FDA Panel Begins Nicotine Hearings

WASHINGTON An advisory committee to the Food and DrugAdministration on Monday opened an investigation into theaddictiveness of nicotine as a step toward possible FDA regulation ofthe nicotine level of cigarettes.

The Drug Abuse Advisory Committee heard testimony that smokerswho used a nicotine nasal spray to wean themselves off cigarettesalso had difficulty stopping use of the spray.

Today, the panel of outside medical experts will hear testimonyon the relationship of nicotine and smoking.

FDA Commissioner David Kessler has asked Congress to spell outhis authority to regulate cigarettes as a drug, hinting that if heacted it could be to gradually ratchet …