National

National profile of local health departments: Tobacco prevention and control
In 2005 and 2008, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) conducted two formal surveys of local health departments (LHDs) across the nation to capture a representative understanding of the public health workforce and LHD activities. A new fact sheet highlights the results of the 2005 and 2008 National Profile of Local Health Departments (Profile) that are relevant to tobacco prevention and control (TPC) activities in LHDs. The report describes regulatory activities, environmental health and other specific programmatic activities, and changes to provision of these services over the three year survey period. The intended audience includes local and state programmatic staff and national partners that are interested in TPC activities at the local level. Click here to download a fact sheet, or visit the NACCHO website to request a copy.

MMWR: Surveillance of certain health behaviors and conditions among states and selected local areas — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2007
Controlling health-risk behaviors and using preventive health-care services can reduce or prevent morbidity and premature mortality from a number of chronic diseases. A new report summarizes the results from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Surveillance System (BRFSS), an ongoing telephone survey of U.S. adults on health-risk behaviors and the use of preventative healthcare services. Tobacco-related indicators on the survey included tobacco/cigarette use and secondhand smoke policy. Click here to read more.

How healthy is your county? New county health rankings give first county-by-county snapshot of health in each state
The University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have released a report that ranks each county in the United States within its state on major indicators of health status, including how healthy people are and how long they live. Counties also are ranked on determinants of health like smoking, obesity, drinking, access to doctors, rates of high school graduation, rates of violent crime, air pollution levels, liquor store density, unemployment rates and number of children living in poverty. These reports are designed to help public health and community leaders, policy-makers, and consumers to find ways to improve the health of their community. Click here to read a press release about the reports or go to the website to access the county reports.

National Cancer Institute: Bibliography of Literature on Menthol and Tobacco
A new bibliography from the National Cancer Institute represents a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on menthol and tobacco. This bibliography contains 343 research papers published from 1921-2009, and can be used to help synthesize research findings, identify gaps, guide innovative research and practice, and inform policy. To facilitate access to the source abstracts and journal articles, hyperlinks to each abstract are included in the bibliography. Click here to download a copy of this document.

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International

American Cancer Society to manage new effort against tobacco in Africa (Africa)
The American Cancer Society will lead and coordinate the African Tobacco Control Consortium, a worldwide coalition of organizations that will work to reduce tobacco use in 46 sub-Saharan countries in Africa. The Consortium plans to assist governments in implementing tobacco control policies, advocating for more tobacco control resources in Africa, protecting existing and pending tobacco control laws, and conducting research to improve future tobacco control work. The work has been made possible by a $7 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Read the full press release from the American Cancer Society.

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