Tobacco Control Network

Tobacco Free Press - Table of Contents - March/April 2005

American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANR) releases smoke-free ordinance data and website on smoke-free casinos
Alabama’s Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) aims to educate the community about the dangers of environmental tobacco smoke
Harvard School of Public Health releases results of a study on the enactment of a comprehensive smoke-free workplace law
Health officials in Michigan working on educating landlords as part of their campaign to eliminate smoking from apartment buildings
North Carolina’s Paramount Parks joins other amusement parks in limiting smoking to designated areas. [read more]

CDC’s National Youth Tobacco Survey finds tobacco use among adolescents has stopped decreasing
American Journal of Public Health reports that American Legacy Foundation’s truth® campaign significantly contributed to decline in youth smoking between 1997 and 2002
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids sponsored Kick Butts Day on April 13th
The American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails’ Thumbs Up! Thumbs Down! Program trains teens to assess movies based on glamorization of tobacco and smoking
San Francisco Park Commission bans use of smokeless tobacco in all public parks and at all youth-focused events sponsored by the city
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University examine effects of older peer influence on smoking behavior. [read more]

National African American Tobacco Education Network (NAATEN) launches nationwide faith-based initiative that distributes cessation tool kits through churches
Environmental Health Perspectives publishes report finding that African American children suffer higher rates of ETS-related morbidity despite lower levels of exposure
Sherri Watson, Executive Director of NAATPN, honored at American Legacy Foundation’s awards ceremony in New York
Board of Directors at Whitman-Walker Clinic in Washington, DC vote to support extension of city’s smoke-free workplace laws to include nightclubs, bars and restaurants, reflecting commitment to LGBT and HIV-positive communities
University of Pennsylvania awarded $1.6 million from Master Settlement Agreement to conduct research comparing the effectiveness of two behavioral therapies for reducing smoking in depressed adolescents in underserved minority communities. [read more]

Study examines effectiveness of various smoking cessation aids
Rutgers study examines self-perceived risk from smoking
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services cover cost of cessation counseling
NASCAR and GlaxoSmithKline Promote Cessation
Comprehensive Statewide Tobacco Cessation Project launches website
Website supporting quitting “Cold Turkey” remains popular
Alabama Public Health Department starts 24-hour quit-line
Cessation program customized to the Native Ojibwe culture is developed in Minnesota
Calls to Montanta state quit-line see drastic increase after tobacco tax is increased by a dollar. [read more]

Department of Justice files motion on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) case
Bill introduced to grant U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority over tobacco products
Two bills prohibiting public and workplace smoking presented to Washington, DC City Council
Georgia state legislature has passed Georgia Smoke Free Air Act of 2005, which awaits signature of Governor Sonny Perdue
Hawaii state legislature considering bill prohibiting smoking on all public beaches and parks
Smoke-free air bill rejected by Minnesota Senate House Committee
Montana House of Representatives passes smoking ban for public spaces and workplaces
New Jersey Senate to vote on New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act passed by Senate Committee to eliminate smoking in public places and workplaces, including casinos
New Mexico House of Representatives passes smoke-free air bill banning smoking in private workspaces
North Dakota Senate Committee to examine changes made by House to smoke-free workplace bill
Rhode Island becomes seventh state to have statewide work place smoking ban
Tacoma–Pierce County in Washington state prohibited from upholding laws outlawing smoking in all indoor public places due to preemption by state’s Clean Indoor Air Act. [read more]

Updates on taxes in Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington state. [read more]

Researchers at Mayo Clinic investigate effects of spit tobacco on human body
Toxic cigarette butts create problems along food chain
Belgian companies now allowed to require employees who take smoking breaks to work longer hours. [read more]

CDC Foundation Accepting Applications for “A Program to Prevent Smoking Among Urban Youth”. [read more]