National

American Lung Association Report Card: Federal government makes major strides; most states flunk for neglecting to prevent tobacco-caused disease
The American Lung Association has released its State of Tobacco Control 2009 report, which grades the efforts of state and federal governments to protect citizens from the harms of tobacco. This year’s report indicates that the federal government has made significant progress, but still has much room for improvement. Most state governments were given failing grades due to cuts in tobacco control and prevention spending or not having comprehensive cessation programs. The federal government was graded on FDA regulation, federal cigarette tax, cessation, and ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; state governments were graded on state cigarette taxes, smokefree air, tobacco prevention and control programs, and cessation treatments. Read an overview of the results, or visit the State of Tobacco Control 2009 website. Click here to download the full report.

Patterns of dual use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco among U.S. males: findings from national surveys
The concurrent use of smokeless tobacco and cigarettes is more common among adolescent and young adult males than adult males, a new study finds. The University of Florida study analyzed data from four national surveys in order to examine the patterns of concurrent use in the United States. The results show that adult male daily smokers who occasionally use smokeless tobacco expressed the greatest interest in quitting, but were less likely to have succeeded than non-users of smokeless tobacco. Additionally, dual users have the highest levels of serum cotinine (indicating nicotine dependence), despite tending to smoke fewer cigarettes than smokers who do not use smokeless tobacco. The authors note that data was collected before major U.S. cigarette companies entered the smokeless tobacco market, so the results could be used as a baseline measure of dual product use. Read the abstract of the study, published in Tobacco Control.

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International

Global tobacco report outlines 21 challenges for 21st century
A new report from the American Cancer Society outlines 21 challenges and needs for global tobacco control. The writers of the report note that the tobacco trade has been globalized for 500 years, but the public health response has only come about in the past fifty years. The report lists activities, policies, and interventions that must be increased or in some cases decreased in order to achieve success in reducing the rising tide of tobacco use. Click here to read a summary, or click here to access the abstract of the report, which will appear in the January/February issue of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

First release of Global Adult Tobacco Survey results by Bangladesh (Bangladesh)
Bangladesh has released its first Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) results. The data show that 43% of adults in Bangladesh are tobacco users. Smoking is far more common among men (45%) than women (2%), but about a quarter of the population, both men and women, uses chewing tobacco. Click here to read a press release about release of the new data. A fact sheet from CDC summarizing the results can be found here.

Proof lacking on e-cigarettes' safety, experts warn
A report published in the British Medical Journal warns that there is a lack of evidence regarding the safety of electronic cigarettes, and recommends that people stop using them until more safety data are available. The report, written by scientists from the Institute of Human Performance and Rehabilitation in Greece, notes that only three studies have been completed on e-cigarettes – one by the U.S. FDA, one by a public Greek institute, and one by a private New Zealand company - each with varying conclusions regarding product safety. Electronic cigarette retailers maintain that their products are safe and offer a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking. Click here to read more, or click here for an extract of the report.

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