PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Dorothy K Hatsukami
AU  - Kenneth A Perkins
AU  - Mark G LeSage
AU  - David L Ashley
AU  - Jack E Henningfield
AU  - Neal L Benowitz
AU  - Cathy L Backinger
AU  - Mitch Zeller
TI  - Nicotine reduction revisited: science and future directions
AID  - 10.1136/tc.2009.035584
DP  - 2010 Oct 01
TA  - Tobacco Control
PG  - e1--e1
VI  - 19
IP  - 5
4099  - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/19/5/e1.short
4100  - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/19/5/e1.full
SO  - Tob Control2010 Oct 01; 19
AB  - Regulation of nicotine levels in cigarettes and other tobacco products is now possible with the passage of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA) in 2009, giving the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products, and with Articles 9-11 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Both regulatory approaches allow establishing product standards for tobacco constituents, including nicotine. The FSPTCA does not allow nicotine levels to be decreased to zero, although the FDA has the authority to reduce nicotine yields to very low, presumably non-addicting levels. The proposal to reduce levels of nicotine to a level that is non-addicting was originally suggested in 1994. Reduction of nicotine in tobacco products could potentially have a profound impact on reducing tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. To examine this issue, two meetings were convened in the US with non-tobacco-industry scientists of varied disciplines, tobacco control policymakers and representatives of government agencies. This article provides an overview of the current science in the area of reduced nicotine content cigarettes and key conclusions and recommendations for research and policy that emerged from the deliberations of the meeting members.