SmokeFree Wisconsin

New Study: Exploring race, menthol smoking, and cessation.

2009-11-11T08:51:00.000-06:00

Before discussing the new study we will provide a little background on menthol, particularly in African American communities. As recent at 2005, it has been reported that nearly 75% of African American smokers use menthols (compared to 30% of white smokers). This is no coincidence- the tobacco industry manipulated the marketing of menthol cigarettes throughout the sixties and seventies. It has been well documented through industry documents that the Brand Kool was changed to appeal to a segregated, urban population of African Americans (See abstract of study) . Kool was viewed as new, hip, and healthy.This industry manipulation has lead to a disproportionately high incidence of tobacco-related death and disease within African American communities. It has been shown that targeted marketing is highly effective. With this background let's examine the study.

Drs. Gunderson, Delnevo, and Wackowski released a study that examined the issue of menthol, race, and cessation.Utilizing data from the 2005 US National Health Interview Survey they found a few key points:

African American/Black and Lation menthol smokers were less likely to have quit smoking
Supports the idea that menthol smoking can decrease success of cessation efforts, but only for Black and Latino menthol smokers.

Want to know more? The tbest factsheet that clearly outlines the issue of tobacco disparities related to African Americans can be found at Tobacco-Free Kids. The best factshet that shows how the tobacco industry has unjustly manipulated the African American market is here.

Nationally there is the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network, which is fighting back against unjust targeting of communities of color. In Wisconsin we have a statewide network that is working reduce the burden of tobacco within African American communities.

USA Today: Our opinion on public health: E-cigarettes pose risks

2009-11-10T11:07:00.001-06:00

USA Today has picked up the e-cig issue. It seems everyone is talking about e-cigs these days. The question they ask, and that public health and tobacco control is asking is clear; is this stuff safe? Is it reasonable to deduce that because the product doesn't contain "tobacco" it is safe?

Nobody knows and that is a problem.

Manufacturer's of these products don't have the research to back up their claims. The USA Today editorial makes a few important points outlines below:

While both sides await a federal judge's ruling, e-cigarettes are on the market (kits with the e-cigarette and nicotine cartridges generally sell for $70 to $150). And contrary to the old adage, what you don't know can hurt you. Among the reasons to be wary:

— Most e-cigarettes are made in China, the source of lead-tainted toys and melamine-laced dog food. Need we say more about the need for oversight?

— When the FDA randomly tested the nicotine cartridges, it discovered carcinogens and a toxic chemical found in anti-freeze. Still, the most worrisome ingredient is nicotine itself. The FDA strictly regulates it in patches, gum and other smoking-cessation products, and it has banned nicotine lollipops and water. E-cigarettes deserve to be treated like other nicotine-delivery devices.

— E-cigarettes come in flavors — from traditional menthol to chocolate and strawberry — that might lure curious youngsters and prompt them to move on to the real thing. Distributors say their product is for adults only, but who's to stop young people from buying it? Only a few locales have banned sales to minors.

— Despite protests from the Electronic Cigarette Association that its members don't make claims about helping smokers quit, plenty of sellers make far more outrageous health claims. In recent weeks, one marketer claimed e-cigarettes reduce the risk of heart disease and touted an endorsement by a physician-and-nurses group. Another website, which says it reviews e-cigarettes, went them one better: It claims, based on a 1942 study, that an ingredient in e-cigarettes could prevent flu and other respiratory diseases.

The most important point that article makes is this, "All the public has to go on now is the word of the product's marketers. Before consumers inhale something that gives them "vapes" of highly addictive nicotine, they might want an independent authority testing the product to see what's in it." If the e-cig makers are anything like their Big Tobacco counterparts, truth in advertising is bent at the expensive of health and in the favor of profits.

