Tobacco.org

Miller School goes smokeless  

The University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine is joining the tobacco-free trend that is sweeping the nation, with plans to institute a campus-wide ban on smoking early next year.

Smoking is already forbidden inside buildings around the 153-acre UM/Jackson Memorial Medical Center complex but soon it will be prohibited outside as well. The ban will include parking lots and garages, benches and picnic tables and even parked cars.

"As a recognized health institution, [we] should project that image," said Dr. Richard Thurer, chairman of the smoke-free coordinating committee. He says the new policy is a natural extension of the school’s mission: to promote healthy behavior.

“The major goal is to get smokers into smoking cessation programs,” said Thurer, senior associate dean of faculty affairs at the medical school.

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Cheap smokes to become a thing of the past: EU 

The days of taxed-to-the-hilt smokers bulk-buying cigarettes in cheap eastern European countries could be numbered following an agreement between European Union finance ministers on Tuesday.

Smokers in a many northern and western European countries have long complained of relatively high prices for their tobacco fix, in some cases such as Britain nearly doubled once excise rates are added in.

That in turn has triggered huge legal and black-market overseas trade amid an explosion in budget travel over the past decade.

However, ministers finally brokered a compromise deal in Brussels that will see minimum excise rates increased across the 27 EU member states by January 1, 2014, from 64 euros (96 dollars) per 1,000 cigarettes to 90 euros. . . .

A transitional period will apply for countries that have only recently or yet to raise prices to those rates.

That means smokers will still have access to cheap smokes until 1 January, 2018, in Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania.

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Lung Cancer Alliance Staff and Advocates to Ring Closing Bell of New York Stock Exchange(TM)  

Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) announced that LCA staff, advocates and friends will ring The Closing Bell for the New York Stock Exchange(TM) (NYSE) tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm ET.

Five and a half year lung cancer survivor and LCA-NY advocate, Richard Heimler will mark the end of the day's trading by ringing The Closing Bell.

He will be joined by LCA Staffers Sheila Ross and Miguel Velez and lung cancer survivors, advocates and LCA supporters in the televised ceremony.

"As a lung cancer survivor and on behalf of Lung Cancer Alliance and all those impacted by the disease, we are grateful to the New York Stock Exchange(TM) for this opportunity to get our message out during November, Lung Cancer Awareness Month," said Heimler.

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Heart attacks dip after smoking ban in Starkville 

In the three years after the ban was enacted in 2006, Starkville had 27 percent fewer heart attacks than in the three years preceding the ban, based on the results of a Mississippi State University Social Science Research Study released Monday.

“We are excited about the finding,” said researcher Robert McMillan, who with Dr. Robert Collins, director of MSU Health Services, conducted the study.

Researchers analyzed the number of heart attacks diagnosed at Oktibbeha County Hospital in Starkville, McMillen said.

The data also included people who were transferred to other hospitals for a higher level of care, McMillen said.

Researchers are working with hospitals to gather data from Tupelo and Hattiesburg, which enacted their own indoor smoking bans after Starkville. Tupelo’s ban took effect in October 2006.

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Plan now for Great American Smokeout  

The American Cancer Society's annual Great American Smokeout is Nov. 19, and the best way to participate successfully is to plan ahead.

First, define a goal for the day. It could be to not smoke at all, or it could be to smoke half your usual number of cigarettes for one day.

Set a goal that is attainable and yet challenging. After one successful day, you may feel like going for a second day of not smoking or cutting back.

As with any change, it helps to think about why you want to quit smoking.

It might be because you have been getting short of breath, because your doctor recommended it, or because you worry about not seeing your grandchildren grow up. Whatever it is, write the reason down on a piece of paper and keep it with you as a reminder.

Breaking the habit of smoking is often more difficult than dealing with the physical addiction to nicotine.

