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The second-hand
smokescreen.
RECEIVED
MAY 1 4 1985
For decades, public and private organi-
Many independent experts believe the
zations have waged a massive campaign to
discourage cigarette smoking. For most of
scientific evidence on passive smoking is
that time, the target of this effort has been
questionable. But a zealous group of anti-
the smoker.
smokers are using this issue in their cam-
Recently, however, the emphasis has
paign against tobacco as if the claims were
undergone a major shift. Today there are
established scientific fact.
scientists who claim that cigarette smoke
We deplore the actions of those who try
in the air can actually cause disease in
to manipulate public opinion through scare
non-smokers. We hear a great deal about
tactics. As the late, respected pathologist,
"second-hand smoke" and "passive
Dr. H. Russell Fisher, stated in testimony
smoking."
submitted to a Congressional hearing on
But is this new approach wholly moti-
passive smoking.
vated by concern for the non-smoker, or is
...[IIn the absence of any scientific proof of
harm from atmospheric tobacco smoke, we are
it the same old war on smoking in a new
dealing with a social question and not a medical
guise!
one. In this regard it should be noted that, since
These doubts are raised when we re-
fears and phobias can lead to ill health, those who
call statements like the following, by a
urge policies based on fear and not scientific
facts could be making a medical problem out of a
spokesperson for the American Lung
social one. This is indeed a strange prospect to
Association:
see coming from the efforts of members of the
medical profession
Probably the only way we can win a substan
tial reduction [in smoking] is if we can somehow
We are not ignoring the fact that ciga-
make it nonacceptable socially.... We thought the
rette smoke can be bothersome to many
scare of medical statistics and opinions would
non-smokers. But we believe this problem
produce a major reduction. It really didn't.
is best solved not by governments but by
Obviously, one way to make smoking
individuals, and not with more rhetoric but
"nonacceptable socially" would be to sug-
more common sense and courtesy
gest that second-hand smoke could cause
Of course, if anti-smoking advocates
disease. So it is not surprising that we are
want to work for the abolition of smoking,
that is their right. We only wish they would
now seeing a flurry of research seeking sci-
come out from behind their second-hand
entific support for these suggestions.
smokescreen.
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
51521 6194
AS A. J. REYNOLDS VORADOO DO.

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