Patient Network Newsletter- February 15, 2017 || TOBACCO PRODUCTS

Missed the Last Issue of CTPConnect?FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) publishes a regular periodical known as CTPConnect, a plainspoken digest with the latest stories from the Center. Sign up today to receive the next issue of CTPConnect and other important updates from CTP directly to your inbox. From plant to product to puff—where do toxic chemicals in cigarettes come from?With more than 7,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke—over 70 of which are linked to cancer—it comes as no surprise that cigarettes contain harmful chemicals that cause death and disease. But where do these toxic chemicals come from? And why are there so many? Watch the FDA’s new video series about chemicals in cigarettes to find out, and test your knowledge with our short quiz online.

How Cigarettes are Made and How You Can Make a Plan to QuitEver wonder why it’s so hard to kick smoking to the curb? Well, we’ve got an answer! CTP recently introduced an infographic that explores how cigarettes are made, highlighting how their very design may be an obstacle to quitting. As people across the country pledge to quit smoking, consider sharing this infographic with someone who could benefit. Drug, Device, Tobacco Product, or a Combination? FDA Publishes Final RuleFrom e-cigarettes to nicotine gum, products made or derived from tobacco come in a variety of forms and are intended for different uses. That’s why the FDA recently issued a final rule that describes when a product is regulated by one of three Centers:  Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), or Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). This rule is expected to help consumers better distinguish products intended for tobacco cessation from those intended for other uses. Learn more about CTP’s regulation of tobacco products. FDA Takes Action on Applications Seeking to Market Tobacco Products as Modified RiskOne of the ways the FDA is working to improve public health is by ensuring that tobacco products marketed with claims of reduced harm or risk of tobacco-related disease actually do reduce harm or risk of disease. The FDA protects consumers by reviewing “modified risk tobacco product” (MRTP) applications from companies before they can market their product as less harmful or lower risk. The agency recently took action on the first applications to go through this review process. Read more about MRTPs and this action. Help FDA Protect Americans from Unlawful Tobacco Product ViolationsHave you witnessed a potential tobacco product violation, such as a sale to someone under 18 years of age, flavored cigarette sales, or vending machines that give minors access to tobacco products? We hope you will report these and other potential violations to FDA FDA’s LGBT Public Education Campaign Makes Headlines FDA’s “This Free Life” campaign, designed to prevent and reduce tobacco use among LGBT young adults ages 18-24, recently won the Multicultural Award of Excellence in the LGBT category  at the annual Association of National Advertisers (ANA) Multicultural Marketing & Diversity Conference. Watch the powerful ad and share it with someone you know in the LGBT community to encourage them to live tobacco free!

Share the image and support those who matter to you most! Do you know someone who could benefit from CTP’s messages about tobacco? Sharing information about the health effects of tobacco has never been so easy. Simply save either image in this section and post it to your social media account, such as Facebook or Twitter.