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B.P. proclaims Great American Smokeout for Nov. 19 - 

Although Staten Island's smoking rate dropped by 3.5 percent between 2007 and 2008, it's still the highest in the city. With the goal of knocking it down even further, the campaign "Staten Island Quits" continues to battle smoking in the borough. A proclamation ceremony yesterday at Staten Island Borough Hall, St. George, celebrated the success of the program and honored participating individuals and businesses.

The ceremony opened with Borough President James Molinaro proclaiming Nov. 19 to be the 34th annual Great American Smokeout, a public awareness campaign that challenges smokers to put down their cigarettes and resist the urge to light up for the day. "Our mission has to be to stop our youth from smoking," said Molinaro.

"Staten Island Quits" is in its third year of helping Islanders quit smoking and preventing youth from starting. Funded by the NYC Coalition for a Smoke-free City and founded by the American Cancer Society, the program uses multiple strategies to fight tobacco use. From point-of-purchase campaigns to working with the Parks Department to publicize and enforce smoke-free rules in playgrounds, the campaign is trying to protect youth from the perils of smoking.

"Our ultimate goal is that one day, people will walk off the ferry and see a sign that says, 'Welcome to Staten Island -- a Smoke-free Borough,'" announced Alberta Brescia, regional vice president of the American Cancer Society Staten Island Region.

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Quit for good in November  

The Great American Smokeout will be Nov. 20 this year. On this day, the local Health Department and American Cancer Society challenge you to quit smoking cigarettes.

Stop for at least this one day or the rest of your life. If you do not smoke but have friends or family members who do, encourage them to stop smoking.

About 1 in 5 Thurston County adults smoke and are at risk for the negative effects of tobacco use.

Some effects are more immediate and noticeable such as a cough, bad breath, yellow fingernails and discolored teeth.

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Study: Anti-smoking vaccine effective 

ORLANDO (AP) -- A shot that robs smokers of the nicotine buzz from cigarettes showed promise in midstage testing and may someday offer a radically new way to kick a dangerous habit.

In a study, more than twice as many people given five of the shots stopped smoking than those given fewer or phony shots . . .

The results, presented Wednesday at an American Heart Association conference, do not prove the new approach works but encouraged some experts.

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Thailand Tobacco Monopoly Took Part in Flood Relief Activity 

Mrs. Chuenjai Thongkam, the director of Marketing Department, Thailand Tobacco Monopoly, presented 3,000 relief supplies to people affected by flooding under the Flood Relief Activity jointly organized by SF Cinema City Company Limited, Royal Thai Air Force and Sony Picture, at Baan Krung Krak, Taenangngam, Bangrakam District, Phitsanulok Province, November 6 2009.

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Narconon Centers Educate Thousands During Red Ribbon Week 

Narconon International's management office in Los Angeles worked with its drug rehabilitation and education centers throughout the country in a combined effort to speak with thousands of students and other community members during Red Ribbon Week.

The National Family Partnership's (NFP) Red Ribbon Week is considered the nationwide observance of drug prevention activities and is held during the end of October each year, which began in 1988. Narconon staff and volunteer activities stretched the span of the country to participate in helping kids stay away from drugs.

In California, Narconon Vista Bay received a proclamation from the Mayor of Seaside City and delivered drug prevention presentations to hundreds of students in the local area. In Oklahoma and Texas, Narconon Arrowhead drug education staff visited several schools and presented to over 1,500 elementary, middle and high school students. . . .

According to a study of Narconon's drug education program published in the Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention and Policy peer-reviewed journal, "...youths who received the Narconon drug education curriculum showed reduced drug use compared with controls across all drug categories tested. The strongest effects were seen in all tobacco products and cigarette frequency followed by marijuana.

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Schweitzer-Mauduit Announces Common Stock Offering 

Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. (NYSE: SWM) ("Schweitzer-Mauduit" or "the company") today announced that it plans to publicly offer 1.8 million shares of its common stock in an underwritten offering. In addition, the company intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of shares sold. Goldman, Sachs & Co. is serving as the sole book-running manager for the offering. Co-managers for the offering include SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc., Davenport & Company LLC and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including the company's planned funding of the construction and working capital needs of a new Reconstituted Tobacco Leaf (RTL) facility in the Philippines and a potential equity contribution for an RTL joint venture in China.