FDA: moving into a new era in tobacco control research

2009-11-09T10:06:00.000-06:00

Dr. Cathy L. Backinger of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)- Tobacco Control Research Branch wrote an important release about tobacco control research. She outlines some of the important areas that the FDA will regulate including candy flavored cigarettes and mild and light labels. She also highlights some important funded research initiatives: improving effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions among low-income adults and preventing and reducing smokeless tobacco use. In 2010 continued efforts to expand our knowledge through an ever expanding body of research about tobacco and how to help people quit. NCI intends to move into funding research that examines state and community tobacco control and exploring media relations.

Continued research that helps to improve the effectiveness of tobacco control is extremely important. Any new studies that are released will ultimately help Wisconsin better address the number one cause of preventable death and disease in our state. Wisconsin citizens are not as educated about new product innovations, like Camel Snus, as they are about the hazards of smoking. As the FDA's new regulation over tobacco continues, improved research will emerge. The overall effectiveness of Wisconsin's tobacco control efforts will improve and more research is released.

Racine: Glad you asked

2009-11-06T09:00:00.000-06:00

Recently The Journal Times of Racine published a question about fire safe cigarettes.

"What chemical are they putting in the fire-safe cigarettes to make them go out? Maybe it'll kill smokers faster than the tobacco does."

The answer is, "It would help if tobacco companies fully disclosed their ingredients, said Maureen Busalacchi, executive director of the nonprofit SmokeFree Wisconsin. Still, enough is known that thin bands of extra paper cause them to burn out, not a chemical.

Mike Moore adds, "Advocates for laws requiring businesses to sell only the fire-safe kind - Wisconsin's law took effect last month - point to a Harvard University study. Researchers found that five of 19 toxic compounds were found in higher levels in fire-safe cigarettes, but the report states nothing suggests "these increases affect the already highly toxic nature of cigarette smoke."

I don't speak Scientist, but I think the translation is "If you don't want to die, don't smoke."

November is lung cancer awareness month

2009-11-05T09:00:00.015-06:00

Please join us in honoring lung cancer awareness month this Novemeber. It is estimated that there will be 3,960 new lung cancer case diagnosed this year (American Cancer Society, 2009). It is also estimated that nearly 3,000 people will die in Wisconsin alone from lung cancer.

Especially for those who work in tobacco control this is a time to reflect on the important work that we do. Many organizations, like the American Cancer Society, the UW Carbone Cancer Center, and others will take time this month to celebrate the voices of lung cancer survivors. For example, later this month UW-Carbone Cancer Center will be hosting an event on November 12th in Middleton. For details click here.

Lung cancer kills far too many people each year. We know that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer with secondhand smoke exposure being associated with increased risk. Nearly 90% of lung cancer diagnoses are linked back to tobacco use.

To raise awareness the Lung Cancer Alliance created a really cool video to view it, how it was made and more CLICK HERE.

UW-CTRI: Combining cessation medications best for successfully quitting.

2009-11-04T12:45:00.000-06:00

Earlier this week UW-Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI) released a new study about the effectiveness of common quit-smoking strategies . The study compared a variety of nicotine replacement therapies such as lozenges, the patch, buproprion (brand name Wellbutrin). They also examined combinations such as the patch and the lozenge or buproprion and the lozenge. They also measured effectiveness of a placebo. They did not examine varenicline (brand name Chantix) the nasal spray, gum, or other methods.

This study found that combining over-the-counter (OTC) nicotine replacement patches and nicotine replacement lozenges lead to more successful attempts to quit. Using any one of the methods was more effective than trying to quit with the placebo, the equivalent to cold turkey. This study is important in a number of ways. Most notably and especially timely is that many people who smoke do not have healthcare or have limited access to their doctor. People who make the choice to quit can take the money that would have gone to purchasing tobacco and pick up OTC smoking cessation methods.

While it is important to talk to a physician whenever making decisions about your health, for those who lack access to medical providers, there is some hope.

