US Set To Lower Nicotine Levels In Cigarettes To Make Them Less Addictive

Health officials in the US are set to make nicotine levels in cigarettes lower so they're less addictive.

MEET THE WOMAN WHO'S BEEN SMOKING 30 A DAY - FOR 95 YEARS:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken its first steps in what is being called an 'historic first step'.

Officials unveiled an 'advance notice of proposed rulemaking' which they are hoping will help pave the way for cigarettes to have levels of nicotine that are 'minimally addictive or non-addictive', according to the Washington Post.

The FDA believes that over 480,000 are caused by smoking in the US every single year. FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the move would bring the US "closer to our vision of a world where combustible cigarettes would no longer create or sustain addiction - making it harder for future generations to become addicted in the first place."

Combining that with lower levels of nicotine, those who smoke will be likely to switch to 'potentially less harmful products' before eventually being able to kick the habit completely.

But it's not just our pals across the pond who might see such changes to their beloved cigarettes. Over in the UK, health experts reckon that if this move is successful it could also happen over here.

Linda Bauld, Professor of Health Policy at the University of Stirling, told the Daily Star: "A number of studies have examined reducing the nicotine in cigarettes, with promising results.

"This would make smoking less appealing and addictive.

"In carefully controlled trials, there is some evidence it could help smokers cut down or quit."

Sounds good, right? But Bauld also has a warning; saying: "However, there will be big challenges implementing this in the real world.

"Cigarettes are available globally, and selling less addictive products in the USA could result in a black market in imported or counterfeit products."

Professor Robert West, Professor of Health Psychology, University College London, told the paper: "If we could move directly from where we are to a world where no accessible tobacco product contained addictive levels of nicotine, that might work.

"Unfortunately this will not happen and in the meantime the demonisation of nicotine could undermine the complementary approach of encouraging smokers to switch to less harmful forms of nicotine use - such as e-cigarettes."

Source: The Daily Star; The Washington Post

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Cigarettes, US News

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19