http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/org/gaso.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/29/chula-vista-national-city-take-smoking/ http://tobacco.org/news/293411.html We agree with the Editorial Board of the Union-Tribune that it’s time for Congress to increase funding for tobacco control programs. However, local governments don’t have to wait for Congress to take action. In the South Bay, we’re adopting comprehensive smoke-free laws that address community conditions and make it easier for smokers to quit. Chula Vista and National City officials are issuing a challenge to other regional cities to initiate smoke-free outdoor dining policies that are proven to reduce secondhand smoke impacts on our citizens. . . . Our South Bay residents value smoke-free environments. And San Diego County residents are no different, with more than 88 percent agreeing that secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in nonsmokers, as reported by the 2005 California Tobacco Survey. What we have learned, thanks to a study released this year by the Institute of Medicine, is that exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of coronary heart disease by up to 30 percent and that smoking bans reduce heart attacks. Smoking bans have a substantially positive impact on public health. The savings, as measured in human lives, is undeniable. Unfortunately, San Diego smokers aren’t always aware of the effects of secondhand smoke. They are less likely than nonsmokers to believe that secondhand smoke causes lung cancer, according to a 2009 survey of San Diego Street Scene attendees conducted by The Institute for Public Strategies. It’s important for local governments to adopt policies that are proven to reduce tobacco use in their communities. San Diego Union-Tribune Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.2theadvocate.com/opinion/75247237.html http://tobacco.org/news/293397.html While the Smoke-Free Air Act cleared the air in restaurants and most workplaces in Louisiana, thousands of patrons and employees of bars and casinos are still exposed to harmful secondhand smoke every day. If Louisiana is to continue to improve, we must continue to support events such as the Great American Smoke Out and to consider policies that protect the health of all Louisiana citizens. We must work to protect the bartenders, casino employees and our beloved musicians and performers who continue to put their health on the line to earn a paycheck. To find out more or to show your support for a smoke-free Louisiana, visit http://www.letsbetotallyclear.org. Baton Rouge Advocate Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://theindependent.com/articles/2009/11/28/news/local/10968731.txt http://tobacco.org/news/293392.html Tobacco Free Hall County announced the winners of its annual poster contest at a news conference Thursday. Thursday was also the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout. Christina Russell, a ninth-grader at Grand Island Senior High, was the high school winner; Sinan Omerovic, a seventh-grader at Walnut Middle School, was the middle school winner; and Jaqob Champion, a fifth-grader from Knickrehm School, was the elementary school winner. Grand Island Independent newsdesk@theindependent.com Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.waaytv.com/global/story.asp?s=11526864&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A Waay-WaayNewsAndHome %28WAAY - WAAY News and Home%29 http://tobacco.org/news/293377.html State health officials say more than 33,000 calls have been received at a toll-free line created more than three years ago to help Tennesseans quit smoking. The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, established in August 2006, is 1-800-QUIT-NOW. The line offers free personalized support for Tennessee residents who want to quit smoking by connecting them with trained coaches to guide them through the process. Callers will receive ongoing professional coaching through individually scheduled calls with a quit coach personally assigned to them. State Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper encouraged Tennesseans to use the line during this year's Great American Smokeout on Thursday. AP Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2009/11/clearing_the_air_in_louisiana.html http://tobacco.org/news/293314.html Last week, activities were held across the state in honor of the Great American Smoke Out, the annual event that encourages smokers and tobacco users to quit. In New Orleans, two smoke-free events were held at Rocco's and After Dark. Both events were fun and brought out big crowds. Coincidently, United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings were released last week as well, and Louisiana moved up from 50th to 47th, marking the state's highest ranking since the annual study began. What played a key part in this upward trend for our state? A decrease in smoking rates that moved Louisiana up six spots to 35th in the country. It's an impressive move that highlights the importance of events like the Great American Smoke Out, as well as smoke-free air laws. From the passage of the Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act