Big Tobacco whines to President Obama about Canada

2009-11-03T09:23:00.000-06:00

Its hard to be sympathetic to Big Tobacco, but that is exactly what they want- sympathy. Specifically, they want President Obama to challenge the Canadian ban on candy flavored cigarettes and small cigars. The argument is that Canada's ban on candy flavored tobacco violates WTO (World Trade Organization) obligations. What Big Tobacco fails to mention is that their interference in this matter violates the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). While the US is not signed on, as of yet, Canada is. The FCTC states that the tobacco industry must not interfere with the setting of health policy. Attempting to frame this as a trade issue misses the point entirely. Canada set forth this policy as part of their health agenda and while the ban restricts imports, the overall goal is to improve the health of the citizens of Canada.

They are trying to capitalize on a down economy and say that they provide jobs for growers of tobacco in the US. They have gone so far as to enlist a senator from a tobacco state to block the nomination of the deputy US Trade Representative.

This issue raises some important questions:

While there might be jobs in growing tobacco, are these jobs that contribute to the health and well-being of the population?
Would farmers in tobacco states be best served by growing vegetables for the communities, instead of tobacco?

To read the full article click here

New York City: No more flavored tobacco products

2009-11-02T09:41:00.013-06:00

New York is leading the way on prohibiting Tobacco Products like spit tobacco and flavored cigars

On Wednesday October 28th the Mayor of the City of New York signed an ordinance that would prohibit the sale of most forms of flavored tobacco products. This comes after the FDA prohibited the sale of flavored cigarettes late last month. The City Council approved restricting the sales of many flavors such as chocolate, honey, cherry, grape, or spice flavors but did not address menthol, mint, or evergreen.
This legislation is an important step forward for public health. Data shows that the sale of little cigars, like the Captain Black cherry variety shown to the right has increased by 240% between 1997-2007. Little cigars are sold in singles or packs of twenty for very low prices compared to a pack of cigarettes.

During that same time cigarillo sales increased by almost 150%. Cigarillos are smaller cigars, sold as singles or packs of five like what is shown to the left. This particular product is sour apple flavor. Again a pack of Phillies or Swisher Sweets are $1 for a single and $3-4 per 5-pack. Of note is the fact that larger cigars shown below actually DECREASED in sales by 6%. These are not usually sold in flavors, but are typically pretty expensive costing $10 or more dollars per cigar. These are not sold in gas stations like some of the other products discussed earlier.

The other product affected by this legislation is flavored chew, like the peach Skoal seen below. Skoal, Wolf, and other spit tobacco products are sold in single cans, sometimes in pre-measured pouches, or sometimes loose leaf or long-cut varieties. They are also sold in five packs. These sell in the range of $3-4 a can and a 5 pack is under $20.

This legislation will open the door for other communities to move forward.
The penalties for violators of the new city law may be fined up to $2,000 or have their tobacco-vending license suspended.These are pretty significant charges and hardly worth the sale of these products. Will Wisconsin be next to address this gap in the FDA legislation?

What can you do?

Get out there and look at these products!

If you have not educated yourself on these products please do so. It is very enlightening to see the little cigars, cigarillos, and candy flavored spit tobacco. This is a new way Big Tobacco works around increased cigarette taxes and the lack of social acceptability of cigarette smoking.

Let your elected officials know these products are out there and are dangerous.

Elected officials need to know that the work of tobacco control is not done yet in Wisconsin. Big Tobacco is far from gone and we have a long way to go to reduce our burden of tobacco.

For more information:

Best resource on Cigars, Cigarillos, and Little Cigars

Full post from the NY Times

Wausau Daily Herald: Anti-smoking advocates dismayed by state cuts on heels of tax hike

2009-11-02T09:18:00.000-06:00

The Wausau Daily Herald got it right this time. Tobacco Prevention and Control Advocates are extremely dismayed by the significant cuts in tobacco control dollars especially while the cigarette tax was increased in the last budget. For smokers who are ready to quit- the Wisconsin Quit Line is not going to have the capacity to offer the type of service they have offered in the past. The Tobacco Prevention and Control program will not be out educating folks about the dangers of tobacco and the deceptive practices of corporate tobacco.

