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What’s New: See what’s new in the field of tobacco prevention and control.
Events
5th Annual Tobacco Documents Workshop: Putting the Tobacco Industry's Words to Work for You
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Clearing the Air: An Institute for Policy Advocacy
Sunday, June 1 to Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Stanford Sierra Conference Center
on Fallen Leaf Lake
South Lake Tahoe, CA
8th Annual CDC/AEA Summer Evaluation Institute
Monday, June 16 to Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Registration is now open!
2008 Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention & Control Conference: Accelerating Change with Best Practices
November 18-19, 2008
Madison, WI
The 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health
March 8-12, 2009
Mumbai, India
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Publications
State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI) Report
The American Lung Association recently released the 2007 issue of this report. Released annually, the SLATI report summarizes newly enacted state tobacco control laws. The latest SLATI report includes policy updates through January 1, 2008. The report is available as a PDF from the American Lung Association website.
When doctors tell patients to quit smoking, they listen
Doctors can make a significant difference in their patients’ quit rates by talking with them about smoking cessation, even for just a few minutes. According to a review of research studies from 1972-2007, the time patients already spend at the doctor’s office is a prime opportunity to for physicians to bring up quitting. Even brief interventions could raise unassisted quit rates from 2-3% to 4-7%. Click here
Secondhand smoke blocks artery repair
A recent study provides evidence that secondhand smoke harms the cardiovascular system in two ways: it both harms the blood vessels, and also inhibits the body’s natural repair mechanism for damaged vessels. In this repair mechanism, endothelial progenitor cells, which are made by bone marrow, circulate through the bloodstream to find and repair endothelial (blood vessel) damage. The study found that endothelial progenitor cells are impaired in their ability to travel to and repair damaged cells for at least a day after secondhand smoke exposure. This strengthens the argument that secondhand smoke is harmful to cardiovascular health, even among adults. Click here to learn more. The research article was published in the May 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
TCLC’s There is No Constitutional Right to Smoke:2008
The Tobacco Control Legal Consortium has updated and revised a 2005 publication; There is No Constitutional Right to Smoke. This document provides key points on the law regarding smokers’ constitutional right to smoke. You can download a copy by clicking here (www.tclconline.org).
Discontinuation of Nicotine Replacement Therapy Among Smoking-Cessation Attempters
While research has demonstrated that nicotine replacement therapy doubles successful quitting, less than half of NRT users fully comply with the optimal treatment regimens for NRT. In this study, Colorado researchers used the 2005 state tobacco survey to analyze reasons for discontinuing NRT, length of time using NRT and quit intentions among quit attempters who responded to the survey.
Smoke Free Movies
Smoke Free Movies has launched a series of print advertisements in Variety and other publications to speak out against smoking in movies. This advertisement first ran in Variety on April 10, 2008. See the ad at http://smokefreemovies.ucsf.edu/ourads/ad_sfm52_variety.htm More information on taking action to encourage smoke-free movies and stronger regulatory policies is available: http://www.smokefreemovies.ucsf.edu
Translation of Health Programs for American Indians
This article explores the ways American Indians and Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) have been affected psychologically, physically, and economically by their contact with European Americans. The researchers indicate the need for culturally relevant programs to address the unique needs of AI/AN adolescents, and offer recommendations on such programs.
Viral Marketing of Eclipse and Its Potential to Mislead the Public
An analysis of RJ Reynolds’ documents on the marketing of Eclipse cigarettes (a “reduced-risk” product) showed that viral marketing techniques used during the product’s 1994 release may be useful to promote new tobacco products. Viral marketing refers to marketing approaches that rely on word of mouth to spread a product or idea through social circles. Such techniques help evade the mass rejection that could follow mass promotion, and allows tobacco companies to circumvent marketing restrictions and benefit from health claims made by consumers. These findings are published in the March 2008 issue of Tobacco Control. View the abstract: Click here
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New Resources
Tobacco Control eSystems Directory: Exploring National and State Level Information Systems
This directory was established as a tool for identifying and exploring national and state level information management, collaboration, and program evaluation systems and their use in tobacco control programs. The website provides resources on health information technology, and allows states to showcase their tobacco control information systems.
Washington Governor Signs Cessation Bill for Medicaid Adults
In Washington state a bill to provide cessation coverage for adults in Washington served by Medicaid will go into effect on June 2008. At present, Washington remains one of a few states without any Medicaid cessation benefit. The pending benefit is comprehensive and will cover counseling, including the quit line, over the counter and pharmaceutical drugs. View the bill.
The Rise of Cigars and Cigar-Smoking Harms
This pamphlet from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids includes information on cigars and other non-cigarette tobacco products. Despite their growing popularity, cigars are widely overlooked in legislation. Taxes on these products are generally lower than for cigarettes, and the lower prices have led consumers to switch tobacco products to cut costs. Also, flavored cigarettes and small cigars are gaining in popularity, which is alarming because their flavorings are appealing to children. Click here to download the pamphlet.
