PACT Notes

October 13th, 2017

Tobacco Tax Reform: At the Crossroads of Health and Development

Smoking has numerous adverse effects. While this is known, it is not completely understood by policy makers. Smoking impacts people, economies, and even interferes with poverty reduction. The report, Tobacco Tax Reform: At the Crossroads of Health and Development, explains how policy makers can improve the health and prosperity of societies through implementing higher tobacco tax rates.

Click Here to read the report.

More Mental Health Facilities Are Going Smoke-Free

People with mental health conditions have a smoking rate of 1 in 3 people. This smoking rate is higher than the general population rate of 1 in 5 people. Exploitation by the tobacco industry plays a major role in higher smoking rates for people with mental health conditions. Luckily, more mental health facilities are establishing 100 percent smoke-free policies. Almost half of the mental health facilities in the U.S. are completely smoke-free. According to Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Virginia require psychiatric facilities to be 100 percent smoke-free.

Tobacco Program Launches Quit Now Kentucky Campaign

Kentucky’s Tobacco Quit Line is taking a new approach to get people to stop using tobacco products. Instead of informing people about the negative health effects of smoking, they are showing people what is possible when you quit. They are hoping these positive messages will inspire and motivate people to contact the Quit Line for counseling and support. In Kentucky, over 8,000 people die every because of tobacco-related diseases.

Click Here to see some of their new ads.

Ireland: The Price of a Packet of Cigarettes Is Going Up 50c From Midnight Tonight

Ireland has increased the price of a 20-pack of cigarettes. The price increase is part of an initiative to improve the health of Ireland. Ireland hopes to be tobacco-free by 2025. Patrick Dooley, chairman of the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Ireland, said “If the government is to achieve its objective of establishing a smoke-free Ireland by 2025, then it must consistently increase the price of tobacco.”

Click Here to learn more about Tobacco Free Ireland.

Communities in Action

American Lung Association and CVS Health are partnering to create the first tobacco-free generation and to defeat lung cancer. Tobacco is the leading cause for lung cancer, therefore, American Lung Association has put together some resources to help improve the health of your communities. Take time to explore these resources and learn about how you can help schools and families become tobacco-free!

PACT Notes

PACT Notes – December 21, 2018

by Erica Saylor | Dec 21, 2018 | PACT Notes

A new study found that increases in adolescent vaping from 2017 to 2018 were the largest ever recorded in the past 43 years for any adolescent substance use outcome in the U.S.

In just one year e-cigarette use among youth has skyrocketed, increasing by:
90% among 12th graders
96% among 10th graders
74% among 8th graders

PACT Notes – December 14, 2018

by Erica Saylor | Dec 14, 2018 | PACT Notes

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark 1998 legal settlement between the states and the tobacco companies, which required the companies to pay more than $200 billion over time as compensation for tobacco-related health care costs.

The report challenges states to do more to fight tobacco use – the nation’s No. 1 preventable cause of death – and to confront the growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use in America. In Pennsylvania, 8.7 percent of high school students smoke cigarettes, while 11.3 percent use e-cigarettes. Tobacco use claims 22,000 Pennsylvania lives and costs the state $6.3 billion in health care bills annually.

PACT Notes – December 7, 2018

by Erica Saylor | Dec 7, 2018 | PACT Notes

This week Senator Mario Scavello (PA-40) released a co-sponsorship memo for Tobacco 21. He is actively looking for support in the Senate and plans to introduce legislation in the session starting in the new year. While PACT is still advising that advocates wait until the new year to start their legislative visits, if you have any connections with Senators you think might be interested in support please reach out to PACT and we are happy to connect them with Senator Scavello’s Office.

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