To read the article click here

L. A. smoke-free outdoor dining

2009-10-30T09:29:00.008-06:00

Earlier this week the L.A. Times reported that some city council members are supportive of a smoke-free outdoor dining ordinance. The city has already worked to remove secondhand smoke from parks, farmer's markets, and city beaches. The new ordinance would prohibit smoking within 10 feet of outdoor dining areas and 40 feet from food carts, food kiosks, and the like. The City Council champions are Greig Smith and Dennis Zine.
Per the usual in debates about smoke-free workplaces, a Big Tobacco sponsored organization is fighting the regulations. The policy could go to the full city council as early as next month.

Unfortunately for Wisconsin, we are not allowed to take action on the local level to make our outdoor dining areas smoke-free. Big Tobacco used a front group to ensure that patrons and workers will not have the right to be protected from secondhand smoke. Hopefully in the future, the restrictions at the state-level can be repealed and local city councils, village boards, and county supervisors will take up the issue of smoke-free outdoor dining.

Interference: ICD-9 Project Big Tobacco's strategy to prevent attributing illnes to secondhand smoke

2009-10-29T07:54:00.000-06:00

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) in its 9th revision is a code book for every ailment, treatment, procedure, and cause. Back in 1994 Big Tobacco, specifically Phillip Morris, planned a project (with $2 million financial backing) to prevent secondhand smoke (SHS) from being included in ICD-9. The ICD has three types of codes: diagnosis, treatment, and e-code or causal code. If the causal classification of SHS was included it would mean death and disease caused by SHS would be directly attributable to Big Tobacco. It would make it much easier to determine the direct costs of secondhand smoke on the government. Naturally, Big Tobacco was going to fight this, interference style (pictured left).

Their plan to fight this inclusion of a causal classification code would mean that even if a doctor knew a particular ailment was caused by SHS, it would be impossible to record the causal code. A review of tobacco industry documents shows that Big Tobacco used a fake lobbying group, Multinational Business Services, Inc.(MBS), to avoid any causal link being made to secondhand smoke exposure. On behalf of Phillip Morris, MBS submitted documents questioning the science behind secondhand smoke.

This was in 1994!

The science was clear then and the science is clear now.

The industry also argued that the costs associated with the inclusion of this code would be huge for both the public and private sectors. One doesn't need scientific proof to know that Phillip Morris would be made vulnerable to additional law suits, workers compensation claims due to workplace exposure, and so forth if this code was included. Moreover the financial toll of death and disease from direct and indirect inhalation of tobacco smoke is already costing us millions of dollars every year, regardless of a classification code. Perhaps pushing paper is more important to Phillip Morris then they would like to admit.

A 2005 article from Health Affairs says, "The tobacco industry has thus far undermined the collectionof data on secondhand smoke’s relationship to illness.These findings exemplify the use of politics to influence science.The medical and public health communities need to be made awareof these different codes and the potential for tobacco industryinterests to undermine their use."

For Wisconsin, as well as the rest of the nation, this means that even though we know secondhand smoke is dangerous and causes disease, tobacco industry interference has prevented us from gathering accurate data. The question remains, what would tobacco control look like, if there was no tobacco industry interference? What would Wisconsin's tobacco control efforts look like if Phillip Morris did not employ front groups to block and stall a comprehensive statewide smoke-free air law?

The most infuriating tobacco industry document related to this issue. The full journal article is available here.

Emerging Issue: Smoke-Free Casinos

2009-10-28T09:00:00.032-06:00

This post is the first in a series of posts related to the emerging issue of smoke-free casinos and gaming venues. We will be featuring a guest blogger who is working on smoke-free casino efforts. We will also be featuring recent articles, reports, studies, and other relevant information.

Earlier this year an important report was released that will ultimately open the door to smoke-free casinos. While it has been well documented that secondhand smoke (SHS) it is a health hazard; research and air quality monitoring specific to casinos had yet to be released. All that changed when the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Report was issued.