SCLC Catalogue of Tools
The Smoking Cessation Leadership Center has developed a catalogue of tools to use in helping smokers quit. This compilation of existing cessation tools offers Quit Now wallet cards, relapse protocol, smoke-free hospital toolkits, videos, mental health resources and more. Take advantage of this guide to low-cost or no-cost cessation resources. Click here to view the SCLC’s many resources, and to download a free copy of the catalogue of tools
Kick Butts Day 2008 Activity Guide
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids led a successful Kick Butts Day (KBD) on April 2, which inspired youths across the country to hold anti-smoking events. Although KBD has already passed, the Activity Guide contains tips and ideas for holding tobacco awareness events that will engage young people of all age groups in the fight against Big Tobacco. Download the guide: Click here
Secondhand Smoke in the Home Flyer
This bilingual (English/Spanish) flyer from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains the dangers of secondhand smoke in the home. View the flyer: Click here
Evaluation Toolkit for Smoke-Free Policies
This publication provides an overview of approaches to evaluating the effects of smoke-free policies. The publication reviews five types of studies that can be used to assess these policies and four factors to consider in determining which of these studies to conduct in a specific site. The toolkit is intended for use by state tobacco control program staff and others who are involved in conducting these types of evaluations.
Nebraska Passes New Smoke-Free Law
All Nebraska workplaces, including restaurants, bars and gaming facilities, will be smoke-free beginning June 1, 2009. Late last month, legislation was approved by the state Legislature and signed into law by Governor Dave Heineman. Nebraska is the 23rd state to pass a strong smoke-free law that includes restaurants and bars.
Updated TFK Fact sheets
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has updated their Key State-Specific Tobacco-Related Data & Rankings.
The Data also can be accessed at the state pull-down menu at http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/.
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Websites
Smoking Cessation Leadership Center
The SCLC has revamped its website, and in conjunction with the Mental Health Partnership, offers a variety of publications and resources to help health providers encourage smoking cessation among their patients, including patients in the underserved mentally ill population. The SCLC also promotes 1-800-Quit-Now, a national phone service that directs callers to their state quit line.
Ohio House passes bill to raid state's anti-tobacco fund
For years, Ohio, like many states, has borrowed money from its Master Settlement Fund to finance state projects. After the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation sued the state to prevent nearly all of the remaining settlement money from being redirected to a job creation program, the House has overwhelmingly passed a bill that aims to eliminate the Foundation. The remaining $40 million of the originally intended $1 billion of the Foundation’s money would be redirected to the Ohio Department of Health. The bill will now move to a Senate vote. Read more here, or click here to listen to an NPR broadcast on this story.
Ontario moving forward to ban smoking in cars
A bill will soon be introduced in Ontario government to ban smoking in cars carrying children under 16. Secondhand smoke laws to protect children in cars are gaining popularity in other Canadian provinces; Nova Scotia has already passed a similar law, and British Columbia, Manitoba, and New Brunswick are expected to follow suit. Click here
Bill to Require FDA Regulation of Tobacco Wins Panel’s Approval
The Energy and Commerce Committee of the House approved bill HR1008, which if passed, will bring cigarettes under FDA regulation. The legislation, which has gained bipartisan support, will allow the FDA to restrict nicotine content in tobacco products, review tobacco companies’ advertising and marketing claims, and dictate the use of warning labels.
First national quit smoking campaign readies launch
The “EX” campaign was launched on March 31 by the American Legacy Foundation, along with a coalition of health organizations to help smokers “re-learn life without cigarettes.” This 25-30 million dollar national campaign features a bilingual website that helps smokers individualize their cessation effort by identifying their smoking triggers, creating a quit plan, getting support, and tracking their progress. Fourteen states and eight public health organizations have joined the campaign, and a blitz of advertisements will be featured on various major television networks. For more information about BecomeAnEx.org is available here. Click here for the EX website.
TALC's new website can be accessed at www.talc.phi.org.
Here you can download model ordinances, fact sheets, and other resources.
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Call for Proposals and Announcements
Call for abstracts: 2008 Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention & Control Conference: Accelerating Change with Best Practices
The Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Control Program is seeking presentations and workshops that will provide current best practice and practical information on effective tobacco control strategies and developments. Anyone knowledgeable about any aspect of tobacco control-veterans, newcomers, and everyone in between-is welcome to submit an abstract. Please submit your abstract no later than May 14, 2008. For more information, click here.
The Technical Assistance Legal Center (TALC) is now part of Public Health Law & Policy (PHLP), an organization within the nonprofit Public Health Institute that provides legal and policy research and technical assistance on a wide range of public health issues. Click here for updated information.
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