589 



No scientific breakthrough has occurred since the 1964 Surgeon General's Report to 

 warrant classifying cigarette smoking as "addictive". All of the essential facts describing the 

 behavior have been well known for years. The only thing that has changed is the political 

 climate surrounding cigarette smoking, and with it the ability of anti-smoking critics to 

 develop a new definition of "addiction" solely to include cigarette smoking within it. 

 Conclusion 



The facts are clear: 



• Reynolds Tobacco does not add nicotine to its cigarettes. 



• Reynolds Tobacco does not manipulate nicotine yields in its cigarettes in 

 order to create, maintain, or satisfy "addiction". 



• Cigarette smoking is not an "addiction" under comm.on sense and honest 

 comparison with truly "addicting" drugs. 



Simply put, there is no factual basis or policy reason for the FDA to regulate cigarettes as 



drugs. The result of FDA regulation, moreover, would be a ban, or prohibition, of 



cigarettes. Dr. Kessler made this point clear in his recent statement before the 



Subcommittee. Members of this Subcommittee have stated that a ban or prohibition is not 



their intent; the American public resoundingly rejects the prohibition of cigarettes as well. 



We encourage a dialogue that will lead to progress rather than prohibition. 



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