Tobacco Articles: category tobacco_control

Cohasset to consider ban on electronic cigarettes

pronan@ledger.com (Patrick Ronan) — Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

RAID Workshop Validates Tobacco Control Action-Plan

Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The Gambia, an African network for information and action against tobacco, poised to create awareness on the harms associated with drugs and substance abuse, on Monday 30th April 2012, organised a workshop which was meant to validate its 2012-2015 Action-Plan on tobacco control in The Gambia. The Validation Workshop which was held at the President's Award Scheme main hall was attended by a cross-section of Gambians.

Putting the science behind FDA’s tobacco regulation

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The law giving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products requires that it base decisions on science, including proposals to reduce the harm caused to those who smoke and to discourage youngsters from using tobacco. Leading this ambitious effort is David Ashley, the science director of the FDA's Center's for Tobacco Products, who sees his job as "an incredible opportunity to have an impact on public health." . . . Ashley said he has spent the past two years hiring a staff of about 70 people, "getting our feet on the ground," establishing the research agenda, and building relationships with outside organizations like the National Institutes of Health that will conduct the scientific inquiries. He said some of the top priorities for research include looking at ways to reduce addiction to tobacco products; reducing the toxicity and carcinogenicity of tobacco products and smoke; understanding the adverse health consequences of tobacco use; and better understanding communications and marketing regarding tobacco products. Ashley said the science agenda as well as the work of the entire tobacco regulatory center has been steadily making progress. However, he said one of the frustrations is that decisions are not made as fast as he would like. "There are good reasons for that," said Ashley. "We need to get input from many different stakeholders in order that the decisions we make will be the most appropriate and most effective." Nevertheless, Ashley said that it is "a challenge to know that for every day a decision is delayed and we cannot act, about 1200 people die from using tobacco products." Kim Elliott, the associate director at the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, said Ashley is "a world renowned chemist who has tremendous expertise on tobacco product design and what goes into the products."

Why is tobacco control still a problem in Europe?

Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Tobacco control in the EU is at a crossroads. Ideally, politicians and civil servants will clearly delineate and make transparent all contacts with the tobacco industry and those in their pay, as per Article 5.3 in the FCTC. We also call on European governments and the EU to take a more robust stance and legislate more effectively to protect European citizens. The first test of the EC’s willingness to do so will be the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive. We await the outcome of that process.

Table of Contents - February 2012, 22 (suppl 1): Progress on Tobacco Control in Europe: Findings from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Europe Project

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Tobacco control in Europe: A deadly lack of progress

Comparative impact of smoke-free legislation on smoking cessation in three European countries

Comprehensive smoke-free policies attract more support from smokers in Europe than partial policies

Predictors of car smoking rules among smokers in France, Germany and the Netherlands

Smoking cessation interventions from health care providers before and after the national smoke-free law in France

Outdoor smoking behaviour and support for outdoor smoking restrictions before and after France's national smoking ban

Do smokers in Europe think all cigarettes are equally harmful?

Struggling to make ends meet: exploring pathways to understand why smokers in financial difficulties are less likely to quit successfully

Higher tobacco taxes 'could save lives'

Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Decree good for Fiji, says minister

ebusfj3@anz.com ( Samisoni Nabilivalu) — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

FIJI continues to make progress in implementing the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), says Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma. Speaking at the presentation of licences to representatives of tobacco importers and manufacturers in Suva yesterday, Dr Sharma said Fiji was the third country to ratify the WHO FCTC in October 2003 and the first developing country to do so. He said the government was committed to decreasing tobacco-related harm in Fiji and meeting Fiji's obligations under the convention.

ASEAN-Jakarta HQ now 100% smoke-free

Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

According to a press release by the ASEAN, ahead of the ceremonies to launch a “Smoke-Free ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC)," regional tobacco-control advocates are congratulating the ASEAN leadership for ‘a determined and progressive stance that unequivocally expresses where the region's governments should stand with respect to curbing tobacco use.’ Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) Director Bungon Ritthiphakdee, on behalf of the alliance of tobacco control advocates from around the region said, “The ASEAN secretariat's leadership by example isn't merely symbolic. It follows through on a commitment and is concrete in action.”

