Tobacco.org

Dear Dr. Shieh  

My workplace wants me to work in the smoking area, but I am currently pregnant and my employers do not seem to care about my concerns. Is it okay for me to work in a smoking area while I am pregnant? -- Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

Your question is regarding secondhand smoke and no, it is not okay for you to work in the smoking area.

The effects of secondhand smoke on your baby can be immediate, and most exposures can lead to premature birth, miscarriage, still birth, SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), and low birthweight infants.

Jump to full article »

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance --- Pacific Island United States Territories, 2007 

Results: Across the five Pacific Island territories, the leading causes of mortality among all ages include unintentional injuries, including motor-vehicle crashes; cancer; cardiovascular diseases; stroke; and diabetes. Results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) indicated that high school students in the Pacific Island territories engaged in behaviors that increased their risk for mortality or morbidity from these causes. . . .

Tobacco Use

Lifetime Cigarette Use

Across surveys, the overall percentage of students who had ever tried cigarette smoking (even one or two puffs) (i.e., lifetime cigarette use) ranged from 56.8% to 78.1% (median: 69.7%). Prevalence among female students ranged from 53.1% to 78.7% (median: 67.6%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 57.1% to 77.6% (median: 71.6%) (Table 13).

Lifetime Daily Cigarette Use

Across surveys, the overall percentage of students who had ever smoked at least one cigarette every day for 30 days (i.e., lifetime daily cigarette use) ranged from 13.6% to 17.6% (median: 16.6%). Prevalence among female students ranged from 12.6% to 16.2% (median: 13.1%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 14.2% to 22.3% (median: 17.8%) (Table 13).

Current Cigarette Use

Across surveys, the overall percentage of students who had smoked cigarettes on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey (i.e., current cigarette use) ranged from 23.1% to 37.6% (median: 31.1%). Prevalence among female students ranged from 20.4% to 31.1% (median: 25.4%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 22.9% to 44.4% (median: 31.2%) (Table 14).

Jump to full article »

• Tobacco, alcohol, drug use a problem for Guam  

Smoking among Guam's high school students has dropped by almost 50 percent in the last 10 years, thanks to preventive measures, according to Dr. Annette David, who's in charge of Guam's State Epidemiological Workgroup.

However, smoking among Guam's adults has remained the same. . . .

Tobacco, alcohol, and drug use and prevention were the topics discussed at Guam's third annual PEACE Conference yesterday at the Guam Westin Resort's Somnak Room. At the conference, participants presented the work they've accomplished in addressing alcohol and/or tobacco use prevention and early intervention.

Jump to full article »

HERNDON: Increase tobacco taxes to improve Guam's health 

Albert Einstein proclaimed, "Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them."

In concurrence, Gov. Felix Camacho announced in the 2008 State of the Island Address that "... this Administration is placing an emphasis on preventive health care." . . .

The governor's announcement is supported in the "Guam Epidemiological Profile" report for 2006, which stated that the three leading causes of death -- diseases of the heart, malignant neoplasm and cerebrovascular disease -- are all tobacco-related. In 2004, these three causes of mortality accounted for 56 percent of all deaths on island.

Additional causes of death on the list are either precipitated or exacerbated by tobacco use . . .

When all these local statistics are taken into account, a very compelling argument can be made for raising tobacco excise taxes to offset Guam's public health-care costs and to fund cessation and anti-smoking educational programs.

Jump to full article »

Tobacco bonds will result in $8.3M for Guam health care  

Gov. Felix Camacho yesterday signed the documents necessary to close the Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds Series 2007, according to a news release from the governor's office.

"We are very pleased with the response we have gotten on the tobacco bonds," Camacho said. "My administration worked closely with our financial advisors and underwriters to ensure that we could get the maximum yield for the people of Guam."

The bonds were issued to refund outstanding 2001 Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds

Jump to full article »

LETTER: No compromise when it comes to health 

During my recent visit to the island, I was quite surprised to see so many smoke-filled business establishments. One place was filled with so much smoke that a friend of mine, who is a smoker, went outside to smoke.

All the while I had thought that the Natasha Protection Act was in full effect.

The harmful effects that smoke has on smokers and nonsmokers are universally known.

Jump to full article »

GCC to be tobacco and betel nut free on June 1  

There is a new policy that prohibits tobacco and betel nut use on the Guam Community College campus.

Over the past year, smoking has been prohibited for many years inside college buildings, but hte new policy would prevent tobacco use and betel nut consumption anywhere on campus.

Jump to full article »

• Smoking ban in restaurants now in full effect 

A SMOKING ban in all dining establishments on Guam is now fully in effect after the Supreme Court of Guam dismissed the appeal of former attorney general Douglas Moylan and affirmed the constitutionality of the Natasha Protection Act. Affirming an earlier decision of the trial court, the Supreme Court said that the Natasha Protection Act is enforceable and not unconstitutional as earlier argued by the former AG. With this development, Atty. Mike Phillips said smoking is now prohibited 24 hours in all restaurants. Bars that exclusively serve alcohol are not covered by the smoking ban while the regulation does apply to bars that double as restaurants. Smoking would be allowed in such establishments between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., provided they “employ an appropriate smoke ventilation device.”

