PACT Notes

May 25, 2018

High-Nicotine Dependent Smokers ‘Less Likely’ to Quit After Lung Cancer Screening

Tobacco cessation is considered the single most effective primary prevention strategy for reducing the risk of lung cancer death in patients. Researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina conducted a secondary research analysis on the National Lung Screening Trial and found that current smokers have varying levels of tobacco dependence that can help predict a person’s ability to quit and clinical outcomes. A single question within this screening tool, was associated with outcomes in this population. Specifically, those who had their first cigarette within five minutes of waking were significantly less likely to be successful in smoking cessation, significantly more likely to have lung cancer and had significantly higher rates of death. Utilizing this information can help to develop tailored tobacco treatment plans and improve risk assessment for lung cancer, which may lead to better individual and health system outcomes in the future.

Strategies to Tackle Workplace Tobacco Use

Tobacco use in the workplace has been a significant cause of concern over the years, as many workers exposed to tobacco smoke are susceptible to its various health risks and attendant productivity decline. There has been more than a 50% decline in cigarette smoking among US adults since the first Surgeon-General’s Report on health risks of smoking over 50 years ago. However, about 20 percent of the workforce still smoke cigarettes, exposing non-smokers to second-hand smoke. Tobacco-free worksite creates a safer and healthier work environment which, in turn, reduces the risk of deleterious health complications. Therefore, direct health cost to the employer is reduced, and employee productivity is promoted. In the long term, employers save a lot of money on maintenance costs when tobacco.

Want to learn more about smokefree policy? Click here.

Can Facebook Help You Quit Smoking? Study Indicates Yes

Facebook may be able to help people quit smoking, according to a UCSF study. This study used the world’s most popular social media site to recruit 500 smokers ages 18 to 25. It exposed them to messages about quitting and counseling about quitting, all through Facebook. Participants joined a private Facebook group in which they could communicate with a trained counselor through a weekly live counseling session, similar to a Reddit-style question-and-answer exchange. Researchers also created daily posts tailored to the participants’ level of interest in quitting. Researchers were particularly interested in targeting young adults because that age group does not use traditional quitting programs as often as older adults, even though the programs are accessible online and through texting services.

The University of Utah Will Become Tobacco-Free in July

The University of Utah is joining 1,800 other universities across the U.S. who have gone tobacco Free; The University of Utah will officially become tobacco-free starting in July. The mandate will prohibit smoking and the use of any tobacco products on campus grounds at any time. The decision to become tobacco-free came about through a student-led initiative and involved representatives across campus. The school gathered feedback through meetings, email and social media. The university also offers resources to people trying to quit tobacco use.

Worthington, OH City Council Passes Tobacco 21 Law

Worthington now joins 10 other central Ohio communities in banning the sale of tobacco to anyone under the age of 21. One city at a time, it’s getting a little bit harder for some to buy tobacco in Ohio. City leaders across the state are raising the age limit to purchase it and Worthington is the latest. The goal is to keep youth away from the addictive behavior or tobacco use. Tobacco 21 bans the sale of tobacco and tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21. Worthington City Council voted Monday night to pass the ordinance. The Tobacco 21 movement is slowly spreading across Ohio. So far, 10 other cities have enacted the legislation, including Columbus, Bexley, Grandview, Dublin, Powell and more.

PACT Notes

PACT Notes – December 21, 2018

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

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

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.