Dissolvable tobacco

As the social stigma of smoking and bans on smoking in public grow, tobacco companies have been forced to think creatively about new nicotine delivery systems for future sales growth.  These changes have caused the demand for cigarettes to decline, but new products are on the rise.

 

Here are some brand names:

• Ariva© and Stonewall© - dissolvable tablets about the size of a small vitamin. The first version appeared about nine years ago.
• Camel© Orbs - dissolvable tablets that resemble a small pack of mints. Orbs dissolve in approximately 15 minutes.
• Camel© Strips - no larger than a Listerine pocket strip. The strip dissolves in five minutes or less.
• Camel© Sticks - slightly bigger than toothpicks -- last 10 to 20 minutes.

According to the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, the nicotine delivery of new products is said to be high. Whereas a cigarette smoker typically takes in about one milligram of nicotine, the Camel dissolvables are said to deliver about 0.6 to 3.1 mg of nicotine each.

The director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products, Dr. Lawrence Deyton said, "We are also concerned about the extent to which the high nicotine content and rapid dissolution of dissolvable tobacco products may facilitate initiation of tobacco use, nicotine dependence and addiction in adolescents, and may serve as a mechanism for inadvertent toxicity in children." 

The FDA is seeking information from both R.J Reynolds and Star Scientific as its Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee prepares to study the issue later this year. A public meeting on tobacco issues will also be held later this year by the FDA.

Bottom line:  This discreet form of tobacco allows kids to get "hooked" on a deadly product right in front of their parents and teachers very eyes.