Only two businesses out of 26 tobacco retailers sold tobacco products, it is supposed to be cigarettes Winston cigarettes or Camel cigarettes to an under-age decoy during an unannounced sting operation carried out by the Atascadero Police Department on Thursday, Dec. 9, according to Atascadero Police Detectives/Community Response Officers Keith Falerios and Nick Coughlin. That was down from eight violations reported during a similar sting on Aug. 9. Employees at Walgreens and Chevron on Morro Road sold tobacco to the underage decoy.
The heat generated by that sting prompted the Atascadero City Council to consider a licensing ordinance for local tobacco retailers.
“The Tobacco Compliance Plan is a step in the right direction for more consistent accountability where tobacco and minors are concerned,” said Christina Lefevre, a health education specialist for the county’s tobacco control program.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Cigarette verdict may be felt across US
It was hardly only Marie Evans. The Rev. Michael E. Haynes, retired pastor of the Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury, said he saw attractive young women in green outfits handing out cigarettes to people 50 years ago in Frederick Douglass Square, the heart of the city’s black community.
Leroy M. Jenkins, 73, who grew up in Roxbury’s Orchard Park near Evans and her family, said he received some of the cigarettes as a teenager after finishing classes for the day at Dearborn Middle School.
“They’d be out there waiting for us,’’ Jenkins said in an interview.
The family of Evans, who died of lung cancer in 2002, more than 40 years after she was induced to smoke Newport cigarettes as a teenager, won an individual lawsuit last week against Lorillard Inc., but the groundbreaking case has exposed an industrywide marketing strategy that began a half-century ago to promote cigarettes to youngsters. In Evans’s case it was Newport, a brand particularly popular among young smokers and the black community. Tobacco companies deny targeting youngsters in the campaigns.
But with the unprecedented, $152 million jury judgment in favor of Evans’s family, the case could have a ripple effect on court decisions and public policy decisions across the country, as smokers weigh whether to file their own lawsuits and federal officials consider a ban on menthol cigarettes.
“This is an important decision, in that it shows that tobacco litigation is still alive and well,’’ said Michael Siegel, a tobacco control specialist with the Boston University School of Public Health. “There’s kind of a perception that tobacco companies have paid their dues, and we’re moving forward, but this shows from the public perception that we’re not done yet, and that the public wants justice.’’
The judgment, $71 million in compensatory damages for Evans’s estate and her son, and $81 million in punitive damages for her estate, is among the largest in the country from a tobacco wrongful death suit, and the largest for any trial in a Massachusetts court, industry analysts said. And it’s not over yet: Judge Elizabeth Fahey, who presided over the trial in Suffolk Superior Court, is considering whether to award more money under the state’s consumer protection laws.
Lorillard,producer of Kent cigarettes based in Greensboro, N.C., acknowledged a sampling strategy a half-century ago but denied ever passing out cigarettes to youngsters or targeting minorities. The company, which never lost a lawsuit brought by an individual until Dec. 14, plans to appeal the jury’s decision.
The Evans case was based in large part on the tobacco industry’s internal documents that exposed a misinformation campaign, and an effort to specifically market to youngsters.
One letter filed with the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, an archive of millions of industry documents released under lawsuits and kept by the University of California at San Francisco, shows that Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, wrote the Tobacco Institute in 1988 raising concerns with the distribution of Newports to minors during a Fourth of July fair in New York City.
Leroy M. Jenkins, 73, who grew up in Roxbury’s Orchard Park near Evans and her family, said he received some of the cigarettes as a teenager after finishing classes for the day at Dearborn Middle School.
“They’d be out there waiting for us,’’ Jenkins said in an interview.
The family of Evans, who died of lung cancer in 2002, more than 40 years after she was induced to smoke Newport cigarettes as a teenager, won an individual lawsuit last week against Lorillard Inc., but the groundbreaking case has exposed an industrywide marketing strategy that began a half-century ago to promote cigarettes to youngsters. In Evans’s case it was Newport, a brand particularly popular among young smokers and the black community. Tobacco companies deny targeting youngsters in the campaigns.
But with the unprecedented, $152 million jury judgment in favor of Evans’s family, the case could have a ripple effect on court decisions and public policy decisions across the country, as smokers weigh whether to file their own lawsuits and federal officials consider a ban on menthol cigarettes.
“This is an important decision, in that it shows that tobacco litigation is still alive and well,’’ said Michael Siegel, a tobacco control specialist with the Boston University School of Public Health. “There’s kind of a perception that tobacco companies have paid their dues, and we’re moving forward, but this shows from the public perception that we’re not done yet, and that the public wants justice.’’
The judgment, $71 million in compensatory damages for Evans’s estate and her son, and $81 million in punitive damages for her estate, is among the largest in the country from a tobacco wrongful death suit, and the largest for any trial in a Massachusetts court, industry analysts said. And it’s not over yet: Judge Elizabeth Fahey, who presided over the trial in Suffolk Superior Court, is considering whether to award more money under the state’s consumer protection laws.
Lorillard,producer of Kent cigarettes based in Greensboro, N.C., acknowledged a sampling strategy a half-century ago but denied ever passing out cigarettes to youngsters or targeting minorities. The company, which never lost a lawsuit brought by an individual until Dec. 14, plans to appeal the jury’s decision.
The Evans case was based in large part on the tobacco industry’s internal documents that exposed a misinformation campaign, and an effort to specifically market to youngsters.
One letter filed with the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, an archive of millions of industry documents released under lawsuits and kept by the University of California at San Francisco, shows that Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, wrote the Tobacco Institute in 1988 raising concerns with the distribution of Newports to minors during a Fourth of July fair in New York City.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Feds spend millions on cigarette pack labels
Health Canada spent more than $3.6 million developing new warning labels for cigarette packages, newly released documents show.The warning labels will be on all of the brands, no matter it is the best brand like Marlboro cigarettes or is Astra cigarettes.
There's a dispute over whether the new labels will even make it onto the packs, with critics saying the government has scrapped the plan and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq insisting it will go ahead.
From 2004 to 2010, Health Canada spent almost $1.9 million on public opinion research, like focus groups, about the warnings. The department doled out $945,090 in contracts for mock-up cigarette packs, literature reviews, text revisions and organizing meetings, according to documents provided to the House of Commons health committee.
But in September, then-B.C. health minister Ida Chong said Aglukkaq told the provincial and territorial ministers the labels wouldn't go ahead because the department wanted to focus on contraband cigarettes.
Last week, Aglukkaq denied the project was dead.
“I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a step back to re-examine whether we are making the investment in the right place,” she said.
Aglukkaq said more people are smoking contraband cigarettes, which come in plastic bags and don't have warning labels, and that the department's trying to use social media like Facebook and Twitter to get its message out.
In a statement Wednesday, Aglukkaq said the department is still looking at the research on how to best reach smokers.
“To ensure that we communicate our anti-smoking messages effectively, we are examining innovative options including social media,” she said, adding the feds spend $15.7 million a year to cut smoking rates.
A spokesman for the Canadian Cancer Society said the government could still move ahead with the labelling even if Health Canada wants to design a social media plan. It takes six months to a year to get through the regulatory process with the labels.
“The current warnings have been on packages for 10 years, unchanged, and are stale,” said Rob Cunningham.
Opposition MPs say Aglukkaq has being influenced by the tobacco industry.
“Why aren't we moving ahead with this? The evidence is there. We know that it works. It doesn't make any sense except for caving to the tobacco lobby,” NDP health critic Megan Leslie said.
“The labels were introduced in 2000, There was a dramatic drop in the number of smokers and a dramatic increase in the number of quits. That has flatlined.”
Liberal health critic Ujjal Dosanjh said ads have to be updated to have any impact.
“It's absolutely shameful. Reprehensible,” to let the campaign drop, he said.
There's a dispute over whether the new labels will even make it onto the packs, with critics saying the government has scrapped the plan and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq insisting it will go ahead.
From 2004 to 2010, Health Canada spent almost $1.9 million on public opinion research, like focus groups, about the warnings. The department doled out $945,090 in contracts for mock-up cigarette packs, literature reviews, text revisions and organizing meetings, according to documents provided to the House of Commons health committee.
But in September, then-B.C. health minister Ida Chong said Aglukkaq told the provincial and territorial ministers the labels wouldn't go ahead because the department wanted to focus on contraband cigarettes.
Last week, Aglukkaq denied the project was dead.
“I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a step back to re-examine whether we are making the investment in the right place,” she said.
Aglukkaq said more people are smoking contraband cigarettes, which come in plastic bags and don't have warning labels, and that the department's trying to use social media like Facebook and Twitter to get its message out.
In a statement Wednesday, Aglukkaq said the department is still looking at the research on how to best reach smokers.
“To ensure that we communicate our anti-smoking messages effectively, we are examining innovative options including social media,” she said, adding the feds spend $15.7 million a year to cut smoking rates.
A spokesman for the Canadian Cancer Society said the government could still move ahead with the labelling even if Health Canada wants to design a social media plan. It takes six months to a year to get through the regulatory process with the labels.
“The current warnings have been on packages for 10 years, unchanged, and are stale,” said Rob Cunningham.
Opposition MPs say Aglukkaq has being influenced by the tobacco industry.
“Why aren't we moving ahead with this? The evidence is there. We know that it works. It doesn't make any sense except for caving to the tobacco lobby,” NDP health critic Megan Leslie said.
“The labels were introduced in 2000, There was a dramatic drop in the number of smokers and a dramatic increase in the number of quits. That has flatlined.”
Liberal health critic Ujjal Dosanjh said ads have to be updated to have any impact.
“It's absolutely shameful. Reprehensible,” to let the campaign drop, he said.
Surgeon general says a whiff of cigarette smoke can hurt you
Any exposure to tobacco smoke can cause immediate damage to your body, according to a report set to be released Thursday by the U.S. surgeon general.
Coming out 46 years after the groundbreaking surgeon general's report that first alerted the public to the dangers of smoking, the new study focuses on the changes that tobacco smoke causes to the body — not just of smokers, but also those who breathe secondhand smoke.
"There is no safe level of exposure to cigarette smoke," Surgeon General Regina Benjamin said. "The chemicals in tobacco smoke reach your lungs quickly every time you inhale, causing damage immediately. Inhaling even the smallest amount of tobacco smoke can also damage your DNA, which can lead to cancer."
One finding: Tobacco smoke leads to inflammation and injury of tissues throughout the body and, experts say, that leads to many diseases.
"Having a state of chronic inflammation not only increases your risks of heart attacks and strokes, but it's also implicated in cancer and pulmonary disease," said Dr. Stanton Glantz, a cardiologist and director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at UC San Francisco.
Many people smoke brands like Lucky Strike cigarettes or Camel cigarettes , but they do not realise what effects they have on their health.
The report also finds that, though quitting smoking can reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes, cutting back doesn't have much of an effect.