in 2006 to this latest improvement in America's Health Rankings, we can be proud of what we've achieved, but there is much more left to accomplish. While the Smoke-Free Air Act cleared the air in restaurants and most workplaces in Louisiana, thousands of patrons and employees of bars and casinos still are exposed to harmful secondhand smoke every day. New Orleans Times Picayune Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.lafayette-online.com/purdue-news/2009/11/smoking-policy-changes/ http://tobacco.org/news/293243.html Purdue University's West Lafayette campus will become smoke free except in limited areas beginning July 1, 2009. The new policy will confine smoking to limited designated campus areas and will prohibit smoking in all vehicles owned or leased by Purdue. Until the new policy takes effect, smoking on the West Lafayette campus will be allowed outdoors at a distance of at least 30 feet from university facilities and in designated areas within the Union Club Hotel. The Purdue West Lafayette campus will become smoke free except in limited areas beginning July 1, 2009. The campus-wide smoking policy was announced Thursday (Nov 19) - coinciding with the 33rd annual Great American Smokeout - following input from faculty, staff and students. Lafayette Online Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.redding.com/news/2009/nov/23/secondhand-smoke-harmful-to-children/ http://tobacco.org/news/293216.html Among adults in the United States, cigarette smoking has decreased from about 42 percent of the population in 1965 to about 21 percent in 2006, the latest year for which numbers are available. It is estimated that more than 43 million adults currently smoke cigarettes. Secondhand smoke can cause health problems for everyone, especially young children whose lungs are still developing, and is also known as environmental tobacco smoke. . . . One of the most important things you can do for your family's health is to clear the air - literally. In conjunction with this month's Great American Smokeout, First 5 Tehama encourages all families to understand the dangers of secondhand smoke and to take steps to reduce the exposure to children. . . . California has laws to help reduce children's exposure to secondhand smoke, including one that makes it illegal to smoke inside a car with a minor - but you can be active in further reducing your child's exposure. Make your home smoke-free. Redding Record-Searchlight Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/869181.html http://tobacco.org/news/293202.html A Buffalo councilman wants to clamp down on the sale of tobacco products within city limits. Masten Council Member Demone Smith claims that the number of smokers is higher in Buffalo than elsewhere in the state, "in part because of the predatory marketing practices of the tobacco industry," whose advertisements often target children. He proposes limiting "the number of licensed tobacco selling outlets" allowed to operate in the city. The resolution was unwrapped Thursday during the opening of "Your Cancer and Drug Store," a Buffalo Museum of Science exhibit that mocks cigarette makers. The event coincided with the 34th Great American Smokeout, the American Cancer Society's annual effort to discourage tobacco use. Buffalo News tbuckham@buffnews.com (Tom Buckham NEWS STAFF REPORTER ) Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=326990&version=1&template_id=46&parent_id=26 http://tobacco.org/news/293200.html Pakistan has finally decided to stub it out, so to speak. Beginning next February, cigarette packs will have pictorial warnings to wean smokers away from, well, ending up in a smoke. Until now, any official attempt to check the menace was limited to observing the annual World No-Tobacco Day with sound and the odd fury but little action. Pakistan’s Ministry of Health has now mandated that cigarette packs will have picture-based health warnings that cover 40% of the principal display area on both the front and back of the packs. The decision has been hard-fought and hard-earned on the part of those campaigning for control given the clout of the tobacco industry, which still managed to pressurise the ministry into reducing the original recommended size of half the display area to forty per cent. The decision to make graphic health warnings mandatory was announced at a seminar arranged in connection with World No Tobacco Day on May 31 this year. At the time, the ministry had announced January 1, 2010 as the deadline for the implementation of the decision. Gulf Times kaamyabi@gmail.com (Kamran Rehmat/Islamabad) Pakistan Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.iberianet.com/articles/2009/11/23/news/doc4b044a4000e8a220030653.txt http://tobacco.org/news/293164.html Dauterive Hospital is beginning the process of creating a smoke-free environment for patients, visitors, volunteers and staff by participating in this week's Great American Smokeout -- completely smoke-free. In preparation for becoming completely tobacco-free, including not only cigarettes but all forms of tobacco, a week of activities is under way. By participating in this week's national endeavor to stop smoking, the hospital is looking forward to Feb. 12, 