The Tobacco Tapes
After losing a close friend to cigarettes, Dr. McKenzie determined he would prepare a habit control tape that would put an end to the death-grip the tobacco industry has on millions of Americans. He spent a full two years, researching and preparing these tapes.
As long-time psychiatric consultant to Silva Mind Control International, a group that boasted 25 million graduates, he was quite familiar with advanced habit control techniques. For two years he worked to gather information and prepare his four-part tobacco tape series.
When finished, he tested the tapes in schools. After just hearing a 20-minute segment of the tapes with eyes closed (Part Two of a four part series), fifty percent of the students reported they never would smoke again, and the remainder determined they were going to overcome the habit.
The reason for the success is because of the advanced habit control technique.
For advanced habit control, it is critical to listen with eyes closed in a state of relaxation. Closing the eyes shuts out 75% of incoming stimuli and reduces some of the internal stimuli as well. To further enhance the relaxation, Dr. McKenzie went to a deep state of relaxation himself while recording the messages.
Closing the eyes and listening to Dr. McKenzie’s voice produces a more relaxed state, and the listener receives many times more benefit from the tapes. With eyes open, the attention wanders and is not focused. But with eyes closed and sitting in a comfortable relaxed position, the message is deeply imbedded and the person absorbs the message more readily. Furthermore the tapes seem to pass quickly.
The first portion of the tape provides helpful suggestions of the American Cancer Society. Part Two is the why-to-quit segment, coupled with the deceitful advertising campaigns that associate cigarette smoking with health, happiness, popularity, an ocean fresh breeze, clean mountain air, etc. These advertising gimmicks are quickly recognized at the relaxed state of consciousness, and the listener becomes determined to never again be fooled by them.
The third segment is in the second person “your interest in tobacco products is becoming less all the time” – and the fourth segment is in the first person “I will never be fooled by the advertising of the tobacco industry again.” There even is a place in it where the listener goes to a slightly deeper state of consciousness and arrives at a specific quit date beyond which there are no cravings. This occurs automatically and each person’s quit date is different. Indeed, when the date arrives, the person has no more cravings..
Surgeon General Koop listened to the tapes and reported to his friend that he thought they were outstanding. He was blocked from endorsing the tapes because of his position.
The Medical Tribune wrote a very positive review of the tapes October 16, 1985. They tried to get the American Cancer Society to review them, but the ACS refused. Shortly thereafter the ACS produced and marketed their own tape, claiming they were “scientifically developed and clinically tested.”
The editor of the Medical Tribune thought their refusal to review Dr. McKenzie’s tapes was total subterfuge on their part, and he asked Dr. McKenzie if he would like to review theirs. That review is in the April 16, 1986 Medical Tribune with the title Quit-Smoking Audiovisual Tape ‘Puffery’. [hyperlink to the article]
Dr. McKenzie interviewed Irving Rimer, spokesperson for the ACS and learned that the claims were bogus. The interview was recorded on tape with Rimer’s permission. There was no scientific development or clinical testing of the tapes, and Rimer backed away from the claims. Dr. McKenzie characterized the Freshstart program as a commercial venture, using the name of the American Cancer Society to back questionable claims for a product that is untested. Dr. McKenzie wrote: “Nevertheless, a Simon and Schuster promotion has put the tape in practically every bookstore in America.” The lack of knowledge of advanced habit control techniques was pathetic. Worse, this was a terrible injustice, perhaps misleading many thousands or persons of persons who might have overcome their addiction and might have been saved from developing cancer.