"If you're a light active smoker, that's almost as bad as being a heavy active smoker," Glantz said. "That's because of the inflammatory processes occur at very, very low doses."
The report, which gathered research from scientists around the country, comes to six conclusions:
•There is no risk-free level of exposure to tobacco smoke. Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause cardiovascular disease and could trigger acute cardiac events, such as heart attack.
•Inhaling the complex mixture of compounds in tobacco smoke can cause cancer, cardiovascular disease and lung disease because of damage to the body's DNA. Massive amounts of free radicals in cigarette smoke cause inflammation and oxidative stress, damaging cells, tissues and organs.
•How likely it is that you'll get a smoking-related disease — and how severe the disease will be — is directly related to how long you smoke and your level of exposure to tobacco smoke.
•Tobacco products are powerfully addictive, because of the many types of nicotine receptors in the brain and the complex ways that other chemicals react with nicotine.
•Even low levels of exposure to smoking or secondhand smoke can damage and inflame the lining of blood vessels, which contributes to blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.
•There isn't enough evidence to prove that changing cigarette designs to lower the emissions of certain toxic ingredients will reduce the risk of major disease to smokers.
Coming out 46 years after the groundbreaking surgeon general's report that first alerted the public to the dangers of smoking, the new study focuses on the changes that tobacco smoke causes to the body — not just of smokers, but also those who breathe secondhand smoke.
"There is no safe level of exposure to cigarette smoke," Surgeon General Regina Benjamin said. "The chemicals in tobacco smoke reach your lungs quickly every time you inhale, causing damage immediately. Inhaling even the smallest amount of tobacco smoke can also damage your DNA, which can lead to cancer."
One finding: Tobacco smoke leads to inflammation and injury of tissues throughout the body and, experts say, that leads to many diseases.
"Having a state of chronic inflammation not only increases your risks of heart attacks and strokes, but it's also implicated in cancer and pulmonary disease," said Dr. Stanton Glantz, a cardiologist and director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at UC San Francisco.
Many people smoke brands like Lucky Strike cigarettes or Camel cigarettes , but they do not realise what effects they have on their health.
The report also finds that, though quitting smoking can reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes, cutting back doesn't have much of an effect.
"If you're a light active smoker, that's almost as bad as being a heavy active smoker," Glantz said. "That's because of the inflammatory processes occur at very, very low doses."
The report, which gathered research from scientists around the country, comes to six conclusions:
•There is no risk-free level of exposure to tobacco smoke. Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause cardiovascular disease and could trigger acute cardiac events, such as heart attack.
•Inhaling the complex mixture of compounds in tobacco smoke can cause cancer, cardiovascular disease and lung disease because of damage to the body's DNA. Massive amounts of free radicals in cigarette smoke cause inflammation and oxidative stress, damaging cells, tissues and organs.
•How likely it is that you'll get a smoking-related disease — and how severe the disease will be — is directly related to how long you smoke and your level of exposure to tobacco smoke.
•Tobacco products are powerfully addictive, because of the many types of nicotine receptors in the brain and the complex ways that other chemicals react with nicotine.
•Even low levels of exposure to smoking or secondhand smoke can damage and inflame the lining of blood vessels, which contributes to blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.
•There isn't enough evidence to prove that changing cigarette designs to lower the emissions of certain toxic ingredients will reduce the risk of major disease to smokers.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
MSU to become tobacco-free
Morehead State University announced today (Nov. 18) that it will become tobacco-free July 1, 2011, joining more than 400 colleges and universities throughout the country that have similar polices.
Based on the recommendations of a committee composed of students, faculty and staff, the University will extend its current policies prohibiting the use of all tobacco products in its buildings to the entire campus, according to President Wayne D. Andrews.
Chewing and smokeless tobacco products also will be included in the ban.
“It is the policy of this University to promote the health, well-being and safety of our students, faculty and staff, as well as visitors to the campus. The University has an opportunity to dramatically impact the health and welfare of the members of our community and guests by making a change in the current campus tobacco practices,” said Dr. Andrews.
The announcement coincides with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout held annually on the third Thursday in November. According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S. It is estimated that the annual cost of tobacco use to an employer averages $3,783 per smoker per year.
Students, faculty and staff will be offered help to quit smoking before the new policy goes into effect. Students can contact the Caudill Health Clinic to begin a cessation program while faculty and staff will be able to receive information on smoking cessation assistance from MSU’s Office of Human Resources.
Based on the recommendations of a committee composed of students, faculty and staff, the University will extend its current policies prohibiting the use of all tobacco products in its buildings to the entire campus, according to President Wayne D. Andrews.
Chewing and smokeless tobacco products also will be included in the ban.
“It is the policy of this University to promote the health, well-being and safety of our students, faculty and staff, as well as visitors to the campus. The University has an opportunity to dramatically impact the health and welfare of the members of our community and guests by making a change in the current campus tobacco practices,” said Dr. Andrews.
The announcement coincides with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout held annually on the third Thursday in November. According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S. It is estimated that the annual cost of tobacco use to an employer averages $3,783 per smoker per year.
Students, faculty and staff will be offered help to quit smoking before the new policy goes into effect. Students can contact the Caudill Health Clinic to begin a cessation program while faculty and staff will be able to receive information on smoking cessation assistance from MSU’s Office of Human Resources.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Argentina drags feet on tobacco control
As the third-largest population among the 20-odd countries still resisting ratification of the World Health Organization’s 2003 Convention on Tobacco Control (after the United States — notoriously allergic to joining international conventions of any kind — and Indonesia), Argentina is very much in the sights of the global anti-smoking campaign — it thus might or might not be a coincidence that this city was chosen for the sessions of the WHO study group on regulating tobacco products from Monday until yesterday.
Around a quarter of all Argentine adults or some 6.5 million people smoke, reported Dr Douglas Bettcher, Director of the Global Programme for Tobacco Free Initiative, and half of them will eventually die of tobacco-related disease — at the rate of 40,000 a year plus 6,000 victims of passive smoking (the worldwide figures are five million deaths and 600,000 respectively). Underpopulated Argentina needs its people, Bettcher pleaded.
So why the hesitation in joining the mainstream of 169 countries ratifying the convention? Mainly the lobbying of northwestern tobacco provinces (which include Tucumán — curiously the first of four Argentine provinces to enforce smoke-free public spaces thanks to current national Health Minister Juan Luis Manzur) in defence of jobs. But Brazil has a much larger tobacco industry, pointed out Brazil’s Vera Costa e Silva, and has ratified the convention without any jobs being lost — the smoking universe of around a billion people globally does not shrink amid rising world population. Jobs are being transformed by a fast-changing economy anyway. What job losses there have been result from mechanization by a greedy tobacco industry, adds Bettcher, who points out that the earnings of tobacco-growers in Indonesia are less than half other farmers.
Just how far would the anti-smoking campaign like to go in restricting tobacco products, the Herald asked at yesterday’s press conference, pointing out that prohibition of alcohol had given birth to Al Capone while Mexico today is being torn apart by drug cartels. Prohibition is neither feasible nor practical and is not sought, Bettcher replied — it would create the biggest crime syndicate ever with fearsome money-laundering and terrorist links. The study group’s aim would be the strict regulations of convention perhaps carried a few steps further — for example, Australia’s recent plain packaging legislation.
The strategy is to kill the tobacco business by taking away the demand, not banning the product.
The WHO campaign against tobacco continues to be based on the health hazards, as it has been for decades, but there are a few new twists — for example, emphasis on the toxic waste caused by cigarette butts and the attraction of sharply increasing cigarette taxation in these times of exploding fiscal deficits, one of the few areas where taxation is not only safe from being counterproductive but is downright useful in public health terms (Japan, Australia, France and the US have all gone down this road).
In general, the WHO experts feel that Argentina could do much better and would like to see the anti-smoking legislation now in force in Santa Fe (also Neuquén, San Luis and Tucumán) nationwide.
Around a quarter of all Argentine adults or some 6.5 million people smoke, reported Dr Douglas Bettcher, Director of the Global Programme for Tobacco Free Initiative, and half of them will eventually die of tobacco-related disease — at the rate of 40,000 a year plus 6,000 victims of passive smoking (the worldwide figures are five million deaths and 600,000 respectively). Underpopulated Argentina needs its people, Bettcher pleaded.
So why the hesitation in joining the mainstream of 169 countries ratifying the convention? Mainly the lobbying of northwestern tobacco provinces (which include Tucumán — curiously the first of four Argentine provinces to enforce smoke-free public spaces thanks to current national Health Minister Juan Luis Manzur) in defence of jobs. But Brazil has a much larger tobacco industry, pointed out Brazil’s Vera Costa e Silva, and has ratified the convention without any jobs being lost — the smoking universe of around a billion people globally does not shrink amid rising world population. Jobs are being transformed by a fast-changing economy anyway. What job losses there have been result from mechanization by a greedy tobacco industry, adds Bettcher, who points out that the earnings of tobacco-growers in Indonesia are less than half other farmers.
Just how far would the anti-smoking campaign like to go in restricting tobacco products, the Herald asked at yesterday’s press conference, pointing out that prohibition of alcohol had given birth to Al Capone while Mexico today is being torn apart by drug cartels. Prohibition is neither feasible nor practical and is not sought, Bettcher replied — it would create the biggest crime syndicate ever with fearsome money-laundering and terrorist links. The study group’s aim would be the strict regulations of convention perhaps carried a few steps further — for example, Australia’s recent plain packaging legislation.
The strategy is to kill the tobacco business by taking away the demand, not banning the product.
The WHO campaign against tobacco continues to be based on the health hazards, as it has been for decades, but there are a few new twists — for example, emphasis on the toxic waste caused by cigarette butts and the attraction of sharply increasing cigarette taxation in these times of exploding fiscal deficits, one of the few areas where taxation is not only safe from being counterproductive but is downright useful in public health terms (Japan, Australia, France and the US have all gone down this road).
In general, the WHO experts feel that Argentina could do much better and would like to see the anti-smoking legislation now in force in Santa Fe (also Neuquén, San Luis and Tucumán) nationwide.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Salem State extends smoking ban to entire campus
SALEM — Salem State College will ban smoking on its entire campus beginning next September, instituting what may be the toughest policy of any public four-year college in the state.
"It appears we're the first university ... in Massachusetts to go in this direction," college spokeswoman Karen Cady said yesterday.
Salem State currently prohibits smoking in residence halls and college buildings. The new policy will extend to athletic fields, walking paths and everywhere else on the college's three campuses.
The policy will apply not only to students and staff, but to construction workers, deliverymen or anyone else who steps foot on college grounds.
The stern action was taken following a yearlong study by a college committee, which surveyed more than 1,200 students, faculty, administrators and staff.
