Tobacco.org

Sweet twists in Gotti trial 

A deep rift among the panel was revealed last week, after one juror penned an anonymous letter complaining about a "hostile environment" created by Juror No. 7's potty mouth and pro-defense posture.

Tensions escalated further on Monday, with Juror 11 accusing Juror 7 of taunting her as a "hater" during a smoking break -- prompting a plea from the judge for more "kind and considerate" behavior.

Yesterday, Juror 11, a city procurement-contract analyst, took a pass on the morning smoke break. Both she and Juror 7 were there for a later smoke break but kept their distance.

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Mouth Cancer - A Deadly Disease - On the Increase 

Mouth cancer (also called oral cancer) is a malignant growth which can occur in any part of the mouth including the lips and tongue. In the UK, the numbers of new cases have risen by over 41 per cent over the last ten years(1). About 5,325 people get cancer of the mouth each year and the disease kills one person every five hours. Treated in its early stages, mouth cancer is curable but if not detected early, it kills around one in two sufferers.

Anyone can be affected by mouth cancer, whether they have their own teeth or not. Smoking, or chewing tobacco (or betel quid/paan/gutkha), greatly increases your chances of getting mouth cancer. Heavy drinking is also a risk. If you do both, your chances of getting mouth cancer are much greater. This cancer is more common in men than women and more likely to occur in people age 40 years and older. Experts today, however, are concerned about rising numbers of this cancer in younger age groups. The HPV virus from sexual contact is believed to account for this. . . .

In addition to this lifestyle counselling and regular screening, dental practices can now offer patients an extended test using a new mouth cancer screening system which can identify abnormal areas of the mouth, identifying areas of potential risk even before they become cancer. The latest system is called ViziLite Plus which is used extensively in the USA as an aid to early detection and has been widely introduced into the UK.

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Alliance One Announces Arrangements for Fiscal Year 2010 2nd Quarter Financial 

Alliance One International, Inc. (NYSE: AOI) today announced that it will hold a conference call to report financial results for its fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2009, on November 9, 2009 at 5:00 P.M. ET. Those seeking to listen to the call may access a live broadcast on the Alliance One website. Please visit www.aointl.com fifteen minutes in advance to register.

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• National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation Promotes Program with Ads, PSAs and Web Resources  

With the latest research estimating that nearly six million people worldwide will lose their lives to tobacco next year(1), an innovative approach is critical to helping the 43 million Americans who smoke to finally quit. This month, which is observed as Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the national quit smoking program, EX(R) will debut the second phase of advertising and promotions designed to help smokers "re-learn" life without cigarettes.

The campaign will begin airing this month on radio and cable television networks as well as online, in print and through ambient/out-of-home channels. EX is a national quit smoking campaign, sponsored by the National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation (NATC), a two-year old collaborative of state and national public health groups spearheaded by Legacy(SM), creators of the award-winning truth(R) youth smoking prevention campaign. . . .

Most smokers in America - 70 percent - want to quit, but in 2000, only about five percent of smokers were successful in quitting long-term. Quitting smoking is ultimately one of the single most important lifestyle changes one can make to improve and extend their lives. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States; smokers therefore need to be armed with all the available information to make the best, most informed choices about the smoking cessation medications and resources available to them.

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• Super-Cheap Smokes ($$) 

ALTRIA GROUP IS VIEWED AS ONE OF THE country's most fearsome companies because of its willingness to use its political clout and legal muscle to maintain the dominance of its domestic cigarette brands.

Known on Wall Street as Big MO -- a reference to its ticker symbol, which harks back to its prior identity as Philip Morris and to its lengthy record of strong shareholder returns -- Altria lately has done little for investors. The Street is concerned that the company overpaid early this year for smokeless-tobacco maker UST, and that Marlboro, its top seller and the No. 1 cigarette ...

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Altria Group shares a bargain-Barron's | 

ia Group (MO.N) shares are a bargain, Barron's said Sunday, citing its low multiple, high yield and strong brands.

At its current prices, Altria has little downside and lot of potential to rally, the investment magazine said. At $18.50 Altria fetches 9.9 times next years earnings, cheaper than weaker rivals, and pays a 7.3 percent dividend.

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• Cancer Experts Meet to Head Off Rise in African Tobacco Use 

Health officials say they have a "golden opportunity" to head off an epidemic in tobacco use in Africa and prevent many cancer cases.

While rich nations have taken action to reduce smoking, the World Health Organization says tobacco consumption in Africa is expected to grow by than four percent a year. That's why cancer experts are holding a major conference this week in Tanzania (Nov 11– 14).

Among those attending is Dr. Thomas Glynn, Director of International Cancer Control for the American Cancer Society and acting head of the Global Smokefree Partnership.

"This is really the first time in the history of public health that we have the opportunity to prevent an epidemic…. There's no doubt tobacco is on the rise here, but it's the one continent where we are ahead of the ball at this point," he says.

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Reynolds Said to Be in Talks With Nicotine Gum Maker (Update2) 

Reynolds American Inc., the second- largest U.S. tobacco company, is in talks to buy a Swedish maker of nicotine gum and mouth sprays to broaden its offerings beyond cigarettes, a person with knowledge of the discussions said.

Reynolds, which makes Camel cigarettes and Grizzly snuff, wants to acquire closely held Niconovum AB as a way to reach consumers trying to stop smoking, said the person, who declined to be identified because the negotiations are private.

