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Percentage of smokers drops in Vermont 

While 76,000 Vermont adults still smoke, their numbers are de­clining.

Results from an annual behavo­rial risk factor telephone survey released Wednesday peg the per­centage of adult smokers at 15 per­cent in 2010 compared with 17 per­cent in 2009. More than 7,000 Vermonters older than 18 were queried in the survey, which is funded by the U.S. Centers for Dis­ease Control and Prevention.

The Vermont Department of Health released the smoking data on the eve of today's 36th anniver­sary of the Great American Smoke­out -- a day when many smokers attempt to quit.

"We're encouraged by the re­duction in the overall number of Vermont smokers," Vermont Health Commissioner Harry Chen said. "We realize that quitting smoking is one of the most diffi­cult behavorial changes a person can make."

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2 million Illinoisans still use cigarettes 

Despite campaigns to educate the public about the dangers of smoking, people continue to take up the controversial habit. In Illinois, 21 percent of those 18 and older - approximately 2 million people - are smokers. Ten percent of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 smoke cigarettes.

Approximately 16,000 Illinois residents die from smoking-related diseases each year, and smoking-related medical costs total about $3 billion annually.

Last week, the American Cancer Society and Illinois Department of Public Health urged smokers to quit by participating in the society's Great American Smokeout. The event, in its 36th year, takes place annually on the third Thursday in November.

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Winchester Hospital goes smoke free  

Winchester Hospital takes its responsibility as a steward of the community's health seriously. Consistent with this mission, the hospital's Board of Directors recently voted to join the Massachusetts Hospital Association campaign "Healing Inside and Out--Massachusetts Tobacco-Free Hospitals." This initiative challenges all hospitals in the Commonwealth to become tobacco-free.

Effective Nov. 17, which is Great American Smokeout Day, the use of tobacco products will not be permitted on any hospital-owned or leased location.

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Students Spread Anti-Tobacco Message 

Today 45 million Americans are being asked to stop smoking for one day with the hopes that they`ll quit altogether. And to help, St. Mary`s High School students were spreading anti-tobacco messages.

Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of death in North Dakota. Many hope that will soon change if smokers stop lighting up in honor of the Great American Smokeout.

These students know the serious consequences of smoking.

Every year almost 900 people in North Dakota die because of smoking-related diseases. A North Dakota anti-tobacco group has found that most adult smokers start smoking during their teen years or even earlier.

St. Mary`s senior Catherine Bopp said, "We`re trying to convey that you don`t need tobacco in your life and that it ruins relationships."

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Illinois sees drop in smoking; tobacco settlement money used for other needs  

The Great American Smokeout, the American Cancer Society's 36th annual event, came and went last Thursday with barely a mention. That doesn't mean anti-smoking advocates and public health experts don't have something to say.

"I'd have to say we didn't see as much publicity about it as we have in the past," says Kelli Evans, regional director of health initiatives for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. She suspects part of the reason is Illinois' smoking rates have declined steadily since the ban on smoking in public places took effect in 2008.

For the most part, so have the dollars from the tobacco settlement with big tobacco companies, money originally intended to fund comprehensive tobacco prevention programs, says Greg Chance, director of Peoria County Health Department.

He points to a 2010 report that ranks Illinois 35th among states in the amount of money from the tobacco settlement that goes toward fighting tobacco use.

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Ten Harvard-Affiliated Hospitals Join Great American Smokeout  

Ten Harvard-affiliated hospitals have joined forces to make their facilities tobacco-free in an effort to encourage their employees and patients to quit or make a plan to quit smoking. The new policy comes as part of the American Cancer Society’s 36th annual Great American Smokeout, a yearly push to encourage America’s 45 million smokers to give up the habit.

Over the course of the next several months, employees, patients, and visitors of these Boston-area hospitals will begin to see signs that prohibit smoking throughout hospitals’ campuses and facilities.

Smoking rates have declined since 1965, when 42 percent of Americans were reported as smokers. Since then, widespread efforts to decrease the number of smokers have had an impact, but since 1990 the incidence has plateaued at around 20 percent.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital plans to adjust its existing program to encourage inpatients to quit smoking

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Smokers: Risks and Rights Part 1  

If you're a smoker or even if you're not, you probably noticed there are less places these days where smoking is allowed. In part, that's because of a group called the Louisiana Campaign For Tobacco Free Living

"This is about giving employees the opportunity to breathe clean air like everyone else has."

Carrie Griffin Broussard is a spokeswoman for the organization. She says the city of Alexandria has been at the head of the line when it comes to being smoke free. Even though the law doesn't exist on a state level, Alexandria has passed an ordinance banning smoking in any bar.

Broussard says, "Again, Alexandria has really lead the way and we think that's great: And you know it's interesting, when the media covers this, there is a lot of talk about how upset smokers are, but that's really not the case and we find that smokers tell us, we don't have a problem just stepping outside, we get it." . . .

Tomorrow night, we'll talk to a smoker whose habit landed him in medical trouble but he says he doesn't think anyone's rights should be infringed upon.

