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Significant news and research influencing tobacco prevention and control strategy

January 13, 2010

American Lung Association Report Card: State of Tobacco Control - 2009

The American Lung Association's State of Tobacco Control report tracks progress on key tobacco control policies at the state and federal levels and gives grades for laws and regulations in effect as of January 2, 2010. This year’s grades, which range from A to F, provide a comparative view of how well the federal and state governments are doing at protecting citizens from the enormous burden caused by tobacco use.

December 21, 2009

Teens & Smoking - Smoking is Down, but Smokeless is Up

For 35 years, the Monitoring the Future (MTF) study has been the most respected source for data about youth smoking. New data for 2009, released on December 14, shows that while teen smoking rates continue their slow decline, the use of smokeless tobacco has once again emerged. The study annually surveys a national sample of 8th, 10th and 12th graders.

MTF Tobacco Press Release: Text, Figures, & Table .

November 10, 2009

Helping Smokers Quit: State Cessation Coverage Report - 2009 (PDF: 3,108KB/24 pages)
The American Lung Association released their second annual Helping Smokers Quit: State Cessation Coverage report. The report provides an overview of smoking cessation services and treatments offered in each state through Medicaid, state employee health plans, private insurance, and quitlines in 2009. Minnesota specific information can be found in the report.

November 6, 2009

Tools for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
The U.S. Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, was released in May 2008. Since the release, several tools and additional materials have been developed including a quick reference guide, presentations, posters, and more.

November 5, 2009

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Policy Statement on Tobacco Free Environments for Children
A recent policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises pediatricians and families to work together to help children live tobacco-free lives. The policy statement, Tobacco Use: A Pediatric Disease, lays out the AAP's recommendations for tobacco-free and smoke-free environments for children, guidelines for treatment of tobacco use and dependence, implementation and enforcement of tobacco-control measures, and support for training and research in pediatric tobacco control.

November 2, 2009

Institute of Medicine Report: Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Cardiovascular Effects - Making Sense of the Evidence

This October 2009 report, Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Cardiovascular Effects, reviews available scientific literature to assess the relationship between secondhand smoke exposure and acute coronary events. Findings in the report indicate that there is about a 25 to 30 percent increase in the risk of coronary heart disease from exposure to secondhand smoke. These findings agree with the 2006 Surgeon General's Report conclusion that there are increased risks of coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality among men and women exposed to secondhand smoke.

October 15, 2009

FTC Releases Reports on Cigarette and Smokeless Tobacco Sales and Marketing Expenditures

The amount spent on cigarette advertising and promotion by the five largest cigarette companies in the United States declined from $13.11 billion in 2005 to $12.49 billion in 2006, according to a report released today by the Federal Trade Commission. The largest spending category – spending on price discounts – fell from $9.78 billion in 2005 to $9.21 billion in 2006, but still accounted for nearly 74 percent of all marketing expenditures.

The number of cigarettes sold by those manufacturers to wholesalers and retailers declined from 2005 to 2006, while the number given away increased. Overall, the total number of cigarettes sold and given away declined from 354.6 billion in 2005 to 350.6 billion in 2006.
A separate report on smokeless tobacco found that spending on advertising and promotion rose from $250.79 million in 2005 to $354.12 million in 2006. The dollar value of sales by the five largest manufacturers declined from $2.61 billion to $2.59 billion, and the number of pounds of smokeless tobacco sold declined from 116.2 million pounds to 115.82 million pounds.

October 15, 2009

Institute of Medicine Report Brief – Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Cardiovascular Effects: Making Sense of the Evidence (PDF 349KB/4 pages)

A new report released today, Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Cardiovascular Effects: Making Sense of the Evidence, provides a comprehensive review of the science on the relationship between secondhand smoke exposure and acute coronary events. The report was requested by CDC, but the review was conducted independently by the Institute of Medicine.

October 7 , 2009

FDA - U.S. Food & Drug Administration – Center for Tobacco Products

The Center oversees the implementation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in June 2009. The Center sets performance standards, review premarket applications for new and modified-risk tobacco products, and establish and enforce advertising and promotion restrictions. The Center’s Website includes up to date information on status of the sale of electronic-cigarettes, flavored cigarettes, news, and a link to sign up for E-mail updates on Tobacco Products.