A Directory of Tobacco Harm Reduction Experts for Inquiring Media

Mass media are in complete denial of the voluminous scientific literature supporting e-cigarettes as harm-reduction products.  A recent report on National Public Radio (here) is representative.  The host set up the story in classic fashion, pitting “expert” harm reduction naysayers against lay e-cigarette users, store owners and marketers.  The argument was settled before it began.

Are the media unable to find tobacco research and policy experts who support e-cigarettes and tobacco harm reduction?  Although we are relatively few, we are widely published and highly visible – testifying, editorializing, providing interviews when invited.  Independent and articulate authorities on tobacco harm reduction in the U.S. include:

Carl Phillips from Consumer Advocates for Smoke Free Alternatives (here)

Michael Siegel at Boston University (here)

Joel Nitzkin at R Street (here)

Gil Ross at the American Council on Science and Health (here)

Jeff Stier at the National Center for Public Policy Research (here)

Lynn Kozlowski, Dean of the School of Public Health and Health Professions, the University at Buffalo (here)

Bill Godshall at Smokefree Pennsylvania 

International experts include:

David Sweanor (here) in Canada

Clive Bates (here) and Christopher Snowdon (here) in the United Kingdom

Karl Fagerström (here) and Lars Ramstöm (here) in Sweden

Karl Erik Lund (here) in Norway

Riccardo Polosa (interviewed here) and Pasquale Caponnetto in Italy

Tobacco harm reduction is a worldwide phenomenon, and it deserves balanced and judicious media coverage.  Journalists, start with this list.  



Note: Updated October 28, 2013.