Tobacco

American Lung Association Calls Upon Lawmakers to Reinvigorate their Commitment to Tobacco Control by Joining the Smokefree 2010 Challenge

WASHINGTON, D.C., August, 12, 2008— Despite 46 states and the District of Columbia receiving an estimated $1 billion in additional funds this April from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, a new report from the American Lung Association finds fewer states are implementing policy initiatives to reduce tobacco use than in recent years.

The 2008 mid-term update to the American Lung Association’s State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues or SLATI report, uncovered a pattern of decreased and flat funding for state tobacco control programs.    » read more »

New CDC Study Shows Dangers of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke

August 13, 2008 -- Burlington, VT – During August and September, the Vermont Department of Health wants to help Vermonters create smoke-free zones to protect both children and adults from being exposed to the dangers of secondhand smoke.    » read more »

Las Vegas, NV – The International Association of Fire Fighters has announced the launch of a new initiative to help fire fighters, family members and friends to quit smoking cigarettes.

“Our goal is to help make the IAFF the first smoke-free union,” IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger said in his address to delegates at the IAFF 49th Convention.

Cigarette butts: Photo by The Other

The IAFF is collaborating with pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. to promote smoking cessation. Schaitberger and Pfizer CEO Jeff Kindler first announced the joint initiative at the IAFF Health and Safety Conference in Chicago, Illinois, in October 2007.    » read more »

August, 2008 -- Home fire deaths are higher in states that have a greater percentage of smokers, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study published this month in the journal Injury Prevention. If smoking at home is reduced or stopped, fewer residential fire deaths may result, the study said.    » read more »

Durham, NC -- 16 June 2008 -- In the past decade, many Americans and Europeans have become more aware of the dangers of smoking. Large tobacco companies have seen their cigarette sales in these countries plummet as legislators have passed laws forbidding smoking in restaurants, bars and many other public places. But other tobacco sales are increasing.

New research from the Harvard School of Public Health has found that in the U.S. the drop in sales of cigarettes has been accompanied by increased sales of tobacco in other forms. This increase appears to offset at least a third of the drop in cigarette sales.

Sales of small cigars has increased in the United States, as cigarette sales declined
Sales of small cigars have increased in the United States, as cigarette sales declined    » read more »

Relevant Areas to be Smoke-Free in 90 Days

June 13, 2008 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today signed into law the Clean Indoor Air Act, which will protect Pennsylvanians from the deadly health effects of secondhand smoke by prohibiting smoking in most public places, including restaurants, workplaces and a portion of casino floors.

Cigarette: Photo by Bruce (CC)    » read more »

June 6, 2008 -- A new report reveals how the Smoke-Free Arizona Act led to healthier environments for employees and patrons of Arizona restaurants and bars and to indoor workplaces free from the deadly effects of secondhand smoke.

Since the law took effect May 1, 2007, complaints about indoor smoking have dropped dramatically to less than 200 a month from about 1,400 in the first month, according to the first annual report on the Smoke-Free Arizona Act.

"We are proud to state that one year after the Law went into effect, a high level of compliance has been achieved statewide. Most employers responded well in creating smoke-free workplaces while the number of complaints declined significantly, this resulting in cleaner air for Arizona residents," the report concludes.    » read more »

May 26, 2008 -- ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers have found that carrying a common genetic disorder doubles the risk of developing lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers.

The study is published in the May 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal published by the American Medical Association.

Cigarette butts: Photo by mfshadow (CC)    » read more »

April 24, 2008 -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal will testify before a congressional committee later today in Washington D. C. supporting a measure to prohibit mail shipments of cigarettes and other tobacco products. If passed, the bill would effectively end sales of cigarettes and tobacco products over the Internet.

Cigarette butts: Photo by The Other

The nation's private delivery services -- including United Parcel Service, Federal Express and others -- already have a voluntary ban on shipment of cigarettes and other tobacco products.    » read more »

04/16/2008 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson and State Treasurer Scott Meacham said Oklahoma has received more than $85.1 million from the tobacco industry, 75 percent of which went directly into the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund.

Cigarette: Photo by ritcharnd moskow (CC)    » read more »

State Receives $146.1 Million Payment

April 16, 2008 -- Jefferson City, Mo. - The state of Missouri this week received $146.1 million in the latest payment made possible by the historic 1998 agreement obtained by Attorney General Jay Nixon with the tobacco companies.

Cigarette butts: Photo by Lynn (CC)

The $146,168,168.10 received on Tuesday (April 15) brings the total that Missouri has received from the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) to $1,385,640,020.50. Nixon said an additional payment is expected in the next few days.    » read more »

Legislation will ban smoking in public places after July 1st

April 15, 2008 -- Iowa Governor Culver signs the Smoke Free Air Act into law.DES MOINES – Today, Governor Chet Culver signed House File 2212 – the Smoke Free Air Act -- into law, making Iowa the 14th state in the nation to pass a statewide smoking ban that includes restaurants, bars and workplaces.    » read more »

April 13, 2008 -- SAN DIEGO — Smoking puts older women at significant risk for loss of DNA repair proteins that are critical for defending against development of some colorectal cancers, according to research from a team led by Mayo Clinic scientists.

In a study being presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the researchers found that women who smoked were at increased risk for developing colorectal tumors that lacked some or all of four proteins, known as DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins.

Smoking: Photo by JonF119 (CC)    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- PHILADELPHIA - Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett today joined with the American Lung Association and 45 other tobacco control, prevention and health-related organizations from across Pennsylvania to encourage Governor Rendell and the General Assembly to dedicate the new estimated $25 million payment from the tobacco settlement to be used for tobacco prevention and cessation programming.

Cigarette butts: Photo by Dave Wilcox (CC)    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today signed LD 2012, “An Act To Protect Children in Vehicles from Secondhand Smoke.” The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Brian Duprey (R-Hampden), was at the ceremony, as well as numerous supporters of the legislation.

Cigarette outside a car window: Photo by joka2000 (CC)    » read more »