This is what the study did:

talked to casino dealers about their symptoms resulting from exposure to SHS
collect urine samples to determine if SHS was absorbed into the bodies of dealers
conducted general health questionnaires
measured exposure to SHS with air quality and personal measures

What they found:

dealers reported having symptoms related to SHS
SHS was present in the air
found SHS components within urine*

*specifically they found NNAL, a known lung cancer causing agent

The conclusions of the report are to make casinos smoke-free, promote cessation, and ensure ventilation systems are working. We know ventilation is not enough. We also know quitting is not enough. The only way to ensure casino workers are receiving the same protections that many other workers are already enjoying is to make casinos smoke-free.

What about Wisconsin?

Unfortunately, Wisconsin does not have smoke-free gaming
All of our casinos and gaming facilities are tribal operated
Given the sovereignty of tribal nations, it is up to the individual tribes to enact policy to ensure all workers are protected

What can I do?

Join the movement for smoke-free gaming!
Let the casinos and gaming establishments you frequent know- smoke-free is the way to be!

The single best resource on smoke-free gaming- featuring people who have the facts about poker and smoke-free environments. There is also a great website on Smoke-free Gaming. If you are looking for what national leaders in the smoke-free movement (ANR) are talking about in terms of smoke-free gaming- we highly recommend visiting this site.

Study in progress: Barriers to Effective Tobacco-Dependence Treatment for the Very Poor

2009-10-27T10:54:00.000-06:00

UW-Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI) is conducting a study focusing on Milwaukee's poorest neighborhoods. Using zip codes to narrow the participant pool the findings of their research are astonishing.

First, a little more about the area and survey participants.

Demographics for the area are as follows:

52.3% female
28 median age
56.4% African American
31.3% White
7.8% Latino
$12,832 per capita income with 33% living below the federal poverty line
56% have a high school diploma or less in terms of education

In more simple terms this is a relatively young population, primarily African American, and very poor. The intention of the study was to examine what prevents people in the neighborhood from accessing cessation services.

It was discovered that 42% of the population smokes, more than twice the state average of just under 20%.

Below are some of the findings:

participants who smoked thought that most other people smoke as well
2/3 thought it was ok to smoke so long as it didn't affect others
50%+ thought the medication used to quit smoking were more dangerous than continuing to smoke
50%+ had not heard about the Wisconsin Quitline
38% have never tried to quit

This study is still in progress so please check back for more information about reaching challenging populations.

Altria still raking in the profits despite recession and drop in sales

2009-10-26T09:02:00.002-06:00

Behind that shiny corporate feel good logo is Phillip Morris- a company that has been deceiving the American public for far too long. Altria annouced that its profits rise another 1.7% in the third quarter despite high rates of unemployment, a deep recession, and lack of "consumer confidence." Altria is the parent company of Phillip Morris and markets death and disease under the names of Marlboro, Parliament, Virginia Slims, and Basic.

Big Tobacco reported that retailers reduced inventory and consumers slowed purchases due to the federal tax increase. In order to protect profits, Big Tobacco raised the price of its products in advance of the federal cigarette tax to ensure that more money was going into the pockets of these convicted racketeers.

Despite the annual decline in cigarette sales Phillip Morris and other members of Big Tobacco have been moving into the spit market as marked by Altria's purchase to buy U.S. Smokeless Tobacco (UST). UST is the maker of Skoal and Copenhagen. Altria is also the owner of Black and Mild Cigar Company. Not only do they sell cigarettes- they sell cigars, spit, and new products like Snus.

The purchase and marketing of spit tobacco and cigarettes is a movement by the industry to ensure they maintain a consumer base that is far too addicted to their many different products to quit one or all. To go one step further Big Tobacco is creating products that can be used anytime, anywhere. They even made Marlboro Snus, capitalizing on the branding of Marlboro and hopefully moving people into smokeless products. The public health impact of these new products are unknown. People are beginning to use a spit or smokeless product in certain settings and still smoke in the places where smoking is still allowed.

