The Nicotine War
The Cutting Edge, SBS TV, Wednesday May 31, 9.30pm (8 in SA)
Previewed by Lisa Macdonald
Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known. Despite this, in the US, tobacco is defined as an agricultural product and so is not subject to regulation under any legislation relating to drugs. This Cutting Edge special documents US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief David Kessler's efforts to regulate the powerful tobacco industry by proving that tobacco manufacturers have been manipulating nicotine in cigarettes to keep smokers hooked.
Using a series of expert interviews and film footage from the appearance before Congress of the CEOs of the seven largest tobacco companies, the program examines the evidence Kessler has uncovered to expose the tobacco companies' knowledge and manipulation of nicotine addiction. His evidence, and the conclusion he draws that, legally, this makes tobacco companies "drug manufacturers" and therefore subject to the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act (enforced by the FDA), are both dramatic and convincing.
Why, for example, did Philip Morris order Dr Victor DeNoble not to publish or speak about the results of his research for the company which showed that a rat could be made to self-administer nicotine in much the same way as it could with heroin and cocaine?
Why have we not heard about one tobacco company's breeding of a special variety of tobacco in Brazil, "Y1", which contains twice the usual amount of nicotine, or that this tobacco is being used in some US products?
And why did all seven CEOs swear under oath before Congress that they believed nicotine was not addictive when industry documents leaked to newspapers show that high-ranking employees had knowledge of nicotine addiction as early as 1963?
The Nicotine War shows that, while the US tobacco industry has never lost a legal case against it for damage caused by cigarette smoking, Kessler's work may change that. On this basis, many commentators were, by late last year, predicting the demise of the industry.
This issue, however, like all those involving huge profits and economic power in this society, is a political rather than a moral or legal one. It is therefore not surprising to learn from this documentary that the Republican election victory in November 1994 has brought about a reversal of fortune for the tobacco companies. The chair of the Congressional subcommittee investigating the industry has gone to Thomas Bliley of Virginia. Bliley has already announced that the investigation of tobacco is over and that he will try to block any FDA action.
The program fails to deal at all with the limitations of legislating on drug use — limitations evident in the increasing use and abuse of numerous legal and illegal drugs which have been subject to regulation for many years. However, it is immensely informative.
It is also a powerful expose of the politics of business as usual under capitalism. The sacrifice of the truth, scientific progress, public education and health on the altar of profits is shown to be par for the course. The Nicotine War is well worth watching — by smokers and non-smokers alike.