"Thank you for not Smoking" – ASEAN Secretariat Headquarters a 100 percent Smoke-free Building

Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) sets a healthy example for the rest of the region, by declaring its own headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, officially smoke-free. Ahead of the ceremonies to launch a "Smoke-Free ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC)," regional tobacco-control advocates are congratulating the ASEAN leadership for ‘a determined and progressive stance that unequivocally expresses where the region's governments should stand with respect to curbing tobacco use.’ Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) Director Bungon Ritthiphakdee, on behalf of the alliance of tobacco control advocates from around the region said, "The ASEAN secretariat's leadership by example isn't merely symbolic. It follows through on a commitment and is concrete in action." The ASEC Health and Communicable Diseases Division with the support of SEATCA and WHO, wants to strengthen the implementation of the ASEAN Secretary-General’s memorandum on Smoke-free Working Environments. ASEAN Secretary-General H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, personally led the unveiling of the official "Smoke-free" signage at the lobby of the ASEAN headquarters today.

Smokers struggling to stay quitters!

Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Asean Secretariat Now A Smoke-free Building

Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

ASEAN declares smoke-free headquarters to set healthy example

Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) sets a healthy example for the rest of the region, by declaring its own headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, officially smoke-free, a statement released by the ASEAN Secretariat said here on Wednesday. Ahead of the ceremonies to launch a "Smoke-Free ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC)," regional tobacco-control advocates are congratulating the ASEAN leadership for its determined and progressive stance that unequivocally expresses where the region's governments should stand with respect to curbing tobacco use. "The ASEAN secretariat's leadership by example isn't merely symbolic. It follows through on a commitment and is concrete in action." Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) Director Bungon Ritthiphakdee said, on behalf of the alliance of tobacco control advocates from around the region. "Six hundred million people of Southeast Asia are rejoicing with the accomplishments set forth by the ASEC in bringing good health, clean environments and empowered nations in the hands of the ASEAN," Ritthiphakdee added.

Sales up despite anti-smoking campaign

Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Indonesia’s top cigarette makers say that their sales continued to record a significant growth in the first three months of 2012, despite anti-smoking campaigns and growing public health concerns. PT Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna (HMSP), the conglomerate that owns the nation’s largest cigarette producers, saw net sales rise 31.56 percent in the first quarter to Rp 15.4 trillion, compared to Rp 11.71 trillion in the same quarter last year. No. 2 cigarette maker PT Gudang Garam (GGRM) also booked higher revenues, up 21.07 percent from Rp 9.48 trillion to Rp 11.48 trillion, as consumer purchasing power remains strong with manageable inflation and an overall 6.5 percent growth rate.

Colorado returns millions of dollars to fight tobacco, cancer

mbooth@denverpost.com (Michael Booth) — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

A looser state budget will hand about $46 million back to cancer-fighting groups who had lost money for tobacco cessation and medical screening for the past three years. Eroding state budgets pushed the legislature to confiscate Amendment 35 cancer-fighting money for emergency funds. The new 2012-13 state budget restores the money to the pots voters intended when they approved a higher cigarette tax in 2004. The money will quickly boost tobacco "quit lines" for Colorado, and restore screening for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers, as well as treatments for the uninsured when those tests discover illnesses.

$700K spend on smokes deters youth

corrie@thesun.co.nz — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

A woman whose grandparents spent an estimated $700,000 on cigarettes is teaching Bay of Plenty youth about the dangers of alcohol and drugs this week. Kirsty Steel's grandparents chain-smoked two packets a day for 40 years, her grandmother dying as a result of her substance abuse when Kirsty's dad was only 18-years-old. Kirsty Steel has seen first-hand the effect of drugs and alcohol on families.