2010, when no tobacco of any kind will be permitted inside the hospital, on its grounds or at any of the medical complexes surrounding it. Daily Iberian dailyiberian@bellsouth.net (INNESS ASHER THE DAILY IBERIAN ) Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://sundaygazettemail.com/Opinion/Editorials/200911180730 http://tobacco.org/news/293127.html Sadly, West Virginia has America's worst rate of deadly cigarette smoking and exposure to dangerous second-hand smoke inside homes. That's the finding of a Centers for Disease Control survey released last week. A CDC announcement said: "Among states, smoking prevalence was highest in West Virginia (26.6 percent), Indiana (26.1 percent) and Kentucky (25.3 percent). ... Home exposure [to second-hand smoke] varied widely from 3 percent of adults exposed in their homes in Arizona to 10.1 and 10.6 percent, respectively, in Mississippi and West Virginia." . . . Nicotine is as addictive as heroin. Tobacco companies are basically drug pushers, because their profits depend on getting young Americans hooked, then reaping revenue from them for years - with little concern for health damage they suffer. Today, the American Cancer Society will hold its yearly Great American Smokeout, urging hooked people to overcome their craving for cigarettes. It isn't easy. Personal courage and willpower are required to fight off the deadly habit. But we urge West Virginia's excessive number of smokers to be brave and break free. Charleston Gazette Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091119smoke-stats.html http://tobacco.org/news/293116.html The United States likely will fall well short of the Healthy People 2010 objective of reducing to less than 12 percent the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults. According to a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, or MMWR, article released Nov. 13, the proportion of U.S. adults who were cigarette smokers declined from 24.1 percent in 1998 to 19.8 percent in 2007. However, the figure increased to 20.6 percent in 2008. The CDC said in the MMWR article that none of the states are funding tobacco control programs at levels the agency has recommended. CDC officials said funding at recommended levels is needed to continue and improve tobacco control programs, especially to reach populations that have disproportionately high rates of smoking. . . . The AAFP's tobacco cessation program, Ask and Act, encourages members to ask their patients about tobacco use and to then act to help them quit. Through the Ask and Act program, AAFP members have access to a variety of resources to help patients quit using tobacco, American Family Physician ann@aafp.org Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=633256 http://tobacco.org/news/293089.html The less you smoke, the more birthdays you'll have, says the American Cancer Society as it encourages smokers to quit on Thursday, the day of the 34th Great American Smokeout. Research shows that smokers who quit at age 35 gain an average of eight years of life expectancy, and those who quit at 55 gain about five years. Even long-time smokers who quit at age 65 gain three years. Smokers who quit before age 50 cut their risk of death within the next 15 years in half compared to people who continue to smoke. In addition, a former smoker's lung cancer risk 10 years after quitting smoking is about half that of someone who still smokes, the society said. There are immediate health benefits, too. Heart rate and blood pressure decrease 20 minutes after people have their last cigarette. HealthDay [HealthScout] Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=11532939 http://tobacco.org/news/293003.html Hospitals across southwest Florida are banning smoking completely. It's impacting more than just employees, like Adrienne Jones. She used to smoke a pack a day. "Our lunch hour, smoke as many as you can instead of eating," admits Jones. That attitude stopped a year ago when her 42-year old husband, also a smoker, suffered a heart attack. "It was sudden," said Jones. "We didn't expect it, we didn't know he had a bad heart." Health concerns are the main reason her employer, Lee Memorial Health System, is installing a tobacco ban on all their properties starting November 19. WBBH NBC2 support@nbc-2.com Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/532423.html?nav=5047 http://tobacco.org/news/293002.html In conjunction with The Great American Smoke Out, an annual event aimed at helping people quit smoking, Westfield Memorial Hospital will become a tobacco-free campus today. According to a press release from the hospital, the new policy will prohibit the use of any type of tobacco product such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes and chewing tobacco anywhere on the hospital's grounds, and the policy will affect all employees, physicians, visitors, patients, volunteers, vendors and other medical staff. "As a healthcare provider, we were going to do it for a year, but we had so many changes with the Berger Commission that we didn't want to do it until now," said Tina Newell, a community educator at Westfield Memorial Hospital. Dunkirk Observer Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT