Dr. Victor DeNoble, who is best known as the first whistle-blower to testify before Congress about his research conducted by the tobacco industry, will visit the New River Valley April 10 – 12.
As part of his visit, Dr. DeNoble will speak at student assemblies in Giles and Pulaski County Public Schools, as well as Radford City Public Schools. DeNoble will also meet with the New River Valley’s sitting Drug Court judges to discuss the impact of nicotine addiction on the brain.
A primary focus of Dr. DeNoble’s visit is the recent uptick in the use of electronic nicotine delivery devices (“vaping”) among youth and the addictive properties of these products. DeNoble will also provide a “Grand Round” at Carilion Giles Community Memorial Hospital to share his knowledge about addiction and brain science with physicians and other medical staff.
According to his website, Dr. DeNoble’s congressional testimony “was the cornerstone for sweeping changes in public policy regarding tobacco use, the national tobacco settlement and the events leading up to President Obama’s signing into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act in 2009. Dr. DeNoble is also the subject of the documentary film, “Addiction Incorporated,” released in 2011.
Dr. DeNoble’s visit is made possible by a grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, and is the official kickoff of the “Escape the Vape” campaign.