Buying Niconovum would advance Reynolds Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Susan Ivey’s push into nicotine products less harmful than cigarettes. The company is testing dissolvable tobacco tablets in the U.S. after introducing Swedish-style Camel snus earlier this year, Ivey told analysts Oct. 22. It bought snuff maker Conwood in 2006.

“It is one indication of the changing nature of the nicotine business,”

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Mears man dies in home fire  

A 48-year-old Mears man died Saturday morning in a fire that appears to have been caused by a cigarette, according to Hart Fire Chief Ken Klotz, Jr.

Randall Eugene Worth is suspected to have died of smoke inhalation

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Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart seen kissing outside 'New Moon' screening. Friends with benefits?  

Days after his Vanity Fair interview was released, Us Weekly reports that the two "Twilight" stars spent the night together at Hollywood's famed Chateau Marmont. . . .

Afterward, they were taken driven to a private screening of "New Moon."

And then there was a smoke break. With a full-on lip lock!

"Rob wanted a cigarette so he went outside with Kristen for about 15 minutes," the source tells Us. "They were hugging, as Rob was smoking his cigarette and then he leaned down and kissed her on the lips. He had his arm around her almost the whole time."

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UM to ban tobacco products on campus starting in fall 2011 

The University of Montana is poised to join a growing roster of colleges nationwide banning tobacco on campus.

The ban is set to go into effect in the fall of 2011, and would be the second campuswide smoking ban in Montana - as Montana Tech in Butte is going tobacco-free in 2010.

Montana State University has proposed a similar ban.

Across the country, more and more colleges are banning not just smoking, but the use of all tobacco products anywhere on campus. There are now 172 tobacco-free campuses nationwide, and another 322 smoke-free campuses.

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Smoking has a direct negative impact on postoperative outcomes 

With the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout Challenge just a week away, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is giving smokers yet another reason to quit. The scientific evidence is clear -- smoking has a direct negative impact on postoperative outcomes. Quitting smoking is one of the best things people can do to improve their chances of recovering from surgery without complications.

"Anesthesiologists are the heart and lung specialists in the operating room, making sure our patients' vital functions are working properly," said David O. Warner, M.D., chair of the ASA Smoking Cessation Initiative Task Force. "Every year, we care for up to 10 million smokers in surgery. , We see the immense toll that smoking takes on a person's body, but we also witness the tremendous benefits patients who stop smoking before surgery experience in their healing process."

Because patients are advised to abstain from smoking for as long as possible both before and after surgery, it represents a golden opportunity for people to take action to quit. When confronted with surgery, many patients decide to take stock of their lives and change their behaviors. This defining moment is a great opportunity to commit to quitting, as it will have a significant impact on one's quality of life for years to come.

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• Roll your own smokes popular but no safer, research finds  

The number of tobacco smokers currently in Thailand has reached 14.3 million, the latest Global Adult Tobacco Survey revealed yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry is considering a proposal to the Finance Ministry to increase the tax level on hand-rolled cigarette products after finding over 7.4 million people smoke this style of cigarette. The remainder smoke manufactured cigarettes.

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey is a national household survey launched in February 2007.

Sixteen countries, home to more than half the world's smokers and bearing the highest tobacco use, were involved in the study: Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russian Federation, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay and Vietnam.

Thailand was the first country to complete and release its survey . . .

He said most cigarette manufacturers are now producing more smokeless cigarettes after noting an increasing trend in smokeless tobacco use among teenagers worldwide.

To reduce the number of hand-rolled cigarette smokers, Prakit has asked the government to increase the tax level on hand-rolled cigarette products and collect tax excise to 70 per cent of product price from the current rate.

Deputy Minister of Public Health Manit Nopamornbodee said he will consult with the Finance Ministry about increasing the tax level on hand-rolled cigarette products and ya nat - traditional medicine that contains hand-rolled cigarette products. . . .

Meanwhile, Thai Network Against Tabinfo Asia 2009, led by Dr Hatai Chitanont, has submitted an open letter to Deputy Finance Minister,Prasit Pattaraprasit asking him to withdraw from the tobacco industry event he is due to open on Wednesday at Impact Arena Moung Thontani Exhibition Centre.

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Florida Hospital DeLand to go tobacco-free  

Florida Hospital DeLand's new tobacco-free policy will go into effect Nov. 19, prohibiting any use of tobacco products by employees, physicians, visitors, patients, volunteers, vendors and medical staff anywhere on the hospital campus or property.

This prohibition will apply to smoking in personal vehicles on the property as well as on any sidewalks or streets within the boundaries of the campus.

Many other area hospitals already have smoking bans in place. Florida Hospital, Health Central and Orlando Regional Healthcare banned tobacco products anywhere on their properties, starting in July 2008.

"As a healing institution, we have a commitment to provide a safe and healthy environment to everyone who visits our facility," said Daryl Tol, CEO/President of Florida Hospital DeLand in a hospital release. "It is also our responsibility to promote healthy living, wellness and disease prevention to the community."

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Muskegon County smoking ban takes effect  

A smoking ban covering businesses across Muskegon County takes effect Monday.

The Clean Indoor Air Regulation Act applies to all indoor businesses, from sports arenas to bingo halls. But there's a state law protecting all Michigan bars and restaurants from the ban. It sounds like a good deal for restaurants, but at least one owner wishes the ban went a little further.

"I'm just sorry restaurants and bars weren't included in this ban that's coming up now," says Lynne Fogarty of Main Street Pub in North Muskegon.

Her restaurant is not affected by Muskegon County's new smoking ban, but she wishes her place was.

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