So, what does this mean for Wisconsin? The marketing of tobacco products is changing. In Wisconsin communities Big Tobacco is promoting its new products, giving out free samples of new products, and ensuring it replaces the customer base it is losing to higher taxes, smoke-free laws, and most importantly, death and disease.

What can you do?

Become a Big Tobacco Slueth!
Go inside gas stations/convenient stores and look at the new products- where are they located, what flavors are available, what does the packaging look like?
Ask clerks about the new products, ask questions like who buys them, what do they think of them?
Snap pictures of displays or advertising if possible
Post comments on the blog about your findings!

At my local convenient store- they have a huge banner for Camel Snus- SOLD COLD with promotional literature on how to use it and even a built-in promotional refrigerator. The clerk reports that sales are up. I could understand why, I am on the mailing list and have been receiving free coupons and buy one, get one coupons once a month for the last year.

Note: Altria is the parent company all the products shown above and responsible for thousands of cases of tobacco related death and disease.

Recent Study: Over the 30 million US workers are lighting up

2009-10-24T09:07:00.000-06:00

A new study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that nearly 33.5 million full-time employees ages 18 to 64 reported smoking in the past month. "The study provides important insight and updated information that can be used to assist in the developing or refining smoking-cessation efforts to specific workplace groups," said Eric Broderick, the acting administrator at SAMHSA. "The workplace is an ideal location for programs to educate employees about the risks of smoking and programs to promote smoking cessation to reduce risks of illnesses such as heart disease and cancer."

What is important to know:

The top employment category is food-preparation and serving-related jobs (44.7% current smokers)
Next highest employment category smoking rate is construction workers and miners (42.9% current smokers)
The lowest employment categories were education, training, and library fields (12.3% reported smoking in the last month)
18-25 year olds have the highest recent history of smoking (having smoked in the past month).
Men smoked at higher rates than women.

Click here to see the Full report

Beloit Daily News: Anti-smoking funds cut

2009-10-23T12:14:00.000-06:00

Just today Beloit Daily News is discussing the funding cuts to the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program:
"lthough Wisconsin taxpayers are paying more for cigarettes, programs aimed at curbing smoking are getting cut.

State Rep. Kim Hixson, D-Whitewater, Rep. Chuck Benedict, D-Beloit, and Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, are co-sponsoring a bill moving through the legislature that would restore some of the funding to tobacco-related programs like the statewide Quit Line.

“At a time when both the state and federal cigarette taxes have increased substantially, more smokers are wanting to quit and it is very difficult to do it on their own,” Robson said. “They need a plan and they need support. The type of phone counseling and medications offered by the Quit Line have shown great success in helping people quit. Unfortunately, funding has been cut for these important services,” the article stated.

Click here to read the whole article

Dangerously Smooth Clove Smoke

2009-10-23T09:31:00.000-06:00

Late last month the FDA outlawed the sale of cigarettes with flavors like clove, strawberry or vanilla. While there were some push back from smokers of clove cigarettes a recent report shows how important this restriction is to public health. There is a chemical in cloves that is responsible for numbing the throat and giving smokers the impression that these cigarettes are less harsh than others. The burning cloves releases a chemical called eugenol, a topical anesthetic used by dentists to numb the mouth. For smokers, inhaling clove smoke means numbing the throat, which allows them to breathe the smoke in more deeply. "Most officials agree that when young people smoke cloves, they can get hooked faster because of the anesthetic, eugenol, in the cloves," said Richard Hurt, director of the Nicotine Dependence Center at the Mayo Clinic. "In many respects, clove cigarettes are more dangerous" than other flavored cigarettes, he said.

