In a recent interview, he warned that if AI companies don’t openly discuss the potential dangers of their products, they may repeat the missteps of industries like Big Tobacco and […]
Tiburon town council unanimously prohibits the sale of all tobacco products.
Tiburon Moves to Ban Tobacco Sales Tiburon, California, is making strides to eliminate all tobacco sales in the area. On Wednesday, the Town Council voted unanimously in favor of a new ordinance that prohibits the sale of cigarettes, cigars, vapes, e-cigarettes, and other nicotine products. Mayor Holly Teer expressed her satisfaction with the decision, stating […]
Using cannabis might increase the risk of tobacco addiction among young Americans, research shows.
Impact of Cannabis Use on Tobacco Addiction among Youth San Diego — A recent study from the University of California, San Diego reveals that teenagers and young adults who use marijuana may have a significantly higher chance of becoming regular tobacco users. This research was published in the journal Tobacco Control this week. The study […]
Increase in tobacco industry’s influence on policy: report
Tobacco Industry’s Role in U.S. Health Policy Grows, Report Finds A recent report from Action on Smoking & Health (ASH) indicates that the tobacco industry’s influence over public health policymaking in the U.S. is on the rise. According to ASH’s Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2025, shared with The Hill, the United States scored 89 out […]
TikTok is like tobacco now — and it’s causing a whole generation to feel adrift
The Rising Concern About Children’s Mental Health Since 2012, there’s been what some are calling a “mental health catastrophe” among children. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt suggests this crisis stems from overprotecting kids in the real world. He argues that limiting their opportunities to play and develop independence, along with insufficient safeguards online, have contributed to […]
Whiskey, tobacco, and painkillers: The VA has the potential to be a health system without opioids
The time for the Department of Veterans Affairs to move away from opioids is now. When I began practicing medicine with the VA, it was not unusual to see prescriptions for alcoholic beverages granted to veterans. Many hospitals openly included whiskey, wine, and beer on their lists to “enhance patient comfort.” Benzodiazepines were standard for […]