June 6, 2019
We hope you enjoy this monthly newsletter fr om the Training & Education Program at the Center for Tobacco Independence.
What's the Research?
Heat-not-burn arrives in the US this summer – how safe is it?

You may have heard about the “heat-not-burn” product called iQOS (“I Quit Ordinary Smoking”). iQOS, developed by Philip Morris International, Inc. (PMI), is a battery-operated electronic device that is meant to mimic a cigarette. It contains a heat stick and a plug of tobacco, which is heated to temperatures below those of conventional cigarettes. The device produces an inhalable aerosol rather than smoke. For this reason, PMI contends that it is less harmful than combustible cigarettes.

iQOS has been available in other countries for several years, including Japan and Italy. In April 2019 the FDA cleared the iQOS for sale in the US, and PMI plans to introduce it first in Atlanta later this summer. This is not the same as the device being “approved;” the FDA is still reviewing the question of whether iQOS can be marketed as being less harmful than other tobacco products. (Learn more about iQOS HERE.)

Researchers are investigating these claims of harm reduction. The article below evaluates s tudies that were conducted by PMI itself. It points out that although iQOS results in lower levels of exposure to some toxicants as compared to cigarettes, PMI’s own data also show that the device can still expose users to higher levels of other toxicants. The impact of these substances on the overall harm of iQOS is not yet known.

Access the article HERE.


Article citation : St.Helen G, Jacob III P, Nardone N , et al. IQOS: examination of Philip Morris International’s claim of reduced exposure. Tobacco Control  2018; 27: s30-s36.
New Toolkit Available
Maine CDC releases toolkit for addressing ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems)


The Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention and Control Program, part of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has released an ENDS toolkit. This consolidated guide was created to educate the public in our state, and to provide links and resources for addressing the many challenges ENDS present.

Note: Some of the terms that are used to describe Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are: vapes, vape pens, hookah pens, electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes, tank systems, mods, e-pipes, and the brand name “JUUL.”

Click below to download your own copy of this 22-page toolkit. Some of the topics included are:

  • How ENDS work, what is in them
  • State and national data on youth use, access, concerns, action you can take
  • Health effects
  • An overview of how ENDS fit into Maine smoking laws
  • School policy samples and resources for youth/parents
  • Support options for those who want to quit - phone, web, text
  • Infographics and fact sheets
Resource for Teens Quitting
E-Cigarettes
An Innovative Quit Program for Teens

Many are worried about the rise in youth use of e-cigarettes such as the JUUL. We are often asked about treatment methods to offer young people once they have become addicted to nicotine in this way.

In January 2019 Truth Initiative, the nonprofit organization behind the youth tobacco prevention truth® campaign, introduced This is Quitting, a free e-cigarette quit program that uses text messaging. Developed with input from teens and young adults and tailored by age group, the program also serves as a resource for parents looking to help their children who vape.

To access the program, users simply need to text "QUIT" to (202) 804-9884.

Learn about This is Quitting HERE.
Don't Forget to Register!
The Annual Tobacco Treatment &
Prevention Conference is

June 17 - June 19, 2019
Can't make the whole thing?

You can attend the workshop on June 19th as a stand-alone event!


Teen vaping, JUULing and e-cigarette use:
what’s the buzz?


June 19th, 8:30am - 12pm
DoubleTree by Hilton
South Portland
$50.00


Join Dr. Nicholas Chadi for a session that will highlight recent epidemiological trends in e-cigarette use with a focus on adolescents and young adults.

Using a case-based approach, participants will learn about health effects of these products, including impacts of e-cigarette use on the developing brain. An evidence-based approach to screening, brief intervention and treatment will also be discussed.
NOTE: To register, begin the process as though you are registering for the whole conference - you will have an opportunity on Page 2 to select only the "Post-Conference Workshop" for a fee of 50.00.

For more information about the Training & Education Program, visit:

MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence (CTI)
Tobacco Treatment Training and Education Program
CTI provides education and training on evidence-based tobacco treatment to healthcare and behavioral health professionals in Maine on behalf of the Maine CDC, DHHS. Our goal is to improve access to high quality, best practice tobacco treatment and create a network of tobacco treatment specialists across the state.