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Alliance One International Reports Further Improvement in Second Quarter 

Robert E. Harrison, Chief Executive Officer, said, "Volume, sales and margins this quarter were improved versus last year and met our expectations. Improvements were achieved in what continues to be a very fluid environment with costs increasing in many markets, a US dollar that has begun to weaken again and implementation of certain manufacturer security of supply strategies that provide challenges as well as opportunities. Continued strong customer support and the positive impact of cost containment initiatives are key elements to our strategic plan execution.

"To better position ourselves in this operating environment, we have continued to focus on enhancing our capabilities to deliver specialized services and value-added products. As such, I am pleased to announce that we have just received six US Patent Office "Notices of Allowance" for three lower alkaloid variety burley tobaccos, developed over an eight year period utilizing conventional plant breeding methods at our R&D facility in Brazil. We originally reported these new varieties in November 2007, which further reinforces our commitment to the industry's ongoing research to develop new products. We believe these new varieties retain the desirable leaf quality, grower yields and smoking characteristics typical of existing Brazilian burley tobaccos and we have now started commercial production. Also, on November 6th, we announced commencing work on a new 70 million kilo factory in the Brazilian State of Santa Catarina that will be operational for processing the 2011 crop. Our new factory will place processing closer to this key growing area, establish additional needed storage and meet our investment objectives.

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Star Scientific, Inc. Reports NASDAQ Notification Regarding Minimum Bid Price, Files Third Quarter Report with SEC  

Star Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: STSI) reported today that on November 5, 2009 it received a deficiency letter from NASDAQ staff indicating that the company is not in compliance with the NASDAQ minimum bid rule. The letter noted that for the previous thirty consecutive trading days the company's minimum closing bid price per share had been below the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement set forth in NASDAQ Rule 5450(a)(1). In accordance with Marketplace Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), Star has 180 days, or until May 4, 2010, to regain compliance. In its notice NASDAQ indicated that if at any time during this period the minimum closing bid price is $1.00 or more per share for at least ten consecutive trading days, NASDAQ will provide confirmation that the company has regained compliance and the matter will be closed. The deficiency letter has no effect on the current listing or trading of Star Scientific shares.

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Imperial Tobacco Announces Strong Preliminary Results and Intention of CEO to Retire  

Imperial Tobacco today announced strong Preliminary Results with operating profit for the enlarged group up 10 percent in the second half. Chief Executive Gareth Davis said the enhanced brand portfolio and the wider geographic footprint, allied with a focus on costs and sales, enabled the company to increase cigarette volumes by 10 percent.

Imperial also announced today that Mr Davis would be retiring in May 2010 and Chief Operating Officer Alison Cooper would be his successor.

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Don't Let Your Financial Future Go Up in Smoke 

The impact of smoking on your health is well documented. But counselors at Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta know that it can also wreak havoc on a person's financial health. Whether it's helping people struggling with credit card debt or trying to avoid foreclosure, counselors find that tobacco use adds a significant amount to monthly household expenditures and they advise consumers to consider reducing or quitting smoking to save money.

A pack-a-day smoker spending an average of $5.15 per pack could save $1,879 per year by quitting smoking. These funds could be used to cover living expenses, reduce household debt or start a savings plan. Invested in a basic savings plan paying just 3 percent interest, you would have in excess of $21,000 after 10 years. Over 30 years, that figure climbs to more than $91,000.

"Quitting smoking is good for more than just your physical health," said Michelle Jones, Senior Vice President of Counseling for CCCS of Greater Atlanta. "Reducing or eliminating tobacco use can significantly increase the amount of money consumers have to use to pay off outstanding debt."

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