"The university has an opportunity to dramatically impact the health and welfare of the members of our community and guests by making a change in the currently accepted campus smoking practices," Executive Vice President Stanley Cahill wrote in an e-mail distributed around the college yesterday.
"One major concern revealed by the campus survey is that 25 percent of the respondents have respiratory health conditions. ... Fifty-nine percent of all respondents indicated their experience on campus was negatively impacted by secondhand smoke."
Salem State said it will launch a yearlong campaign to prepare the campus for the change to a tobacco-free campus.
There are plans to offer smoking-cessation programs to students and staff and to educate members of the college community about the harmful effects of smoking, secondhand smoke and other tobacco products, Cahill wrote in the e-mail.
The administrator also said that "tobacco cessation products and medicines may be prescribed to our students by university health services professionals."
In addition to tobacco products that can be smoked, the ban will include chewing and smokeless tobacco products.
With this move, Salem State joins more than 260 colleges and universities across the country that have banned smoking and tobacco products on campus, according to Cahill.
In Massachusetts, three community colleges — Cape Cod, Bristol and Mount Wachusett — have taken similar steps, Cady said.
Although the study was initiated by President Patricia Meservey, the collegewide survey showed that "this is the direction the majority of respondents wanted to go," Cady said.
Meservey made the final decision to implement a ban, beginning at the start of the 2011-2012 academic year, based on the committee's recommendation, Cady said.
During its deliberations, the committee considered the potential impact this could have on admissions and hiring but decided that health considerations were paramount, Cady said.
"There will probably be some potential students and employees who will be attracted to us for this reason," she said, "and there will probably be some who might think twice."
"It appears we're the first university ... in Massachusetts to go in this direction," college spokeswoman Karen Cady said yesterday.
Salem State currently prohibits smoking in residence halls and college buildings. The new policy will extend to athletic fields, walking paths and everywhere else on the college's three campuses.
The policy will apply not only to students and staff, but to construction workers, deliverymen or anyone else who steps foot on college grounds.
The stern action was taken following a yearlong study by a college committee, which surveyed more than 1,200 students, faculty, administrators and staff.
"The university has an opportunity to dramatically impact the health and welfare of the members of our community and guests by making a change in the currently accepted campus smoking practices," Executive Vice President Stanley Cahill wrote in an e-mail distributed around the college yesterday.
"One major concern revealed by the campus survey is that 25 percent of the respondents have respiratory health conditions. ... Fifty-nine percent of all respondents indicated their experience on campus was negatively impacted by secondhand smoke."
Salem State said it will launch a yearlong campaign to prepare the campus for the change to a tobacco-free campus.
There are plans to offer smoking-cessation programs to students and staff and to educate members of the college community about the harmful effects of smoking, secondhand smoke and other tobacco products, Cahill wrote in the e-mail.
The administrator also said that "tobacco cessation products and medicines may be prescribed to our students by university health services professionals."
In addition to tobacco products that can be smoked, the ban will include chewing and smokeless tobacco products.
With this move, Salem State joins more than 260 colleges and universities across the country that have banned smoking and tobacco products on campus, according to Cahill.
In Massachusetts, three community colleges — Cape Cod, Bristol and Mount Wachusett — have taken similar steps, Cady said.
Although the study was initiated by President Patricia Meservey, the collegewide survey showed that "this is the direction the majority of respondents wanted to go," Cady said.
Meservey made the final decision to implement a ban, beginning at the start of the 2011-2012 academic year, based on the committee's recommendation, Cady said.
During its deliberations, the committee considered the potential impact this could have on admissions and hiring but decided that health considerations were paramount, Cady said.
"There will probably be some potential students and employees who will be attracted to us for this reason," she said, "and there will probably be some who might think twice."
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
AUSTRALIA - WORLD SET TO FOLLOW AUSTRALIAN TOBACCO POLICY.
Despite intense opposition from the international tobacco industry, Australia's plan to introduce plain-wrap cigarettes is likely to be followed by other countries, the Health Minister, Nicola Roxon (Nicola.Roxon.MP@aph.gov.au) says.
September 19, 2010 - Australia - plain cigarette packaging will legislation be written to avoid any legal challenge..
The tobacco industry spent a reputed $4 million during the federal election to campaign against plain packaging of cigarettes , criticising the Labor plan as unprecedented.
September 11, 2010 - Australia - documents reveal big tobacco directly involved in stopping move to plain cigarettes in 2012...
But Ms Roxon said the positive reaction of ministers from other Western countries to the policy showed that the tobacco companies' campaign was based on a false premise.
She told the (Sydney Morning) Herald she had encountered "a lot of interest" from health ministers at an Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development conference (OECD) in Paris last week. A key theme of the conference was measures to reduce health costs at a time of tight government budgets. Ms Roxon said that cutting tobacco use was often raised as a solution during discussions at the conference.
Representatives from Ireland, Norway, the European Union and the United States had expressed interest. "From my perspective, the broader the interest there is, the better." The tobacco companies have made clear they will fight this tooth and nail because they think if it gets through here it will be a precedent.
Ms. Roxon: "Interestingly a lot of the other countries were very quick to understand that that fight is actually a bit of a false one because a lot of them are interested anyway. It is sort of an inevitable step along a spectrum of taking action against tobacco. What I was heartened by is the potential that other countries would like to move in this direction irrespective of ours, which makes the tobacco company fight with us a little different. People were pretty gob-smacked about the amount of money the tobacco companies spent during the campaign, especially relative to the amount of money the political parties spent."
Ms Roxon said that among the "very positive" indications she had received was the interest from a senior US health official who had a background in tobacco control. He had told her about legislation giving the US federal government more powers over tobacco content and labelling. (The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act; President Obama signs bill for FDA to regulate tobacco..)
Australia has reduced the proportion of smokers in the population to 15.5 per cent and the death toll from smoking-related diseases has fallen to about 15,000 - down by about 3000 from a decade earlier.
September 23, 2010 - Australia - tobacco tax increase results in more people quitting..
Ms Roxon said she expected drafting of the legislation and the Health Department's assessment of the plain packaging policy to start by the end of the year.
The anti-tobacco campaigner Professor Simon Chapman, of Sydney University, said it appeared the tobacco industry was scaling down its campaign. There had been suggestions that the industry was to continue with a multimillion-dollar campaign during the football final telecasts, but this did not eventuate.
September 19, 2010 - Australia - plain cigarette packaging will legislation be written to avoid any legal challenge..
The tobacco industry spent a reputed $4 million during the federal election to campaign against plain packaging of cigarettes , criticising the Labor plan as unprecedented.
September 11, 2010 - Australia - documents reveal big tobacco directly involved in stopping move to plain cigarettes in 2012...
But Ms Roxon said the positive reaction of ministers from other Western countries to the policy showed that the tobacco companies' campaign was based on a false premise.
She told the (Sydney Morning) Herald she had encountered "a lot of interest" from health ministers at an Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development conference (OECD) in Paris last week. A key theme of the conference was measures to reduce health costs at a time of tight government budgets. Ms Roxon said that cutting tobacco use was often raised as a solution during discussions at the conference.
Representatives from Ireland, Norway, the European Union and the United States had expressed interest. "From my perspective, the broader the interest there is, the better." The tobacco companies have made clear they will fight this tooth and nail because they think if it gets through here it will be a precedent.
Ms. Roxon: "Interestingly a lot of the other countries were very quick to understand that that fight is actually a bit of a false one because a lot of them are interested anyway. It is sort of an inevitable step along a spectrum of taking action against tobacco. What I was heartened by is the potential that other countries would like to move in this direction irrespective of ours, which makes the tobacco company fight with us a little different. People were pretty gob-smacked about the amount of money the tobacco companies spent during the campaign, especially relative to the amount of money the political parties spent."
Ms Roxon said that among the "very positive" indications she had received was the interest from a senior US health official who had a background in tobacco control. He had told her about legislation giving the US federal government more powers over tobacco content and labelling. (The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act; President Obama signs bill for FDA to regulate tobacco..)
Australia has reduced the proportion of smokers in the population to 15.5 per cent and the death toll from smoking-related diseases has fallen to about 15,000 - down by about 3000 from a decade earlier.
September 23, 2010 - Australia - tobacco tax increase results in more people quitting..
Ms Roxon said she expected drafting of the legislation and the Health Department's assessment of the plain packaging policy to start by the end of the year.
The anti-tobacco campaigner Professor Simon Chapman, of Sydney University, said it appeared the tobacco industry was scaling down its campaign. There had been suggestions that the industry was to continue with a multimillion-dollar campaign during the football final telecasts, but this did not eventuate.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Smokeless Tobacco
Current or previous users should report any of the following signs to a physician:
a sore that bleeds and does not heal
a lump or thickening anywhere in your mouth or cheek
soreness or swelling in the mouth that does not go away
a red or white patch that does not go away
difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving the tongue of jaw
LIVING WITHOUT
SMOKELESS TOBACCO
Quitting is an ongoing process-You may have slips when you feel a strong urge to use chew.
A slip is normal, but it does not mean you have relapsed-A one-time use of snuff does not mean you are now a failure. Use a slip or occasional lapse to learn how you can deal with that situation next time. It is normal to have slips. Now put your effort into staying off totally.
The main goal is to stop using smokeless totally-If you had a “slip” and used snuff or chew, this may be a situation you want to avoid for awhile or learn to handle differently next time.
Even if you went back to using smokeless again, quit again-Each time you quit, it will be easier.
People who quit tobacco addictions often have to try several times-Make a new plan and quit again-for good!
THE FOUR A’S
AVOID-One way to deal with tough situations is to avoid settings or activities that are high risk situations until you have been off chew or snuff long enough to have more confidence being a non-user.
ALTER-This strategy is to alter you plan to better deal with the urge. Think of ways you can change your pattern of behavior to break up the usual plans.
ALTERNATIVES-When you get an urge to chew, you can substitute gum (sugar-free is best), sunflower seeds (unsalted are best), beef jerky, or herbal (non-tobacco) snuff (like ground mint or clover leaves) for your usual chew.
ACTIVITIES-A lot of people chew or use snuff when bored or sitting around. When you get an urge to use chew, take a walk or bike ride, work out on weights, or any other exercise or activity that can take your mind off the urge to chew.
a sore that bleeds and does not heal
a lump or thickening anywhere in your mouth or cheek
soreness or swelling in the mouth that does not go away
a red or white patch that does not go away
difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving the tongue of jaw
LIVING WITHOUT
SMOKELESS TOBACCO
Quitting is an ongoing process-You may have slips when you feel a strong urge to use chew.
A slip is normal, but it does not mean you have relapsed-A one-time use of snuff does not mean you are now a failure. Use a slip or occasional lapse to learn how you can deal with that situation next time. It is normal to have slips. Now put your effort into staying off totally.
The main goal is to stop using smokeless totally-If you had a “slip” and used snuff or chew, this may be a situation you want to avoid for awhile or learn to handle differently next time.
