Policy

Research

Substance abuse policy research program releases five-year research roadmap
Over the past fourteen years, research funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Substance Abuse Policy Research Program (SAPRP) has identified evidence-based policies that effectively reduce substance abuse. SAPRP recently released four research roadmaps which identify remaining gaps in the knowledge base, and pose key questions for advancing tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse policy over the next five years. The roadmaps, which include a report on priorities for tobacco policy research, can help inform researchers, advocacy groups, policy-makers, and federal agencies about current research priorities. Click here to read more about the roadmap and for downloads of the individual roadmaps.

Idaho activists hope study helps anti-smoking push inside bars (ID)
An Idaho anti-smoking group is hoping that the results of a recent study will influence lawmakers to strengthen the existing smokefree law and ban smoking in bars. The Coalition for a Healthy Idaho commissioned the Roswell Park Cancer Institute to conduct an air quality study on bars in three cities. The data showed that the air in bars that allow smoking is 36 times more polluted than the air outside. A 2004 state law bans smoking in all public buildings, but exempts drinking establishments that allow entry only to patrons who are 21 and over. Despite the potential health benefits of banning smoking in bars, coalition leaders are concerned about a lack of support for expanding the law, particularly among bar and restaurant owners. Click here for more details.

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Reports

State

Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoes e cigarette ban bill in California (CA)
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently vetoed AB 574, a proposal to make hospitals smoke-free, and SB 400, which would have made it illegal to sell e-cigarettes to minors. Breathe California Central Coast, a lung health advocacy group, issued a statement criticizing Schwarzenegger for missing two opportunities to help combat nicotine addiction. In a letter to the California Senate regarding SB 400, the governor stated that while he supports restrictions on e-cigarette sales to minors, he declined to sign the bill because of a pending federal lawsuit that will determine the legal status of e-cigarettes. He referred to AB 574 as “unnecessary,” maintaining that hospitals have the ability to restrict smoking on their campuses. Click here to read the statement from Breathe California.

D.C. weighs more curbs on smoking (DC)
The D.C. Council is considering a proposal to give business owners the right to ban smoking within 25 feet of the front door of an establishment to protect passersby from secondhand smoke. The proposal would also make it illegal for anyone under eighteen to possess tobacco products, and would ban the sale of single, cheap cigars, which are often used to roll marijuana. The legislation is supported by health organizations, as well as by Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris. Read more here. Click here to read an article on Altria’s link to the bill and the potential benefits of the legislation for the tobacco company.

Haze lingers over 2008 smoking ban (IL)
In the nearly two years since the Illinois’ ban on indoor smoking in public places took effect, some issues have been resolved, yet challenges to enforcement remain. Enforcing agencies such as police departments and local health departments now have citations specific to the ban. Although health departments may give citations, they do not have the authority to demand identification from violators, a significant barrier to enforcing the law. Because of this, health departments often investigate violations in conjunction with local police. Also, rather than relying on the imperfect state law, police in some cities are citing bartenders for violating city liquor laws that require bartenders and bar owners to stop or report criminal activity. Read more here.

Kansas governor says he’ll push for smoking ban (KS)
Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson recently announced that he will push the legislature to pass a statewide smokefree indoor air law early next year. He also stated that he may work to raise the state’s tax on cigarettes to boost revenue and improve health. The state tax, currently at 79 cents per pack, is considerably lower than the national average of $1.32, yet there has been little support for raising the tax. The state Senate passed a smokefree law earlier this year that then fell short in the state House. Many cities in Kansas have already banned smoking in indoor public places, such as restaurants and businesses. Read more about the state’s plans here.

Council bans flavored tobacco (NY)
Shortly after a federal policy banning flavored cigarettes went into effect, the New York City Council took a step beyond the federal policy by also banning the sale of flavored chewing tobacco, cigarillos and cigars. City officials hope the new policy will prevent kids from starting to smoke. Council members passed the policy because of concerns that tobacco companies will attempt to attract a new generation of young customers by promoting the sale of flavored tobacco products other than cigarettes. Although overall youth tobacco use has declined in the last five years, the percentage of students who smoke only cigars and cigarillos has tripled since 2001 from 5% to 14%. Click here to read more about the ban.

Gregoire criticized for anti-smoking cuts (WA)
Addressing a meeting of public health professionals, Stanton Glantz, a leading tobacco control researcher, criticized the Washington legislature and State Governor Chris Gregoire for recent cuts to the state’s budget for tobacco control programs. Gregoire has been praised for making Washington a leader in tobacco control, in part because of her role in negotiating the Master Settlement Agreement as state attorney general. However, a budget shortfall led to a recent 43% cut to the state’s tobacco control funding and a diversion of a portion of the cigarette tax money from tobacco programs into the state’s general fund. In his speech, Glantz encouraged public health professionals to advocate for restored funding of the tobacco control program. Read more here.

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National

IOM report confirms smoking bans prevent heart attacks
The Institute of Medicine has released a new report confirming evidence that exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease. Additionally, scientific evidence suggests that smokefree laws prevent heart attacks and save lives. The independent IOM report, which was requested by the CDC, found the following: consistent evidence of a causal relationship between secondhand smoke and heart disease, including heart attacks, biological plausibility that brief exposure to secondhand smoke could lead to a heart attack, and that there is a causal relationship between smokefree laws and decreases in heart attacks. Read more about the report and view a video here. Click here for more information on the CDC website, and here for a Report Brief from IOM.

AAP calls for tobacco-free environments for all children
A new policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises pediatricians and families to work together to help children live tobacco-free lives. The policy statement, “Tobacco Use: A Pediatric Disease,” lays out the AAP’s recommendations for tobacco-free and smoke-free environments for children, guidelines for treatment of tobacco use and dependence, implementation and enforcement of tobacco-control measures, and support for training and research in pediatric tobacco control. Click here for AAP’s press release on the policy statement, click here for a PDF of the full policy statement, or click here for American Legacy Foundation’s comment on the policy statement.

FDA Draft Guidance: The scope of the prohibition against marketing a tobacco product in combination with another article or product regulated under the federal food, drug, and cosmetic act
The FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products has posted a draft guidance document intended for manufacturers, retailers, importers, and FDA staff. This draft guidance, when finalized, will represent the FDA's current thinking on a section of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act that states, “A tobacco product shall not be marketed in combination with any other article or product regulated under [the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act] (including a drug, biologic, food, cosmetic, medical device, or a dietary supplement).” Guidance documents describe the Agency's current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited. Read more here.

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International

Association salutes Prime Minister and Health Minister for strong leadership on lung health (Canada)
The Canadian Lung Association congratulated Canadian leaders on the passage of Bill C-32, an Act to Amend the Federal Tobacco Act. This is the first time in twelve years that the Tobacco Act has been revised. Once the Bill is given final approval, the federal Tobacco Act will take several steps to limit tobacco advertising and prevent youth access to tobacco, including a ban on flavored cigarettes, cigarillos and blunt wraps. The goal of the amendment is to prevent deaths related to smoking and secondhand smoke. Read more here. Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the amendment.

Bus conductors can now fine you for smoking (India)
It has been one year since a ban on smoking in public places was imposed in India. Data from the first year suggest that enforcement efforts have differed throughout the nation. To strengthen enforcement, government officials have authorized bus conductors, railway ticket checkers, and health officials to issue a 200-rupee fine to violators of the ban. The idea that nonsmokers have a right to breathe clean air is a view that is just beginning to catch on in India, but an encouraging 5,865 calls have been made to the health ministry’s toll-free tobacco-control helpline during the past year. Read more here. Click here to read statistics on local enforcement during the first year of the ban.

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