What you need to know:

Clove cigarettes are a thing of the past thanks to the FDA
Manufacturers of cloves are exploiting a loophole to keep their product on the market (creating little clove cigars)
The burning of cloves releases a dangerous chemical, eugenol
Eugenol is a dangerous additive that numbs the throat and increases the likelihood of addiction

Great Article in the Janesville Gazette

2009-10-22T09:57:00.002-06:00

JANESVILLE — Much of Rock County Youth2Youth’s funding went up in smoke when Wisconsin’s anti-smoking and smoking cessation programs lost 55 percent of their state funding.

Funds in the 2009-11 budget signed by Gov. Jim Doyle cut total funding for anti-tobacco programs by more than half, from $15.3 million a year to $6.9 million.

Debbie Fischer, director of the countywide coalition, reacted to the cuts with disbelief.

“The statewide smoking free air (bill) passed and there was a large increase for cigarette tax, which means people are going to need help quitting (smoking). It’s almost like they said our work is done. But we’re so far from that,’’ she said.

Read the full article by clicking here

Recent Report Shows Smoking Cessation Saves Health Care Costs

2009-10-22T08:42:00.011-06:00

Earlier this month the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) released a

report about employers and tobacco cessation. "Tobacco cessation is one of the most cost-effective activities an employer can implement to improve the health and productivity of their employees while reducing health care costs," the report stated. The report also, "finds that health plans are playing an important role in administering smoking cessation benefits and encouraging physicians and other providers to focus on smoking cessation through education, tools, and incentives."

What you need to know:

Employers pay the cost of higher health care, increased absenteeism, increased life insurance premiums, and lower productivity when they have employees who smoke
Employer-based tobacco cessation programs should follow CDC best practice
Employer-based tobacco cessation programs save money and save lives
Working with employers locally to improve their coverage is an important pathway to reducing Wisconsin's burden of tobacco

Helpful resource to use with employers who are ready to save valuable healthcare dollars:

Coverage for Tobacco Use Treatments

UW-CTRI also has great information for employers trying to reduce their costs.

Congratulations to Flaherty & Associates.

2009-10-21T10:31:00.000-06:00

We have exciting news to share with you. A lesser known ally in our efforts to defeat Big Tobacco are the public relations firm, Flaherty & Associates. Mike Flaherty and Connie Fedor (pictured left, along with Maureen Busalacchi, Executive Director of SmokeFree Wisconsin) have been in tobacco control in Wisconsin long before there was even a little something called the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. They were out there fighting Big Tobacco when the Master Settlement Agreement and the Tobacco Control Board first came into existence.

Last week their hard work spanning over a decade finally paid off in the form of one of the most prestigious awards, Award of Excellence.

The Public Relations Society of America- Madison Chapter (PRSA-Madison) presented its highest honor to Flaherty & Associates for the firm’s “Holding Our Breath for Smoke-free Air” campaign. Michael Flaherty, principal of the firm, accepted the award October 15 at a luncheon at Madison’s Hilton Hotel. To receive an Alchemy Award is quite an honor, but receive the "Award of Excellence" award is beyond most PR firms wildest dreams.

Our Tobacco-Free hats are off to the team who worked tirelessly to bring smoke-free air to Wisconsin! Thanks to both Connie and Mike!

More on E-Cigarettes

2009-10-19T15:05:00.000-06:00

This morning I was getting my daily dose of talk radio and they featured an ad about electronic cigarettes.
The ad contained statements like:

"Try this product totally free, over a $130 value, yours free!"

"Tobacco-free product that will help you or your loved one quit"

"A safer alternative to smoking"

"Call this number for your free trial offer"

All of this seemed in keeping with other advertising we have seen about the emerging marketing of electronic cigarettes. Throughout the day I tried to call the number but it was busy every time. This product is also widely available in mall kiosks.
What was missing from this ad and from mall kiosks are disclaimers saying that this product has not been thoroughly tested in clinical trials by the FDA like other cessation devices or pharmaceuticals. These ads and kiosks also don't have the disclaimer that these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. It is curious as to how a company can claim a product is safer without providing the evidence that the product is indeed safer.
Continue to check back here as more develops on the issue of e-cigarettes.