Even if you went back to using smokeless again, quit again-Each time you quit, it will be easier.
People who quit tobacco addictions often have to try several times-Make a new plan and quit again-for good!
THE FOUR A’S
AVOID-One way to deal with tough situations is to avoid settings or activities that are high risk situations until you have been off chew or snuff long enough to have more confidence being a non-user.
ALTER-This strategy is to alter you plan to better deal with the urge. Think of ways you can change your pattern of behavior to break up the usual plans.
ALTERNATIVES-When you get an urge to chew, you can substitute gum (sugar-free is best), sunflower seeds (unsalted are best), beef jerky, or herbal (non-tobacco) snuff (like ground mint or clover leaves) for your usual chew.
ACTIVITIES-A lot of people chew or use snuff when bored or sitting around. When you get an urge to use chew, take a walk or bike ride, work out on weights, or any other exercise or activity that can take your mind off the urge to chew.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Another reason to stop smoking: Your pets' health
Amid growing evidence that secondhand smoke is causing cancers and possibly a range of other health problems in pets, many groups are intensifying efforts to encourage people to stop smoking — if not for their own sake, then for their animals'.
Veterinarians are redoubling efforts to warn smokers of the dangers to their pets, and smoking-cessation programs, including Utah Tobacco Prevention and Control, Breathe New Hampshire and smokefreesociety.org, have posted fact sheets or printable fliers on their websites. Some groups are sharing information where animal aficionados gather, including at last month's Dachshund Dash in Oklahoma City, where the Oklahoma County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition warned of secondhand smoke's dangers to dogs.
And the ASPCA last month linked up with American Legacy Foundation, a stop-smoking group, to spread the word to the pet lovers of the world.
Studies have shown that toxins in secondhand smoke can cause lung and nasal cancer in dogs and malignant lymphoma in cats.
"The evidence is striking," says Steven Hansen of the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center.
"Most veterinarians believe pretty strongly secondhand smoke presents a strong danger to dogs and cats with pre-existing respiratory problems," he says. "And extrapolating, why would you expose a healthy animal?"
Although studies showing strong links between smoking and pets are limited to a few cancers, veterinary oncologist Aarti Sabhlok, who treats 40 or more cancer patients a week at San Francisco Veterinary Specialists, believes an "animal in an environment with constant exposure to a toxin, and that would include cigarette smoke, could be at greater risk of developing tumors."
It may seem odd to believe that people who continue to smoke despite the risks to themselves and others might pay heed when pets' health is jeopardized, "but we know people sometimes pay more attention to their pets' well-being," Hansen says.
Indeed, a Web-based survey of 3,293 adult pet owners published last year found that 48% were smokers or living with smokers, and 37% said clear evidence that smoking is harmful to their pets would motivate them to quit or ask the people they live with to quit; 14% said such evidence could prompt them to do all their smoking outside.
"We want people to have the facts," Hansen says. And "if a person needs one more reason to stop smoking, maybe this is it."
Veterinarians are redoubling efforts to warn smokers of the dangers to their pets, and smoking-cessation programs, including Utah Tobacco Prevention and Control, Breathe New Hampshire and smokefreesociety.org, have posted fact sheets or printable fliers on their websites. Some groups are sharing information where animal aficionados gather, including at last month's Dachshund Dash in Oklahoma City, where the Oklahoma County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition warned of secondhand smoke's dangers to dogs.
And the ASPCA last month linked up with American Legacy Foundation, a stop-smoking group, to spread the word to the pet lovers of the world.
Studies have shown that toxins in secondhand smoke can cause lung and nasal cancer in dogs and malignant lymphoma in cats.
"The evidence is striking," says Steven Hansen of the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center.
"Most veterinarians believe pretty strongly secondhand smoke presents a strong danger to dogs and cats with pre-existing respiratory problems," he says. "And extrapolating, why would you expose a healthy animal?"
Although studies showing strong links between smoking and pets are limited to a few cancers, veterinary oncologist Aarti Sabhlok, who treats 40 or more cancer patients a week at San Francisco Veterinary Specialists, believes an "animal in an environment with constant exposure to a toxin, and that would include cigarette smoke, could be at greater risk of developing tumors."
It may seem odd to believe that people who continue to smoke despite the risks to themselves and others might pay heed when pets' health is jeopardized, "but we know people sometimes pay more attention to their pets' well-being," Hansen says.
Indeed, a Web-based survey of 3,293 adult pet owners published last year found that 48% were smokers or living with smokers, and 37% said clear evidence that smoking is harmful to their pets would motivate them to quit or ask the people they live with to quit; 14% said such evidence could prompt them to do all their smoking outside.
"We want people to have the facts," Hansen says. And "if a person needs one more reason to stop smoking, maybe this is it."
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
What Are Electronic Cigarettes
Are you are smoker? If you are, you have probably already heard about the new technology called electronic cigarettes or e-cig for short. But what exactly is this new phenomenon about? Well it is a new way to smoke any type of tobacco product, whether it be a cigarette, a pipe, or cigar, it is meant to be an alternative way of smoking.
This device is battery operated and does not involve the use of tobacco or any type of combustion, it is all electronic. The way that it works is that it provides nicotine through the use of a solution called propylene glycol/nicotine which is vaporized and inhaled through the device. The nicotine doses can be flavored and offer the same physical sensation as if one was smoking a real cigarette.
They are shaped to look like a long tube, with the most common shape being that of a ballpoint pen but they can resemble the appearance of a real cigarette. Although there can be many different forms, they all have the following components:
•A mouthpiece or "cartridge" which is a small disposable cup that is at the end of the tube and made of plastic and can be refilled or replaced.
•Absorbent material - this is placed inside the device and contains the flavored nicotine liquid solution.
•Heating element or "atomizer"- this is the device that causes the liquid to vaporize in the mouthpiece for it to be inhaled when smoking electronic cigarettes.
•Rechargeable battery- this is a standard lithium-ion battery.
•Electronic circuits - the main one being an electronic airflow sensor, which is a mandatory component. Other circuits include an LED indicator light to signal operation of the device.
Due to the fact that these devices do not have the combustion of traditional tobacco, they are being marketed as a better and healthier alternative to smoking real tobacco and as a way to break the nicotine habit or addiction.
In conclusion, if you are looking for an alternative to having to go outside to brave harsh elements of the various seasons or are looking for a healthier alternative to smoking, then these electronic cigarettes may be for you. These cigarettes can provide you with the smoking sensation that you are used to and provide a wide variety of flavors without having to worry about the harmful effects of real tobacco.
This device is battery operated and does not involve the use of tobacco or any type of combustion, it is all electronic. The way that it works is that it provides nicotine through the use of a solution called propylene glycol/nicotine which is vaporized and inhaled through the device. The nicotine doses can be flavored and offer the same physical sensation as if one was smoking a real cigarette.
They are shaped to look like a long tube, with the most common shape being that of a ballpoint pen but they can resemble the appearance of a real cigarette. Although there can be many different forms, they all have the following components:
•A mouthpiece or "cartridge" which is a small disposable cup that is at the end of the tube and made of plastic and can be refilled or replaced.
•Absorbent material - this is placed inside the device and contains the flavored nicotine liquid solution.
•Heating element or "atomizer"- this is the device that causes the liquid to vaporize in the mouthpiece for it to be inhaled when smoking electronic cigarettes.
•Rechargeable battery- this is a standard lithium-ion battery.
•Electronic circuits - the main one being an electronic airflow sensor, which is a mandatory component. Other circuits include an LED indicator light to signal operation of the device.
Due to the fact that these devices do not have the combustion of traditional tobacco, they are being marketed as a better and healthier alternative to smoking real tobacco and as a way to break the nicotine habit or addiction.
In conclusion, if you are looking for an alternative to having to go outside to brave harsh elements of the various seasons or are looking for a healthier alternative to smoking, then these electronic cigarettes may be for you. These cigarettes can provide you with the smoking sensation that you are used to and provide a wide variety of flavors without having to worry about the harmful effects of real tobacco.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Stop Smoking with Hypnotherapy
We have all heard how bad tobacco products are for our health. Smoking is an addiction that is very difficult to quit, but there are proven techniques that help increase your chances of not only quitting smoking, but never smoking a cigarette again. One of the most effective treatments in helping people to finally stop smoking is the alternative method of hypnotherapy.
According to the American Heart Association, 47.1 million people smoke in the United States. Of men in the United States, 23.5% smoke and out of women in the United States, 18.1% smoke. The statistics are even higher when looking at the worldwide statistics of cigarette smokers.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, 50 of which are known to cause cancer. According to WHO, half of the world's population of children (700 million children) are exposed to tobacco smoke. The International Labour Organization estimates that 200,000 people around the world die from second-hand smoke at work. These statistics show that not only is it important for an individual to quit smoking, but it is also important that they quit for the health of those around them as well.
Smoking is a physical and mental addiction. People become used to the feeling they get from a cigarette. They get used to having a cigarette in their hand and it occupies a great deal of time throughout their day; smokers become used to having an oral fixation with cigarettes. These are all physical aspects of their habit. The mental addiction can be more difficult to overcome. The actual addiction is mental and there is very little someone can do physically to help overcome the mental addiction to cigarettes.
Moses (1987) performed research on treating smoking with hypnotherapy. The researcher points out that smoking deals with habit, addiction, and willpower. All three of these aspects are difficult to treat alone, let alone all together, but hypnosis has shown to be effective in treating the habit, addiction, and one's willpower to quit. The suggestions used in this study were to get smokers to change the way they viewed smoking and also to become more aware of the negative health effects smoking was doing to their body and overall health. Hypnosis was used to target the smokers' habit, addiction, and willpower to effectively help them quit smoking. Results of the study showed that using hypnosis suggestions was very beneficial in helping people abstain from smoking tobacco.
Smoking has many negative effects on ones physical and mental health as well as the health of those around smokers. Quitting smoking has so many positive influences on one's health and a positive economic impact. It is important for people to look into alternative methods of quitting smoking. Hypnosis generally requires only a few sessions to help people quit smoking in the long-term having a huge positive impact on a person's life.
According to the American Heart Association, 47.1 million people smoke in the United States. Of men in the United States, 23.5% smoke and out of women in the United States, 18.1% smoke. The statistics are even higher when looking at the worldwide statistics of cigarette smokers.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, 50 of which are known to cause cancer. According to WHO, half of the world's population of children (700 million children) are exposed to tobacco smoke. The International Labour Organization estimates that 200,000 people around the world die from second-hand smoke at work. These statistics show that not only is it important for an individual to quit smoking, but it is also important that they quit for the health of those around them as well.
Smoking is a physical and mental addiction. People become used to the feeling they get from a cigarette. They get used to having a cigarette in their hand and it occupies a great deal of time throughout their day; smokers become used to having an oral fixation with cigarettes. These are all physical aspects of their habit. The mental addiction can be more difficult to overcome. The actual addiction is mental and there is very little someone can do physically to help overcome the mental addiction to cigarettes.
