Kids Could Overdose From Nicotine-Laced 'Candy'

So, nicotine candy is hazardous to any children who are given access to it. So are prescription drugs, matches, cigarettes, glue, most cleaning products, most electrical equipment, some spices (nutmeg is a hallucinogen), heavy string, buttons and other household items too numerous to mention. Good parents manage to keep their kids away from these things; I think they can manage the same for their smokeless nicotine products. The anti-tobacco crowd has become an army of self-righteous prigs on par with the anti-marijuana, anti-porn and anti-car Nazis. Though I hate the smell of smoke, I feel like taking up smoking just to spite them; they're doing their best to keep smoking cool.

PCL of MA 6:16PM April 19, 2010

what do u expect from an anti-tobacco group. notice there was no DM. in front of study author Gregory Connolly, director of the Tobacco Control Research Programs name. pills stronger than heroin look like tic tacs. the 1 year olds got more to worry about than candy nicotine if the parents can't watch them bet than that.

joe camel of IL 4:53PM April 19, 2010

We should ban a product becuase adults might leave an opened packet lying around? With this logic, what else should we ban because an adult might let a child have access to it.

Matches, knives, pain medication, cleaning fluids, beer, forks, blow torches, car keys.

If we are going to regulate what adults are allowed to have just because there may be some irresponsible adults, then we are doomed as a free society.

How about packaging the nicotine in child resistant bottles, and warning adults of the risk to children. It works for every other potentially dangerous drug / substance.

Dan of CO 2:31PM April 19, 2010

Parenting is key. Too many folks are just passing the responsibility of caring for and protecting their children on to third parties. A child aged four or under should never be more than moments away from Mom or Dad who (should be responsible enough to put these products out of reach and keep them sealed) would be right there to help if the kidlet started acting funny.

A child that young shouldn't be in daycare, but if they are, that place should be thoroughly checked out beforehand. If the people working there are so irresponsible they open up nicotine products and leave them around for the kids, do you really want your kid there? Really? Same goes for babysitters, aunts, uncles, neighbors, etc who are watching the kid. If they're not responsible enough to keep products like this out of reach or to properly supervise the kid, they probably shouldn't be watching the kid in the first place.

I understand that personal responsibility isn't very popular these days when companies are criticized by the president, congress, even the first lady for their portions, the salt they use, the type of fat that's in their products, the amount of sugar they use, etc. Now we're instituting laws against these things, and still suing the companies when we get fat and have a heart attack or when our kids become obese.

I've always been a fan of personal responsibility. I'm fat because I didn't control my food intake or I didn't exercise. I'm dying of lung cancer because I smoked for 50 years. I'm bleeding out because I cut down the tracks instead of across the street. I burned my hand because I put it on the hot stove. I caused an accident because I was speeding. I'm blue because I poured blue ink on myself. My kid is high on nicotine because I left my nicotine gum out for her. I do it. I choose a course of action, and the responsibility for that action is mine and mine alone. But then, I'm old fashioned.

It's no longer your fault you're speeding--the car's accelerator got stuck! (Really there were no other options like driving into a runaway truck turnout, turning off the engine, hitting the bake, shifting out of gear?) It's not your fault you're fat--it's the soda company's fault for making pop with too many calories, and it's McDonald's fault for their portion size. It's not your fault you poured ink on yourself, it's their fault because they didn't label the ink as permanent, nor did they say on the label that you shouldn't pour it on yourself.

You must take responsibility for yourself and for your kids. Keep them safe by actually parenting them. If you're not ready for that, then you're not ready for parenthood.

Kia of WA 1:07PM April 19, 2010