Research

State Medicaid coverage for tobacco-dependence treatments: United States, 2005
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that examines insurance coverage for tobacco dependence treatments, one of the health objectives of Healthy People 2010. The report reveals that Medicaid recipients have a higher smoking prevalence than non-Medicaid adults, and are thus disproportionately affected by tobacco-related disease and disability. Additionally, examination of the State Medicaid coverage for tobacco-use treatments revealed 41 states offer some coverage, yet only one state (Oregon) provided coverage for all treatment options recommended by the Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline. To read the MMWR click here.

Study: 16,000 smokers quit since smoking ban took effect
In the first 20 months after a citywide indoor smoking ban took effect, an estimated 16,467 Lexington adults put out their cigarettes for good. Lexington's percentage of adult smokers dropped by nearly one-third since the city's indoor smoking ban was implemented in April 2004, according to UK College of Nursing researchers. Researchers analyzed information gathered in federal health interviews with 3,457 Kentuckians in six counties between 2001 and 2005 in an effort to determine how much adult smoking rates changed. Federal health surveys found that 25.7 percent of Fayette County adults smoked before the ban, but in the months after the smoking ban was implemented, just 17.5 percent of Fayette County adults reported being smokers. Click here to read more.

New study finds everyday activities trigger smoking cravings
New research reveals that nine out of 10 smokers who quit smoking begin again as a result of everyday ‘situational cravings.’ These cravings are a result of frequent smoking in everyday circumstances which the brain associates with nicotine, such as driving in a car, talking on the phone, or drinking coffee. These results support the use of therapeutic nicotine when attempting to quit, thereby eliminating the intense craving for nicotine immediately after it occurs. Click here for the press release.

Exercise helps smokers quit
A study by Australian researchers provides evidence that exercise helps people quit smoking. The study enrolled 68 smokers for a period of three months. All participants received nicotine-replacement therapy, but only half participated in an exercise program. Overall, 80 percent of those in the nicotine replacement and exercise treatment group were able to quit, while 50 percent of those using nicotine replacement therapy alone quit. Click here for the press release or here for the full article in the journal Chest.

Randomized trials on Consider This, a tailored, Internet-delivered smoking prevention program for adolescents
A new study in the journal Health Education and Behavior, used group-randomized controlled trials in Australia and the United States to test the effectiveness of an Internet based smoking prevention intervention for children in grades 6 through 9. The children using the Consider This program reported a reduced 30-day smoking prevalence. Although program exposure was low, program use displayed a dose-response relationship in reducing smoking prevalence. Click here to read more.

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Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: Model tobacco use treatment benefit and Key elements of a tobacco use treatment benefit
The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids has released two new tools for tobacco use treatment.  The Key Elements document is designed to guide internal decision-making about what ought to be included in a comprehensive treatment benefit.  The Model Treatment document provides language for the benefit, which can also be translated into legislative text or an internal decision memo for private health plans or purchasers of health care.  TFK consulted with a broad range of experts to develop these materials, including experts in the treatment of tobacco use, purchasers of health care, policy makers, and public and private tobacco control experts to develop these resources.  To view the documents, click here for Key Elements and here for Model Treatment.  To learn more about the development of these tools, click here or contact Matt Barry at Matt Barry at (202) 296-5469 or mbarry@tobaccofreekids.org.

A Practical Guide to Working with Health-Care Systems on Tobacco-Use Treatment
This guide was designed to increase public health professionals’ comfort with and skill in establishing collaborative relationships with leaders of health-care systems, and to facilitate the creation and maintenance of long-term partnerships with leaders of health-care systems that promote effective system-wide tobacco-use treatment. The guide provides useful information and practical advice to help public health professionals' understanding of health-care systems. Click here to view the resource.

The National Pharmacy Partnership for Tobacco Cessation launches new website
The National Pharmacy Partnership for Tobacco Cessation website offers resources including: the latest news in tobacco cessation, advice for starting a cessation program, information about training programs over 50 handouts to use with patients who want to quit, as well as additional resources. View the website by clicking here.

Aetna to help members quit tobacco with new tobacco cessation program
Aetna announced the availability of the new Aetna Quit Tobacco program, a voluntary one-year program that includes personal coaching and support by certified cessation specialists. To be eligible for the no cost program members must have the program included as part of their benefits package. The program will begin on January 1, 2007 and can be accessed via the internet or telephone. Click here for the press release.

Want to quit smoking? Try the internet
Frustrated with rising health care costs, the oldest mutual insurer of automobiles in the nation has turned to an online health-coaching program. The website, MyHealthCoach.com, matches participants with a quit coach to create a personalized action plan to quit smoking. Communication with the coach occurs through online chat sessions, via email, or through online journals. Coaches also provide personalized news articles and Web links to participants. For the employees of Amica Insurance, over one-third were able to quit smoking after utilizing the resource. Click here to read more.

Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS launches dramatic appeal to smokers
Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS, an exhibition of real human bodies, and the American Cancer society have announced a new smoking cessation program called ‘I Quit.’ The campaign will be stationed within BODY WORLDS exhibitions at science museums and will feature a multimedia smoking cessation program, including a PSA, pledge cards, a repository where visitors can leave their last pack of cigarettes, and take home information. Inspiration for the campaign came from the numerous unfinished packs of cigarettes left on the glass display case displaying a smokers’ lung. Click here to read more.

NASCAR drives in a smoke-free direction
Smoking and NASCAR have long been associated. R.J. Reynolds’s Winston brand sponsored the sport’s top series for 33 years, encouraging a culture of smoking among race teams and fans. However, R.J. Reynolds ended its sponsorship after the 2003 season and opened the door for sponsorship from nicotine replacement therapy makers. As a resource, GlaxoSmithKline has established the Winner’s Circle that provides cessation information and counseling to 3,500 and 4,500 fans at 30 of the sport’s major races. Click here for more information.

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States

Washington:
 
Uninsured Washington vets eligible for free expanded cessation services
Military veterans receiving acute care through the Veteran’s Administration who are uninsured or don’t have a cessation benefit are now eligible for free expanded services from Washington Tobacco Quit Line. Qualifying vets who are referred from the Veteran’s Administration will be offered an enhanced benefit with a Nicotine Replacement Therapy option.  For more information, contact Julie Thompson at 360-236-3722 or juliet.thompson@doh.wa.gov.

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International

Delhi residents phoned to quit smoking
Local health centers are calling New Delhi residents, asking them if they smoke and if so, informing them of the health risks of tobacco and offering tips for quitting. Additionally, those interested in quitting are given an appointment with a health counselor. India is seeking to cut down on health care costs related to tobacco, which currently total over 300 billion rupees (6.7 billion dollars) a year. For the full press release, click here.

Graphic smoking images approved
Beginning in Australia in February 2008, cigarette packets will be mandated to adopt new graphic warning labels. The labels, depicting images such as diseased lungs, gangrenous toes, and rotting gums and teeth, will cover 30% of the front and 90% of the rear of every cigarette packet. The aim, according to Associate Health Minister Damien O’Commor, is to shock people into realizing that smoking is a cause of serious illness and death. Click here to read more and view the images.

Belgium wants to shock smokers out of their habit
Belgium will mandate that all cigarette packets include the shocking image of the consequences of smoking, including disturbing images of tumors, heart operations, and teeth falling out. The legislation takes effect in June of 2007. The images are part of a European Union snit-smoking campaign that was initiated in 2004 by then EU health commissioner David Bryne. To read more and view the images, click here.

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