Jump to full article »

24 citations issued in tobacco sting operation 

A tobacco sting operations lead by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse and the Department of Revenue and Taxation resulted in 24 citations.

Jump to full article »

LETTER: Smoking on campuses endangers students 

I am an employee in the Guam Public School System and have recently discovered something I think should be brought to the attention of parents and people everywhere. One day while I was working, I poked my head inside of a classroom and found several employees smoking. I talked to other employees about this and they said they also have seen or smelled the smoking in that classroom.

I brought the issue to the attention of my administrators but I feel not enough got done. Parents, you need to know that this is going on. Not only is it against school policy, it's against the law (Public Law 21-139).

But more importantly, they are endangering the lives of the innocent students who attend class in that room daily. Secondhand smoke ... contains more than 4,000 chemicals, 40 of which are known to cause cancer! . . .

Go to your child's school and ask questions. Don't be afraid to come forward if you ever discover that this is going on in your school. These children look up to us as parents and educators. We need to be examples to them by obeying laws and taking care of our health. There are children's lives at stake and I feel it my duty, as an educator, to save as many as I can.

Jump to full article »

Lawmakers await GHRA's stance 

Members of the Guam Hotel Restaurant Association have not yet taken a position on the newly enacted Natasha Protection Act. And until they do, lawmakers don't plan to change what some have called a flawed law, the legislative speaker said yesterday.

At the GHRA's General Membership meeting yesterday, Speaker Mark Forbes told the leaders of the island's hospitality industry that the current ban on smoking in hotel rooms that the act created was an "unintended consequence" of the legislation.

Jump to full article »

• Smoking ban in full effect  

Guam's invitation for tourists will likely include a footnote that smoking in hotel rooms might get them in trouble with local law.

The island's attorney general said the Superior Court of Guam's June 9 decision not to stop the enforcement of portions of the new and broader no-smoking law has the effect of including bars and hotels in the ban.

There's no question restaurants are now covered by the smoking ban, Attorney General Douglas Moylan said. He added he intends to take the new law's unresolved portions -- affecting bars and hotels -- to the Guam Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, he instructed the Department of Public Health and Social Services in a letter after the court's move on Friday that, "until this question is further answered by the courts, that (establishments do) not permit any smoking in any public facilities on Guam, regardless of the installed filtration device, or face prosecution."

Jump to full article »

No smoking in hotels, restaurants, enclosed areas 

Smoking may no longer be an option at several local hotels, since the case against the Natasha Protection Act was dismissed last week.

But the attorney general’s office plans to appeal Superior Court of Guam Judge Steven Unpingco’s Friday dismissal the civil case on the Natasha Protection Act to the Supreme Court. . . .

While his office will appeal the dismissal of the case, Attorney General Douglas Moylan recommended that all enclosed public enclosed places be nonsmoking until the issue is further clarified, something which the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association has taken to heart.

Jump to full article »

Businesses develop anti-smoking solutions 

Restaurants are to comply with the non-smoking law, the Natasha Protection Act. On Friday Court Judge Steven Unpingco dismissed Attorney General Douglas Moylan's motion that questioned the constitutionality of the Act. Now, consider the opinions of a few popular restaurateurs that have developed solutions for smokers and non-smokers alike.

After a good meal or a few drinks, those who have a craving for nicotine usually end up lighting a cigarette. And according to the Americans for Non-Smokers' Rights, while the tobacco industry has claimed for years that smoke-free ordinances have a negative impact on business, particularly hospitality-oriented businesses, that simply is not true. Take popular eating establishments like Tony Roma's and Capricciosa located in the Agana Shopping Center - even before the smoking ban was in its proposal stage, both establishments decided to change their policy, to accommodate everyone.

Jump to full article »

• Teen who inspired anti-smoking law passes away 

When you head to a local restaurant this weekend, remember there's no smoking. And in addition to considering that, remember Natasha Perez, the young girl for whom the Natasha Protection Act was named. Superior Court Judge Steven Unpingco issued an order dismissing Attorney General Douglas Moylan's lawsuit that questioned the constitutionality of the Act.

The judge's decision comes hours after the AG and Attorney Mike Phillips presented arguments on the constitutionality of the Act. Moylan argued the Act could not be enforced and requested the judge clarify the Legislature's intent. "This law will be enforced if the court chooses not to rule on it," the AG maintained. "As we pointed out in court we're going to be back with a lot of different people coming in with their attorneys litigating the question that we're trying to have amicably and dispassionately resolved today."

Attorney Phillips argued the Act should be implemented immediately.

Jump to full article »