From Kool to JUUL: The Flavored Tobacco Crisis
Registration is Now Open for Tobacco Free Mass’ 2019 Policy Forum!
What’s all the fuss about flavors? What makes menthol so special? At this year’s Policy Forum, Tobacco Free Mass will bring together national experts to examine the way the tobacco industry has used flavors, especially menthol, to target people of color and young people. We’ll look at the history and the impact of flavored tobacco and consider options for policy change.
Please join Tobacco Free Mass for this unique, fascinating forum on an issue of critical importance to public health policy in Massachusetts.
- September 24, 2019 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- At the Massachusetts Medical Society, Waltham
- Register online here.
- Tickets are $100; Dues-paying members of Tobacco Free Mass receive 1-2 tickets free. Scholarships and reduced rates are available.
Agenda:
9:30-10:00 — Registration and light refreshments
10:00-11:30 — Speaking program
11:30-12:00 — Light lunch provided
We are looking forward to hearing from national experts with deep experience on menthol and other flavored tobacco products:
Dr. Valerie Yerger of the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network will talk about the tobacco industry’s long-term use of menthol to target African Americans and the understanding of menthol as a social justice issue.
Dr. Phil Gardiner of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council will discuss the impact of the tobacco industry’s use of menthol in its targeting of African Americans, with a focus on health disparities. Dr. Yerger and Dr. Gardiner have been active in public policy around menthol and will speak about their experiences and lessons learned, including their work on San Francisco’s successful menthol ban.
Dr. Brian King, Deputy Director for Research Translation at the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, will talk about the tobacco/vape industry’s use of flavors, including menthol, in vape and other new products, highlighting the way flavors fueled the current nicotine epidemic among young people.
The Policy Forum will be moderated by Tobacco Free Mass’ Chair, Dr. Lauren Smith, a pediatrician and Co-CEO of FSG.
We look forward to seeing you there!