Tobacco whistle-blower to give talks in Modesto

MODESTO -- The science of addiction and the effects of student nicotine and drug use will be the topic of a free presentation for the community and the subject of assemblies this week for high school students.

"The Biology of Addiction" will be the topic of a free presentation by Victor DeNoble on Monday evening at McHenry Village shopping center.

While a senior scientist for Phillip Morris, DeNoble helped unlock the secrets of nicotine addiction, resulting in his being fired and his lab seized by the company. He became one of the early tobacco whistle-blowers and now speaks about addiction to teens. Youth are told not to do drugs, but rarely are told why, DeNoble said.

DeNoble's high school presentations, "Inside the Dark Side — The Science Behind Tobacco, The Truth Behind the Lies & The Biology of Addiction," will be given to Turlock, Waterford, Newman and Hughson high schools, Johansen and Beyer in Modesto and several county-run high school programs.

The programs are presented by the Stanislaus County Office of Education Prevention Programs Department in collaboration with Memorial Medical Center and the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency.

The free community presentation will be at 6 p.m. Monday at the Memorial Medical-Sutter Health Education and Conference Center in McHenry Village, 1700 McHenry Ave., Suite 60B.