FDA authorized the sale of menthol-flavored e-cigarettes – a health policy expert explains how the benefits may outweigh the risks

On June 21, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the marketing of the first electronic cigarette products in flavors other than tobacco in the U.S. Of the four…

Oral nicotine pouches deliver lower levels of toxic substances than smoking – but that doesn’t mean they’re safe

Oral nicotine pouches – like Zyn and Velo in the U.S. – appear to be less toxic than cigarettes and deliver comparable levels of nicotine. This makes them an alternative…

Smoking Linked to Brain Shrinkage, Irreversible Even After Quitting

Summary: Researchers found that smoking causes the brain to shrink and age prematurely, a condition not reversible even after quitting smoking. The study analyzed data from over 32,000 individuals in…

Secondhand smoke may be a substantial contributor to lead levels found in children and adolescents, new study finds

Secondhand smoke may be an important but overlooked source of chronic lead exposure in kids and adolescents. That is the key finding of our recent study, published in the journal…

Cigarettes Ignite the Risk of Mental Illness

Summary: A new study reveals a direct link between smoking and the increased risk of mental illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder. The research, based on data from 350,000 individuals…

Many people think cannabis smoke is harmless − a physician explains how that belief can put people at risk

Though tobacco use is declining among adults in the U.S., cannabis use is increasing. Laws and policies regulating the use of tobacco and cannabis are also moving in different directions.…