Moses (1987) performed research on treating smoking with hypnotherapy. The researcher points out that smoking deals with habit, addiction, and willpower. All three of these aspects are difficult to treat alone, let alone all together, but hypnosis has shown to be effective in treating the habit, addiction, and one's willpower to quit. The suggestions used in this study were to get smokers to change the way they viewed smoking and also to become more aware of the negative health effects smoking was doing to their body and overall health. Hypnosis was used to target the smokers' habit, addiction, and willpower to effectively help them quit smoking. Results of the study showed that using hypnosis suggestions was very beneficial in helping people abstain from smoking tobacco.
Smoking has many negative effects on ones physical and mental health as well as the health of those around smokers. Quitting smoking has so many positive influences on one's health and a positive economic impact. It is important for people to look into alternative methods of quitting smoking. Hypnosis generally requires only a few sessions to help people quit smoking in the long-term having a huge positive impact on a person's life.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Tobacco descriptors guidance published
A guidance providing information on the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act’s (Public Law No. 111-31, ¶2006) requirements related to the prohibited use of "light," "mild," "low," or similar descriptors in the label, labeling, or advertising of tobacco products was published by the FDA.
Titled " Use of ‘Light,’ ‘Mild,’ ‘Low,’ or Similar Descriptors in the Label, Labeling, or Advertising of Tobacco Products," the document discusses how manufacturers may not manufacture for sale or distribution any tobacco products for which the label, labeling, or advertising contains the above descriptors.
Marlboro Lights is now Marlboro Gold Pack.
The guidance also clarifies that products with these descriptors that were manufactured before June 22, 2010, and introduced into commerce before July 22, 2010, may still be distributed or sold.
Titled " Use of ‘Light,’ ‘Mild,’ ‘Low,’ or Similar Descriptors in the Label, Labeling, or Advertising of Tobacco Products," the document discusses how manufacturers may not manufacture for sale or distribution any tobacco products for which the label, labeling, or advertising contains the above descriptors.
Marlboro Lights is now Marlboro Gold Pack.
The guidance also clarifies that products with these descriptors that were manufactured before June 22, 2010, and introduced into commerce before July 22, 2010, may still be distributed or sold.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
What Have They Been Smoking?
Jeffrey Wigand became one of the most famous whistleblowers of all time after he revealed the tobacco industry's darkest secrets starting in 1994. He is the former Brown & Williamson Vice President and scientist portrayed by Russell Crowe in the 1999 movie "The Insider".
Speaking this week in New Zealand, among other topics Dr. Wigand discussed nicotine manipulation and the little-known discovery that cigarette companies add an ingredient common in floor and toilet bowl cleaners, ammonia, to cigarettes to get more nicotine to the smoker's brain faster after lighting up.
Industry documents reveal that cigarette companies add ammonia to cigarettes to freebase nicotine, which gives the smoker a faster and more intense nicotine "kick." In the mid-1970s, R.J. Reynolds (RJR) the makers of Camel and Winston brands, noticed that sales of their competitor's brands, and especially Philip Morris's flagship brand Marlboro, were suddenly skyrocketing compared to their brands. Determined to find out why RJR's brands were doing so poorly compared to the others, RJR chemically "deconstructed" Marlboro cigarettes to find out just how they were different.
Freebasing Nicotine
By 1973, their research revealed the secret. RJR found that Philip Morris had made a "deliberate and controlled" chemical change in the smoke of their cigarettes. They started altering the pH, or acid/base balance, of smoke by adding ammonia to the tobacco. This make the smoke more alkaline. In a more alkaline environment, more nicotine "...occurs in 'free' form, which is volatile, rapidly absorbed by the smoker, and believed to be instantly perceived as nicotine 'kick'," according to RJR.
Adding ammonia to achieve this chemical reaction is called "freebasing." It's the same process comedian Richard Pryor was using 1980 when he set himself on fire while trying to freebase cocaine. It's also the exact same process that turns cocaine into crack. In the tobacco industry's case, though, it's done on a vast commercial scale.
After cigarette companies discovered that freebasing nicotine led to a sharp and sustained increase in cigarette sales, it became state-of-the art cigarette technology. It's also one of the chemical adjustments made to commercial cigarettes over the years that made smoking more difficult to quit, because it heightens the addiction to nicotine.
The Secret is in the Chemical Engineering
Cigarettes have undergone decades of chemical and design R&D to enhance their drug-related pleasurable aspects and ease of use. The modern cigarette contains smoke smootheners, humectants, burn accelerants (in the paper), sweeteners and other chemicals to make them more palatable and less irritating. They are arguably the most highly engineered and studied product in history. Neither cocaine, methamphetamine or heroin have been subjected to so many decades of intense, corporate-funded scientific research and development. Those illicit drugs are hard enough to quit, but imagine if a commercial corporate structure depended on them for profit, how much more enhanced those drugs would be as well.
Unfortunately, nothing in the new FDA tobacco law forces tobacco companies to nothing to stop freebasing nicotine in commercial cigarettes. Dr. Wigand's talk in New Zealand offers one more opportunity to remind people that despite the landmark legislation signed in 2009, it is still business-as-usual for the tobacco companies, and will be for some time to come. After all, Philip Morris only agreed to the legislation because they knew it would do little if anything to truly impact cigarette use in this country. For public health as well, everything remains status quo, including the hiding of ingredients and their purposes, from the public. For smokers, the only defense remains to become more knowledgeable about the product you use so frequently, and the people who make it.
Speaking this week in New Zealand, among other topics Dr. Wigand discussed nicotine manipulation and the little-known discovery that cigarette companies add an ingredient common in floor and toilet bowl cleaners, ammonia, to cigarettes to get more nicotine to the smoker's brain faster after lighting up.
Industry documents reveal that cigarette companies add ammonia to cigarettes to freebase nicotine, which gives the smoker a faster and more intense nicotine "kick." In the mid-1970s, R.J. Reynolds (RJR) the makers of Camel and Winston brands, noticed that sales of their competitor's brands, and especially Philip Morris's flagship brand Marlboro, were suddenly skyrocketing compared to their brands. Determined to find out why RJR's brands were doing so poorly compared to the others, RJR chemically "deconstructed" Marlboro cigarettes to find out just how they were different.
Freebasing Nicotine
By 1973, their research revealed the secret. RJR found that Philip Morris had made a "deliberate and controlled" chemical change in the smoke of their cigarettes. They started altering the pH, or acid/base balance, of smoke by adding ammonia to the tobacco. This make the smoke more alkaline. In a more alkaline environment, more nicotine "...occurs in 'free' form, which is volatile, rapidly absorbed by the smoker, and believed to be instantly perceived as nicotine 'kick'," according to RJR.
Adding ammonia to achieve this chemical reaction is called "freebasing." It's the same process comedian Richard Pryor was using 1980 when he set himself on fire while trying to freebase cocaine. It's also the exact same process that turns cocaine into crack. In the tobacco industry's case, though, it's done on a vast commercial scale.
After cigarette companies discovered that freebasing nicotine led to a sharp and sustained increase in cigarette sales, it became state-of-the art cigarette technology. It's also one of the chemical adjustments made to commercial cigarettes over the years that made smoking more difficult to quit, because it heightens the addiction to nicotine.
The Secret is in the Chemical Engineering
Cigarettes have undergone decades of chemical and design R&D to enhance their drug-related pleasurable aspects and ease of use. The modern cigarette contains smoke smootheners, humectants, burn accelerants (in the paper), sweeteners and other chemicals to make them more palatable and less irritating. They are arguably the most highly engineered and studied product in history. Neither cocaine, methamphetamine or heroin have been subjected to so many decades of intense, corporate-funded scientific research and development. Those illicit drugs are hard enough to quit, but imagine if a commercial corporate structure depended on them for profit, how much more enhanced those drugs would be as well.
Unfortunately, nothing in the new FDA tobacco law forces tobacco companies to nothing to stop freebasing nicotine in commercial cigarettes. Dr. Wigand's talk in New Zealand offers one more opportunity to remind people that despite the landmark legislation signed in 2009, it is still business-as-usual for the tobacco companies, and will be for some time to come. After all, Philip Morris only agreed to the legislation because they knew it would do little if anything to truly impact cigarette use in this country. For public health as well, everything remains status quo, including the hiding of ingredients and their purposes, from the public. For smokers, the only defense remains to become more knowledgeable about the product you use so frequently, and the people who make it.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Montreal police arrest 17 in tobacco ring
Canadian police said they arrested 17 suspects in a ring selling contraband cigars and cigarillos.
Police conducted 52 raids Wednesday in Montreal and several other locations and exposed a group that allegedly has criminally bypassed Quebec tax laws covering cigars and cigarillos, the Montreal Gazette reported.
Two rings, working together, exploited the more-relaxed labeling requirements on the products and have made large profits illegally, Montreal Police Cmdr. Yves Miron, said.
The suspects diverted approximately $5.2 million a year of tobacco taxes from the Quebec government, Miron said.
The tobacco products were being sold at full retail price, apparently for several years, Miron said.
The suspects face charges including fraud exceeding $5,000, conspiracy and possession of counterfeit tobacco stamps, the Gazette said.
Inspector Bernard Lamothe of Montreal's organized crime unit said the raids are the first police crackdown on contraband cigarillos or cigars in Montreal history. He said the operation didn't connect the suspects with conventional organized crime groups.
Police conducted 52 raids Wednesday in Montreal and several other locations and exposed a group that allegedly has criminally bypassed Quebec tax laws covering cigars and cigarillos, the Montreal Gazette reported.
Two rings, working together, exploited the more-relaxed labeling requirements on the products and have made large profits illegally, Montreal Police Cmdr. Yves Miron, said.
The suspects diverted approximately $5.2 million a year of tobacco taxes from the Quebec government, Miron said.
The tobacco products were being sold at full retail price, apparently for several years, Miron said.
The suspects face charges including fraud exceeding $5,000, conspiracy and possession of counterfeit tobacco stamps, the Gazette said.
Inspector Bernard Lamothe of Montreal's organized crime unit said the raids are the first police crackdown on contraband cigarillos or cigars in Montreal history. He said the operation didn't connect the suspects with conventional organized crime groups.
Friday, June 18, 2010
San Francisco Loses Round in Suit Over Ban on Drugstore Tobacco Sales
A San Francisco ordinance prohibiting tobacco sales in drugstores could violate the equal protection clauses of the state and federal constitutions, a state appeal court ruled Tuesday.