IOM: Smoke-free laws reduce heart attacks

2009-10-16T07:20:00.000-06:00

Earlier this week more evidence was added to the mountain of scientific proof showing smoke-free laws are good for health. The Institute of Medicine released a study this week addressing heart attacks and smoke-free laws. While there has been significant debate in the scientific community on the effect that smoke-free protections have on reducing heart attacks, the debate is finally over.

Here is what you need to know about the study:

Secondhand smoke exposure increases risks of heart disease and attacks and can cause heart attacks
After smoke-free laws are implemented there is an immediate reduction in heart attack rates
Smoke-free laws save lives, immediately after they are put in place
We must protect all workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke

The first heart attack study was conducted in Helena, MT and has been replicated in other places. However there were some studies that didn't show a significant reduction in heart attacks. The Institute of Medicine clarifies that there is an immediate reduction in heart attack rates and proves once and for all smoke-free laws are good for heart health.

If you read just one other resource about this new study I would recommend:

Americans for Non-Smokers' Rights Press Release

However if want a full report filled with all the facts and figures the full scientific report is available as well.

Soldier dies after lung transplant

2009-10-15T09:36:00.001-06:00

According to a CNN article a solider died after receiving a lung transplant from a person who was a heavy smoker. "Corporal Matthew Millington, 31, died at his home in 2008, less than a year after receiving a transplant that was supposed to save his life at Papworth Hospital -- the UK's largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital, in Cambridgeshire, east England," the article stated. After the transplant cancerous cells were found leading to the need for radiation therapy.

To read the full article please click here.

This sad article points to the tragedy of receiving less than healthy lungs. It also asks the question should smokers' lungs be used in cases of transplant?

NicVAX: Nicotine vaccine may be closer to reality

2009-10-14T08:54:00.001-06:00

With more than 440,000 annual preventable deaths being attributed to smoking, something that helps people to find their permanent path to cessation is of the utmost importance. While there are many options currently, the problem of tobacco on the state, national, and global levels is far from gone. The good news is a nicotine vaccine may be closer to reality thanks to some help from federal stimulus dollars.

The intention behind this vaccine is prevent re-lapses among smokers who have successfully quit and as an aid to help people quit in the first place. Because nicotine dependency and addiction are very difficult to treat, this vaccine presents hope for current smokers and for former smokers those who have found a successful way to quit and want to keep it that way.

How does the vaccine work?
NicVAX (registered trademark of Nabi Biopharmaceuticals) is a nicotine deriative bond chemically to a specially selected carrier protein using patented vaccine technology. NicVAX causes the immune system to produce anti-bodies that bind to nicotine and prevent it from entering the brain. The intention is for the anti-bodies the immune system produces to act as sponges which soak up all the nicotine and prevent it from going to the brain. Blocking nicotine from entering the brain helps to curb the reward system that creates and maintains nicotine addiction.

How close are we?
A large grant was given to Nabi Pharmaceuticals to enter into third phase clinical trails. This is the final trial and thus far it has proven very successful in helping smokers who are ready to quit get over the hump of the initial withdrawal period.

Emerging Issue: Smoke-free housing

2009-10-13T09:24:00.010-06:00

In July 2009 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a memo in support of smoke-free public housing. The memo intended to encourage local public housing authorities to designate some or all of their units as smoke-free. The HUD memo points to the scientific evidence that secondhand smoke is not just annoying, it's dangerous. The science points to making all public housing smoke-free due to the nature of secondhand smoke. Because of the immense efforts of trying to get a statewide smoke-free law passed SFW has not fully explored the issue of smoke-free housing. We hope to join the states who have already taken the step to protect people from the dangers of secondhand smoke in a a place many people spend nearly 70% of their time.

To see what other states are doing on the issue of smoke-free housing click on the links below (many cities, and other states not listed).

Minnesota is making great strides in smoke-free housing.

So is New York

Maine

Oregon

and California

To read the latest smoke-free housing news visit the website for Americans for Non-Smokers Rights.