PACT Notes

March 2nd, 2018

Cigarette Smoking During Pregnancy: United States, 2016

A report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presents the prevalence of cigarette smoking at any time during pregnancy among women who gave birth in 2016 in the United States by state of residence as well as maternal race and Hispanic origin, age, and educational attainment. In 2016, 7.2% of women who gave birth smoked cigarettes during pregnancy, smoking during pregnancy was highest for women aged 20-24, smoking during pregnancy was highest among women with a completed high school education.

To access the brief directly click here.

Almost all Adolescents in an Economically Disadvantaged Urban Population Exposed to Tobacco Smoke

A study conducted by University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) found that ninety-four percent of adolescents ages 13 to 19 in an economically disadvantaged, largely minority population in San Francisco had measurable levels of a biomarker specific for exposure to tobacco smoke. The data shows nearly ubiquitous exposure to tobacco smoke in this population of economically disadvantaged adolescents, which highlights the need for new public health initiatives to reduce exposure.

To access the article directly click here.

The Tobacco Control Vaccine: A Population-Based Framework for Preventing Tobacco-Related Disease and Death

An article published in BMJ describes a population-based model for reducing tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure using the public health principles of vaccination. The Tobacco Control Vaccine is comprised of proven population-based preventive measures to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. It is founded on existing evidence-based frameworks intended to serve as a public health messaging complement to these frameworks to enhance understanding and implementation of proven interventions.

First annual LUNG FORCE “State of Lung Cancer” Report

The American Lung Association is excited to share the latest signature report, LUNG FORCE “State of Lung Cancer”. This report builds on the success of “State of Tobacco Control” and “State of the Air” annual reports. It compares lung cancer incidence, survival, stage at diagnosis, surgical treatment and screening centers among states across the country. Through this report, trends will be able to be identified and areas where each state has the greatest need for added awareness and resources. Information is also shown for state-specific radon zones, smoking prevalence and particle pollution.

To learn more about the link between smoking and lung cancer click here.

Become a Freedom From Smoking® Facilitator

On March 22nd, the American Lung Association in PA will be holding a Freedom From Smoking® Facilitator training in Camp Hill. Trained and certified facilitators conduct group clinics assisting individuals through a step-by-step process in quitting tobacco use. All facilitators trained are required to be tobacco-free for 12 months or longer. By participating in the training, you will learn the following: how to conduct sessions and activities, what challenges might arise, and how to handle those challenges.

To register click here.

2018 Great Philadelphia LUNG FORCE Expo 1 Month Away!

The 2018 Greater Philadelphia LUNG FORCE Expo is coming up in Cherry Hill, NJ and you don’t want to miss this exciting one-day event for patients, caregivers and health professionals.

Registration is free for patients and caregivers and includes lunch and breakfast.

Click here to register.

PACT Notes

PACT Notes – December 21, 2018

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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

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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

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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.