The unanimous decision by San Francisco's 1st District Court of Appeal reverses a demurrer in the city's favor and lets Walgreen Co. go ahead with a suit challenging the controversial ordinance
"Should Walgreens ultimately prevail on its equal protection causes of action," Administrative Presiding Justice William McGuiness wrote in the 33-page ruling, "the court will be required to determine whether the appropriate remedy is to preclude enforcement of the entire ordinance or to invalidate only the exceptions contained in" San Francisco's health codes.
The San Francisco law outlaws the sale of tobacco products in drugstores, but exempts supermarkets, such as Safeway, and big-box stores, such as Costco, that contain pharmacies.
The appeal court said the disparate treatment of various types of stores might not be "rationally related" to a legitimate legislative end. The justices rejected the city's arguments that tobacco sales by pharmacies send a stronger message of acceptance than by other stores.
"There is no plausible reason to believe," McGuiness wrote, "that members of the public place any greater reliance on implicit advice regarding the healthfulness of tobacco products conveyed by counter clerks, the corporate structure or the product mix of a Walgreens than of a Safeway or Costco."
Justices Stuart Pollak and Martin Jenkins concurred.
The unanimous decision by San Francisco's 1st District Court of Appeal reverses a demurrer in the city's favor and lets Walgreen Co. go ahead with a suit challenging the controversial ordinance
"Should Walgreens ultimately prevail on its equal protection causes of action," Administrative Presiding Justice William McGuiness wrote in the 33-page ruling, "the court will be required to determine whether the appropriate remedy is to preclude enforcement of the entire ordinance or to invalidate only the exceptions contained in" San Francisco's health codes.
The San Francisco law outlaws the sale of tobacco products in drugstores, but exempts supermarkets, such as Safeway, and big-box stores, such as Costco, that contain pharmacies.
The appeal court said the disparate treatment of various types of stores might not be "rationally related" to a legitimate legislative end. The justices rejected the city's arguments that tobacco sales by pharmacies send a stronger message of acceptance than by other stores.
"There is no plausible reason to believe," McGuiness wrote, "that members of the public place any greater reliance on implicit advice regarding the healthfulness of tobacco products conveyed by counter clerks, the corporate structure or the product mix of a Walgreens than of a Safeway or Costco."
Justices Stuart Pollak and Martin Jenkins concurred.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Electronic Cigarette Smokers Are Smoking Less Even Stopping Nicotine Altogether
Smoke Power Inc, ask there clients recently about there smoking habits with the new Smoke Power Pro. The response is surprising considering all the hoopla about Nicotine Addiction and the ever rising concern in regards to electronic cigarettes being addictive.
But when discussed with users about how this product helps them its clear electronic cigarettes are helping people quit tobacco and nicotine altogether.
One customer reported about her horrible addiction to tobacco cigarettes for over 25 years and how sick she was until she started smoking her e-cig. Doris has been fighting chronic bronchitis for a very long time and her doctor recommended that she quit with a pill. She tried that and it make her depressed and had really bad side effects. So many failed tries to just cut down or find something that actually works.
The day she started her electronic cigarette she noticed how much better she felt. She immediately noticed how it was the first thing that might actually work for her. After a months now she reported. "I smoke no tobacco cigarettes now. I still smoke my electronic cigarette but I smoke allot less than I did with tobacco cigarettes"! She also said she doesn't need nicotine as much anymore. She said it helped her cut down her nicotine intake and now she is just smoking no nicotine cartridges. She just loves the flavor. She also mentioned, "Sometimes I go a full day before I smoke my Smoke Power Pro.. I just don't need to smoke all the time now". Doris reported that her doctor is amazed by her progress and she is now healthier and more active.
But when discussed with users about how this product helps them its clear electronic cigarettes are helping people quit tobacco and nicotine altogether.
One customer reported about her horrible addiction to tobacco cigarettes for over 25 years and how sick she was until she started smoking her e-cig. Doris has been fighting chronic bronchitis for a very long time and her doctor recommended that she quit with a pill. She tried that and it make her depressed and had really bad side effects. So many failed tries to just cut down or find something that actually works.
The day she started her electronic cigarette she noticed how much better she felt. She immediately noticed how it was the first thing that might actually work for her. After a months now she reported. "I smoke no tobacco cigarettes now. I still smoke my electronic cigarette but I smoke allot less than I did with tobacco cigarettes"! She also said she doesn't need nicotine as much anymore. She said it helped her cut down her nicotine intake and now she is just smoking no nicotine cartridges. She just loves the flavor. She also mentioned, "Sometimes I go a full day before I smoke my Smoke Power Pro.. I just don't need to smoke all the time now". Doris reported that her doctor is amazed by her progress and she is now healthier and more active.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Survey: Oklahoma High School Students Smoking Less, Moving More
Risky health behaviors in Oklahoma's youth are decreasing in some key areas, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health announced Thursday.
The following information is from the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey developed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and conducted statewide in 2009.
Among the positive findings: a decline in students trying cigarette smoking and a decrease in methamphetamine and marijuana usage.
The YRBS measures self-reported risk-taking behaviors among high-school age adolescents to monitor those behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability and major social problems, and increased health care costs among adolescents in the U.S.
About 1,400 high school students from 42 public schools answered the survey in 2009. The survey was also given in 2003, 2005 and 2007.
Positive findings:
• The 2009 results indicate 48.8 percent of students had ever tried cigarette smoking, down from 64.1 percent in 2003. The percentage of students who smoked a whole cigarette before the age of 13 decreased significantly from 23.7 percent in 2003 to 11.5 percent in 2009. In addition, the percentage of students who smoked on a daily basis decreased from 17.5 percent in 2003 to 13.3 percent in 2009.
• Also promising was a decrease in methamphetamine and marijuana use. The percentage of students who used methamphetamines one or more times during their life was 4.8 percent in 2009, down from 9.9 percent in 2003. The percentage of students who had used marijuana one or more times during their life decreased from 42.5 percent in 2003 to 31.9 percent in 2009.
• The percent of students who were physically active for a total of at least 60 minutes per day on five or more of the seven days before the survey increased from 38.2 percent in 2005 to 47.4 percent in 2009. Students also spent less time watching television. In 2009, 29.0 percent of students reported watching television three or more hours a day, down from 36.7 percent in 2003.
Not all trends were positive. Negative findings included:
• Among students who had sexual intercourse during the three months before the survey, 56.7 percent reported using a condom during last sexual intercourse, which was a decrease from 64.3 percent in 2003.
• Regarding dietary behaviors, the percentage of students who ate a green salad one or more times during the seven days before the survey decreased from 66.4 percent in 2003 to 56.6 percent in 2009.
The following information is from the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey developed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and conducted statewide in 2009.
Among the positive findings: a decline in students trying cigarette smoking and a decrease in methamphetamine and marijuana usage.
The YRBS measures self-reported risk-taking behaviors among high-school age adolescents to monitor those behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability and major social problems, and increased health care costs among adolescents in the U.S.
About 1,400 high school students from 42 public schools answered the survey in 2009. The survey was also given in 2003, 2005 and 2007.
Positive findings:
• The 2009 results indicate 48.8 percent of students had ever tried cigarette smoking, down from 64.1 percent in 2003. The percentage of students who smoked a whole cigarette before the age of 13 decreased significantly from 23.7 percent in 2003 to 11.5 percent in 2009. In addition, the percentage of students who smoked on a daily basis decreased from 17.5 percent in 2003 to 13.3 percent in 2009.
• Also promising was a decrease in methamphetamine and marijuana use. The percentage of students who used methamphetamines one or more times during their life was 4.8 percent in 2009, down from 9.9 percent in 2003. The percentage of students who had used marijuana one or more times during their life decreased from 42.5 percent in 2003 to 31.9 percent in 2009.
• The percent of students who were physically active for a total of at least 60 minutes per day on five or more of the seven days before the survey increased from 38.2 percent in 2005 to 47.4 percent in 2009. Students also spent less time watching television. In 2009, 29.0 percent of students reported watching television three or more hours a day, down from 36.7 percent in 2003.
Not all trends were positive. Negative findings included:
• Among students who had sexual intercourse during the three months before the survey, 56.7 percent reported using a condom during last sexual intercourse, which was a decrease from 64.3 percent in 2003.
• Regarding dietary behaviors, the percentage of students who ate a green salad one or more times during the seven days before the survey decreased from 66.4 percent in 2003 to 56.6 percent in 2009.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
'8% girls under 15 consume tobacco'
n India, 8.3% of girls in the 13-15 age groups consume some form of tobacco, according to the first Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) report. Experts say that the data is indicative of the trend of an increasing number of women using tobacco products. In an attempt to accurately ascertain the use of tobacco products in the country, the Union health ministry along with WHO has conducted the first Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS).
"Regarding the use of tobacco in the country we just have National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data. This is the first survey in the country which will accurately tell us about the use of tobacco in different socio-economic strata," Dr Jagdish Kaur, chief medical officer of DGHS in the ministry of health, said. Under the GATS project, 72,000 people were surveyed in 29 states.
"With the help of WHO, we collected data. This time we used a special handheld device which was connected to out masterserver. So, all data collection was directly uploaded to the server. This helped us in expediting the data collection process," Dr Kaur said. The project was sanctioned by the ministry last year with an objective of identifying areas where tobacco use is high. "We had a set of 75 questions. Once the report is compiled, we will have a lot of information based on several parameters," Dr Kaur said.
As for tobacco use among women in India, experts say that there has definitely been a rise in the cases. Women comprise nearly 20% of the world's more than 1 billion smokers. "The global report on tobacco use is indicative of the increase in the use of tobacco among women in India. It is a percentage by which it has gone up," Vineet Gill, national programme officer of Tobacco Free Initiative, WHO India, said.
The vast majority of women who consume tobacco use smokeless tobacco (gutka, paan masala with tobacco, mishri, gul) and it varies considerably across states with prevalence rates ranging from 1% and 60%. The GATS report is likely to be released in June this year.
"Regarding the use of tobacco in the country we just have National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data. This is the first survey in the country which will accurately tell us about the use of tobacco in different socio-economic strata," Dr Jagdish Kaur, chief medical officer of DGHS in the ministry of health, said. Under the GATS project, 72,000 people were surveyed in 29 states.
"With the help of WHO, we collected data. This time we used a special handheld device which was connected to out masterserver. So, all data collection was directly uploaded to the server. This helped us in expediting the data collection process," Dr Kaur said. The project was sanctioned by the ministry last year with an objective of identifying areas where tobacco use is high. "We had a set of 75 questions. Once the report is compiled, we will have a lot of information based on several parameters," Dr Kaur said.
As for tobacco use among women in India, experts say that there has definitely been a rise in the cases. Women comprise nearly 20% of the world's more than 1 billion smokers. "The global report on tobacco use is indicative of the increase in the use of tobacco among women in India. It is a percentage by which it has gone up," Vineet Gill, national programme officer of Tobacco Free Initiative, WHO India, said.
