Tobacco Truth: What Medscape Subscribers Really Thought About Its Tobacco Harm Reduction Programs

Earlier this year, Medscape, which describes itself as “the leading online global destination for physicians and healthcare professionals worldwide,” invited me to participate in a series of short continuing medical education (CME) programs on tobacco harm reduction (THR). Medscape clearly disclosed that the series was sponsored by Philip Morris International, but the programs were firewalled; faculty were not in contact with or influenced by the sponsor. Topics included, among others, an examination of nicotine, and the differential risks of combusted versus smoke-free tobacco/nicotine products.