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VIDEO: President Obama's Great American Smokeout Message 

President Obama marks the 36th annual Great American Smokeout Obama by urging smokers to put down cigarettes for good. More than 46 million Americans smoke, despite the fact tobacco use is the single largest cause of preventable disease and premature death in the United States.

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VIDEO: NEWELL: President Obama Thanks You for Not Smoking  

President Obama, who has supposedly quit smoking himself, took to the YouTube this week to congratulate Americans who are participating in something claustrophobically called the "Great American Smokeout." The annual challenge, which is today, encourages "smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day." Participants will be rewarded with hallucinations, angst, a quick temper, and a desire to eat or chew anything that's in front of them! Also, less cancer later on.

But before you smokers all get inspired to act on this peppy message from the President, you must know: If you all quit at once, millions of children will die! They will DIE, due to YOU and your selfish desire to look out for your health! Because when the President re-authorized and expanded the State Children's Health Insurance Program as one of his first acts in 2009, he raised the necessary $32.8 billion in funding by hiking the federal tax on cigarette packs by $0.62. If you all quit, who will pay for the poor, sick children? Smoke up. We want you to smoke a whole four packs right now, while we run out and pick up our check from the tobacco companies' trade group. Think of the dying kids.

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Casino won’t join smokeout on Nov. 17  

The Great American Smokeout will not be coming to Wild Rose Casino floors on Nov. 17, according to Casino Manager Tim Bollmann. The push by anti-tobacco groups to include Iowa casinos in this year's annual Smokeout, during which Americans are encouraged to refrain from smoking for 24 hours, has so far failed to gain traction.

Following the passage of the Smoke-Free Air Act in 2008, nearly all businesses and public buildings were forced to prohibit indoor smoking. However, gaming floors were deemed exempt from the no-smoking laws, and casino visitors are still allowed to puff away in certain areas.

Bollmann, who attended an Iowa Gaming Association meeting earlier this week, said Wild Rose had no plans to participate in the event. He said that the topic had been discussed at the IGA meeting, and the general sentiment was dismissive. Gaming floors are open only to those 21 years old or older, well above the age necessary for legal tobacco use.

Bollmann said individual choice should be respected.

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BCC Smokeout  

Broome Community College marked "Great American Smoke Out Day" Thursday by officially announcing that it will no longer allow smoking anywhere on campus.

The smoking ban is scheduled to go into effect in January at the start of the next semester. The school decided to make the change following strong support among faculty and staff and mixed response from students. Thursday, health professionals and advocates educated students about the dangers of smoking, and provided information for people who want to quit.

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Experts Warn of Smoking in Apartments  

CALABASAS, Calif. (KTLA) -- Thusday is the "Great American Smokeout." Health experts want smokers to consider others they may be affecting.

Los Angeles County officials warned residents living in apartments or condos that even if they're non-smokers, their families may still be at risk of second-hand smoke while at home.

Researchers held a news conference Wednesday meant to show how tobacco smoke can travel through walls, lighting and plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, shared ventilation systems and doorway cracks in multi-unit housing complexes. The drifting secondhand smoke exposes apartment residents -- including non-smokers and those who don't live with smokers -- to many cancer-causing chemicals.

More than 41 percent of housing units in Los Angeles are parts of multi-unit complexes. As smoke drifts between apartments, it leaves residues that cling to furniture, clothing, rugs, walls and floors. It can linger for months, experts say.

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Covenant kicks the habit  

Olson-Yarbrough could be the poster child for the new tobacco-free campus initiative at Covenant Hospital Plainview, where she works as a case manager. Her friend Laura Langston, the director of quality management at CHP, is another strong advocate for the hospital's anti-tobacco campaign.

"She quit approximately one month after I did," Olson-Yarbrough said.

Olson-Yarbrough and Langston are big supporters of the hospital's tobacco-free campus, which officially took effect Thursday in conjunction with the American Cancer Society's annual Great American Smokeout.

The policy change was established as part of Covenant's commitment to create a healing environment for patients, families and staff, according to hospital CEO Alan King.

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LETTER: Smokeless state 

The American Cancer Society will celebrate the 36th Great American Smokeout today. . . .

Elected officials have the power to protect the patrons and workers of Mississippi by passing comprehensive smoke-free law(s) and/or ordinance(s) so we can all breathe smoke-free air. Smoke-free laws not only protect workers and patrons from being exposed to deadly secondhand smoke, they also help smokers quit.

I urge all city, county and state lawmakers to join more than 470 communities, 23 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands that are smoke-free by passing/supporting law(s) and/or ordinance(s) to protect us from this serious health hazard.

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UPDATE: American Cancer Society workshop shares tobacco-free resources for those working with youths 

As part of this year's Great American Smokeout awareness activities, the American Cancer Society is hosting a workshop tomorrow for school teachers, counselors, nurses, youth group leaders and other adults who work with youths to share tobacco-free resources and information that can be utilized in the classroom or at youth events.

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