The vast majority of women who consume tobacco use smokeless tobacco (gutka, paan masala with tobacco, mishri, gul) and it varies considerably across states with prevalence rates ranging from 1% and 60%. The GATS report is likely to be released in June this year.
Monday, May 31, 2010
2 cigarette plants closing as demand declines
Tobacco company Reynolds American said Friday it will close two cigarette plants — one in its headquarters city in Winston-Salem, N.C., and another in Puerto Rico — as it adjusts to declining demand for cigarettes.
The company said production of cigarettes like Camel and Pall Mall will start to shift to its largest facility in nearby Tobaccoville, N.C., this summer.
Workers at the Winston-Salem plant will transition to the other facility.In December, Reynolds offered buyouts to about 1,800 workers at the North Carolina manufacturing plants to cut costs.About 400 workers opted to take the offer.
Most of the reductions were scheduled to take place in 2010 and begin as early as January, and others will have release dates in early 2011. Reynolds said about 60 jobs in Puerto Rico will be eliminated in the consolidation.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
60 cartons of cigarettes reported stolen from South Fort Myers gas station
A man walked into a South Fort Myers Hess gas station Sunday afternoon and walked out with 60 cartons of cigarettes worth nearly $3,000.According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report:Theresa Johnson, 56, an employee of Hess, 9281 Daniels Parkway, told deputies on Monday she counted the Marlboro Light 100s cartons of cigarettes several times and found the store was 60 cartons – 600 packs – short.
She replayed the store’s video from about 9:30 a.m. Sunday and saw a dark-skinned Hispanic or white man wearing a camouflage baseball cap, black shirt and jeans enter the store after parking his car – possibly a black BMW 3 – and go toward the employee only door.
That door was unlocked, but another interior storage room door was locked. The man pried opens the door, went to the two boxes of cigarettes, picked them up and discarded the cardboard boxes. When the clerk was busy with other boxes, the man walked to his car, put the cigarettes inside it and left.
Another Hess clerk on duty did not see anything.The cigarettes were valued at $2,927.40.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
2 senators concerned over Noynoy’s smoking
Two senators Wednesday expressed concern over the growing clamor for presidential front runner Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to quit smoking.
Noynoyis a fan of Marlboro cigarettes.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, Jr. and Senator Francis Escudero made their observation in separate text messages in the wake of the observation made by Department of Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral.
Cabral earlier suggested that Aquino make a conscious effort to stop smoking and to keep in mind that smoking is bad for one's health and that he should also set himself as an example to the nation, particularly to the youth.
Former president Fidel V. Ramos had also advised Aquino to cut down on smoking as well.But Escudero said the public should bear in mind that the president-apparent is entitled to whatever he wants to do with his life.“Those giving him advice on this mean well and I believe that he also wants to but in his own time,” Escudero pointed out.“These things cannot be dictated,” he added.
Pimentel also said he was also bothered by Aquino’s smoking behavior.“I also told Noynoy to stop smoking long ago,” said Pimentel.
Aquino, in an interview with reporters at the Senate last Monday, called for understanding, saying he is not yet ready to stop smoking but will do so “at the appropriate time.”He said what is important is that he is conforming to the law and would not subject himself to other “unnecessary” pressure.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Peru passes smoke-free law
Enclosed public spaces and work places will soon be smoke-free in Peru, thanks to a law that passed on 30 March 2010.
The new law also includes that heath warnings cover 50 per cent of tobacco products - instead of the current 30 per cent that covers the lower section of packs.
Framework Convention Alliance Latin American Director Eduardo Bianco said the new law marks an extremely important step for a smoke-free America.
"Previously, tobacco law didn’t protect Peruvians from tobacco smoke exposure related damages," he said.
"It is estimated that 9,000 Peruvians die annually due to tobacco related diseases.”
Bianco also said the new law sends a message to other Latin American governments that are not protecting their people from tobacco-related diseases.
According to Bianco, since the Peruvian law was passed Paraguay will soon become smoke-free.
"Making it the fourth South American country to rule for protecting the health of its people," he said.
"In 2006 Uruguay and in 2008 Panama paved the way for a smoke-free Latin America. Then Guatemala and Colombia followed their example," he said.
"We trust that in short time a 'strong wind' of smoke-free air will blow through the whole of Latin America."
Monday, May 24, 2010
Philip Morris is making advertising changes
On June 22, 2009, President Obama signed legislation granting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco products.
Effective June 22, 2010, the law prohibits the use of certain terms such as “light,” “mild,” or “low” in cigarette labeling and advertising.
To comply with this prohibition, PM USA is removing these terms where they appear from its packaging and advertising. Our products, which have not changed as a result of this law, continue to be available, but their packaging may be different.
PM USA sells a variety of cigarette brands distinguished by their flavor, strength of taste and packaging design. the best cigarette brand are Marlboro cigarettes. The FDA has not determined that any cigarette is less risky or results in less exposure to harmful compounds compared to any other cigarette.
* No aspect of any of our cigarettes should be interpreted as suggesting that any cigarette is less risky or results in less exposure to harmful compounds than any other cigarette.
* The amount of tar, nicotine or other constituents in smoke a smoker inhales from a cigarette can vary based upon how a smoker smokes. The amount a smoker inhales will be higher, for example, if a smoker blocks ventilation holes, inhales more deeply, takes more puffs, or smokes more cigarettes.
* There is no safe cigarette. If smokers are concerned about the risks of cigarette smoking, the best thing to do is to quit.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Switchblades and brass knuckles help sell cigarettes
Sixteen-year-old kid walks into a convenience store, grabs a 12-ounce can of Dr. Pepper, a bag of Doritos and walks up to the counter. “Pack of Marlboros, please.” The clerk scans the soda, bag of chips, and the cigarettes. “That’s $7.28.” Kid hands the clerk four bills, collects his change and exits the store.
A similar but more eye-popping story unfolds in the City of Watsonville. A storeowner willingly sells switchblade knives and brass knuckles at his chain of discount cigarette stores, in a city plagued by gang violence. Parents shudder at the thought of kids cruising their neighborhood strip malls buying soda pop, candy, Michael Jackson posters and toy guns over the same counter where gang members buy implements of mayhem.
But without all the gang hardware, the scenes aren’t really different. They play out time and again in this and many other communities.
And what is it parents should be most alarmed about? The switchblades? Brass knuckles? Imitation assault rifles? Well ... yes and no.
Store owner Khalil Rahim will surely get his. And I’m bettin’ his stores will soon close for good. But a cigarette smoker is far more likely to die from smoking than from being stabbed or bludgeoned to death by brass knuckles. In fact, smoking kills more people in the United States every year than AIDS, illegal drugs, alcohol, car crashes, suicides and murders combined! (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
According to a 2008 survey by the Santa Cruz County Tobacco Education Coalition, a group dedicated to reducing tobacco sales to minors, underage youth can expect to be successful buying cigarettes in one out of every six local stores. Any 16-year-old kid who is carded and turned away by a responsible retailer won’t have far to go to find an irresponsible one sympathetic to his wants.
From the point of view of that retailer, the kid’s going to get his cigarettes one way or another, and someone’s going to get that $5. And there’s very little downside. Law enforcement everywhere is understaffed and overburdened with higher-profile crimes. At this time there are no resources available to support the enforcement of laws against selling tobacco to minors. It’s not a priority, unless switchblades are involved.
Tobacco companies know youth are the future of their profits. Creating opportunities to introduce young people to the glamour, excitement — or whatever — of smoking is an ongoing battle. The more governments act to control the sale of tobacco, the more creative are the marketing schemes to sell it. The environment in Rahim’s cigarette shops is one youth could relate to. One with pop culture posters, candy, soda pop, chips, marijuana stuff, imitation guns, forbidden toys ... and forbidden cigarettes. Youth are drawn to the sweet and forbidden.
To address the concern of sales to youth, the coalition proposes an ordinance, successfully implemented in more than 60 California counties and cities, that has dramatically reduced the number of stores willing to sell cigarettes to minors. It requires sellers to be licensed. The Tobacco Retail License fees would provide resources for sting operations — like the ones recently visited upon Mr. Rahim’s stores. Violators would face fines and suspension or revocation of their licenses.
The Santa Cruz County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission unanimously passed a resolution in July urging the board of supervisors to adopt such an ordinance. This month, in support of the coalition’s current effort to recruit a supervisor to sponsor the ordinance, the commission unanimously reaffirmed its July resolution.
It’s time the County of Santa Cruz took action to protect youth from clever tobacco marketers and irresponsible retailers. And in the City of Watsonville, it’s time to put one of them out of business.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Litter Study Shows Chicago Misses 75 Percent of Cigarette Taxes
A random sample of littered cigarette packs reveals that 75 percent of the cigarettes used in Chicago bring no tax revenue to the city, according to researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Every cigarette brand, either Esse cigarettes or Marlboro brand they all suffer some changes regarding their prices.
The lost potential revenue totals about $10 million per month, said David Merriman, professor of public administration and head of UIC’s economics department. He has studied cigarette tax avoidance worldwide for 15 years.
Merriman organized teams of researchers to collect littered cigarette packs in 100 Chicago neighborhoods and nearby jurisdictions to examine their tax stamps. He reported on the study in the May issue of the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy.
Chicago’s state and local taxes totaled $4.05 per pack, compared to $1.37 outside Cook County, in July 2007, when the researchers collected the packs. The $2.68 difference reduced the likelihood that a pack was taxed in Chicago by almost 60 percent.
By comparison, New York City loses only about half its potential cigarette tax revenue to tax avoidance, even though its taxes are higher than Chicago’s.
Distance reduces tax avoidance, Merriman said. Every mile between Chicago and the lower-tax source increased the likelihood of a Chicago stamp by about one percent.
"This research suggests that an increase of $1 per pack in Illinois, as recently proposed, would drive more Chicago residents to buy their cigarettes in Indiana, but would be likely to have a relatively small effect in the rest of the state," Merriman said.
"Cigarettes are a useful laboratory for the study of tax avoidance, given their cost, the easy access to low- or no-tax cigarette sources like Native American reservations or the Internet, and a relative lack of enforcement," he said.
Merriman said that many states increase cigarette taxes to discourage smoking and raise revenue, but higher taxes might lead smokers to use lower-priced, hand-rolled or smuggled cigarettes, or to smoke fewer cigarettes more intensively.
A separate survey of appropriately disposed cigarette packs indicated that the sample of 1,000 littered packs was representative of all packs. Despite the evidence, Merriman acknowledged that the use of littered packs as concrete, empirical evidence might allow some bias.
"Litterers may be disproportionately scofflaws," he said. "People who smoke only in their homes and don’t litter may be disproportionately inclined to comply with taxes."
The study was conducted with UIC’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs. It was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Substance Abuse Policy Research Program.
UIC ranks among the nation's leading research universities and is Chicago's largest university with 26,000 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, 15 colleges and the state's major public medical center. A hallmark of the campus is the Great Cities Commitment, through which UIC faculty, students and staff engage with community, corporate, foundation and government partners in hundreds of programs to improve the quality of life in metropolitan areas around the world
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Yet another smoking ban in effect
Are you a smoker? If you are, everyone at a Seattle park now has a restraining order against you.
Smoke all you want in the park but make sure to avoid play areas, beaches, playgrounds and picnic areas (which seems like anywhere in a park). And of course, don’t come within 25 feet of anybody not smoking.
A violation of the new policy will have you banned for 24 hours from the park. Come back before then and it could be criminal trespassing.
The new ban is the first step in a gradual approach to ban the use of tobacco products in parks all together, says Seattle Parks Superintendent Timothy Gallagher.
This 25-foot ban was actually the ‘relaxed’ version of what Gallagher really wanted: a complete smoking ban.
Great, another ban!
It was only last week I was outside a bar smoking with a friend in the damn rain, pissed that this was the reality. One of those occasional miserable situations you find yourself in just to smoke a cigarette. And why are you in this situation? Because you got yourself addicted to cigarettes? No, you’re missing the point… Its all the nancys inside that are afraid of breathing in or even smelling one one thousandth of the much more concentrated cloud you suck down every damn day.
Chances are those Nancy’s who pushed for the ban aren’t even inside the dimly lit bar you had to exit anyway.
As well, have you looked at how many cigarette buts are right outside any given bar now? At least inside you can use an ashtray but who in the world actually brings a but back inside to throw away?–I say this ban incites littering? Maybe that’s a push. Maybe I’m just bitter that I missed those days when you could smoke inside at least a bar-which come on.. How did they not escape the ban?
But now it seems those same nancys weren’t content. Apparently second hand smoke is a problem in the wide open outdoors and the examples we set for the children are wrong.
A news release from the Parks Department said, “It sends a message to Seattle’s youth that the norm is for public places to be smoke-free.”-(This is funny because the stereotypical Seattle youth has a beanie, tight black jeans, black-rimmed glasses and a cigarette in his lips).
I think the youth should know that people do smoke. That they know it is killing them slowly and do it anyway. That’ll make ‘em think… Plus damn, don’t we have a smoking age anyways? One that makes kids wait until they are old enough to buy a pack, you know, when just seeing a guy smoke in the park doesn’t make them want to take up the habit. Seriously. Can we have another seat belt law too? Or some sort of law that makes it illegal for me to say mean things. I don’t know anything that doesn’t let me think for myself would be great!
Alright I know no one really gives a (**t about smokers- but you might say they are victims of the latest and super weak form of segregation- besides, did anyone tell Chief Sitting Bull to smoke his peace pipe 25 feet away from the tepee? Think about it, I haven’t.
It’s always, ‘ooo, sorry but you can’t do that unless you’re in our smoking area… its around the block in the ally, thanks!’
Man, what happened to the days you could smoke just about anywhere, and people wore hats? I sure missed out on those days.
At least the other rules that went into effect today made sense: No glass containers, acids, explosives or material capable of causing serious harm to others.
Can people’s bodies really not withstand a waft of a dissipated smoke cloud, even OUTSIDE? Whatever- inside, restaurants, bars and now parks-let the witch-hunt continue.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Special way to light up a cigar that maximazes the satisfaction.
Each person has his own way to understand the world and what is happening arround it. Somebody takes the decision to read, other persons just travel and there are people that just enjoy cigarettes or a cigar smoking. There are many ways how to light up a cigar, but you have to find the right one, that maximazes the pleasure.
There is no comparison in smoking a cigar or a Parliament cigarette , because they both offer different feelings.
Though most individuals that are not familiar with the distinction of the high-profile cigar aficionado do not often realize it, there is a considerable precision as well as an art to the act of lighting an upper class cigar. This is not simply a generic cigarette that you are about to set fire too. This is a thing of value.
This cigar was hand-sculpted by a master artisan, taking great care to make absolutely certain that every aspect was perfect, flawless. Take as much care in lighting it as the artist did in making it.On February the 20th it is celebrated the International Pipe Smoking Day, when everybody shares their experiences.
Once the cigar is cut, you are prepared for the process of lighting. First, remember that the flavor of the cigar is the most important aspect of it. You do not want to taint it in any way. With this in mind, it is wise to either use matches or a butane type lighter.
Now, taking into account the size of the tip of a cigar, it can be quite tricky to get an even light onto it. This is important, as you do not want an uneven burn. An uneven burn can result in having to cut the end off to even it up, and this is just a shameful waste. The Puff and Roll method is the most used by cigar entrepreneurs. Place the flame on the tip of the cigar and begin to turn it slowly, making sure to only go around one time.
Then, after you get a good cloud of smoke, inspect the end and make sure that the light is even. If it is not, puff and roll once more. Continue until you have an even burn. If you do get a one-sided burn going, puff mainly on that side to even it up. Do not let the burn get too far up the cigar unevenly, or you will have to cut and start over.
Now, just start enjoying your smoke.
Why Smoking Makes You Happy
When a smoker inhales a single "shot" of nicotine from a cigarette the lungs allow the nicotine to pass into the blood stream almost instantly. The smoker then feels the "hit" from the nicotine in their bloodstream and this is the sensation that they crave later on.
Don't just assume that you're inhaling "pure" tobacco smoke either. That cigarette you're smoking contains up to 4,000 separate chemicals - many of which are extremely toxic.
That smoke you inhale from a cigarette contains 43 carcinogenic substances. These are substances which have been clinically proven to cause various types of cancer. Cigarette smoke also contains 400 other toxins that can be found in rat poison, nail polish remover and various types of wood varnish.
Would you willingly eat any of these products? Of course not because you know that they're incredibly bad for you. As these carcinogens and toxins gather in the body they begin to cause serious problems for the heart and lungs. Of all the diseases associated with smoking cancer is the most common. Cancer is a relatively new disease that has really only become prevalent since the beginning of the industrial revolution. In effect cancer is a manmade disease for which there is, as of yet, no cure.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Philip Morris targets Indian tobacco market
Indian leaders and business people say the ads are just the latest effort to force sovereign nations to collect taxes for the state, effectively putting them out of business – a scenario that would help Philip Morris’ efforts to dominate the cigarette market.
Playing off the fact that the state faces a $9.2 billion deficit, the ad uses citizens’ anxiety about the economy as an emotional hook.
“The state loses revenue. Retailers lose sales. Their employees could even lose jobs. And it adds to the burden on hardworking taxpayers,” the ad says, disregarding the fact that Indian citizens also pay federal income taxes and state taxes on off-reservation purchases.
But it wasn’t always that way, said Robert Hilburger, the director of business development for the Oneida Indian Nation.
Philip Morris, for more than a decade, encouraged and helped build up Native American cigarette sales by signing contracts with Indian retailers for preferential programs that would provide stores with racks, signage, special coupon sales, and “backside” payments for every carton of Marlboros sold, a strategy that is legal and widely practiced in the trade, Hilburger said.
“The reason they were so good to us is because they wanted low-priced product to get out to the public. Now they have utter disdain for the Native American retailers that helped them build to the point of monopoly they have today. We believe now that because their sales are being impacted by Native-manufactured cigarettes that are retailed through Native stores, they hope to knock us out of business altogether so they could increase their market share even more.”
Philip Morris’ attack ads are the latest volley in
Snow said Philip Morris was clearly losing market share on the reservations because of the success of Indian manufactured cigarettes.
“I probably sell 10 to 1 Seneca cigarettes over Marlboros.”
Native-manufactured cigarettes have a cost advantage over Philip Morris products. Currently, Marlboro cigarettes cost $65 a carton while Native-manufactured
Indian retailers can’t fight Philip Morris’ big bucks ad campaign, Snow said, “so we’re pretty much just trying to expose them for what they are and let people make up their own minds. We have a lot of face-to-face customers so we try to get to them through those transactions.”
The Indian tobacco industry, which contributes hundreds of millions of dollars each year to the general economy directly and indirectly through jobs and tobacco industry-related businesses, is under siege right now.
Last year, President Barack Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, granting the Food and Drug Administration federal regulatory authority over tobacco products.
Both the FSOTCA and the PACT Act will hugely benefit the tobacco company. FSOTCA puts onerous demands on small manufacturers, such as requiring changes in the design and packaging of cigarettes and restrictions in advertising and promotions, among other things, that will be easily accommodated by big budget Philip Morris, but not by small manufacturers.
Hilburger said that he and another
“The Philip Morris reps said they encouraged a negotiated settlement and wouldn’t do anything to hurt it, that they would maintain a position of neutrality with regard to the state tax situation. Then 14 days ago out of the blue and without even the courtesy of a phone call to tell us we’re going to be attacked, they take out these ads and they almost label us as criminals, even though they’re the ones who helped grow our business so greatly,” Hilburger said.
Asked why Philip Morris abandoned its position of neutrality, Sutton said, “I’m not going to comment on Philip Morris USA’s relationships with the company’s specific retail partners.”
The company’s lobbyists were active in the state capitol of
Asked about the status of the new regulations, Morgan Hook, a spokesman in Gov. David Paterson’s office said, “We do not comment on legislation that has not passed both houses. We have no position on the bill, as it has not been passed yet and is essentially a draft.”
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Choice of Quitting Smoking
One way to stop smoking is to go cold turkey. Quitting smoking is not easy and some turn to nicotine replacement therapies to ease the process. Unfortunately, using nicotine-based aids don’t always work. When the going gets tough, smokers may give in to the temptation to light up again.
Using nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) may help. The nicotine that enters your body is not as much as when you smoke. It eliminates your need for nicotine by giving you less and less nicotine each treatment.
If you are one of the smokers who need some help to quit smoking, then you need to rely on stop smoking aids. Perhaps you are perplexed with the choices of quit smoking aids that are available on the market. Not all of them will give you the outcome you want.
Studies also reveal that the gradual decrease of smoking cigarette makes the withdrawal symptoms worse and the habit more difficult to break. Most smokers end up smoking again because they go into a relapse.
Herbal quit smoking aids usually don’t contain nicotine. You don’t have to include nicotine into your quit smoking efforts. Because you are dealing with herbal ingredients, you don’t have to worry about side effects like you do with drugs. I’m sure you’ll agree that this method of fighting the difficulties of stop smoking is better and safer.
One of the reasons many smokers fail to quit is because they can’t handle the withdrawal symptoms. You can find aids that do not use nicotine. If you think you need prescribed drugs to solve your smoking problem, then you are wrong because they are not considered to be the best quit smoking aids. You can beat the withdrawal symptoms with a herbal solution.
Once you choose to put away the cigarettes, you have to be ready to face the cravings that will make life most miserable indeed. You can make life a little easier with quit smoking.
Definitely your quality of life will be better after you have succeeded to stop smoking. You will have more energy, be more focused and breathe easier.
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