Other Announcements

General

Register now for TTAC's Fundamentals of Evaluation web-based course
This fall, the Tobacco Technical Assistance Consortium is offering Fundamentals of Evaluation, a distance learning course for public health practitioners. This 12-week web-based course guides participants through the evaluation process – from planning to reporting results – while giving them the opportunity to develop their own evaluation plan. The course is instructor-led, and offers an interactive and engaging learning experience with visual aids, group discussion, self-assessments, and individual learning activities. Fundamentals of Evaluation is recommended for public health professionals planning, completing, or assisting with an evaluation; decision-makers responsible for selecting a professional evaluator; or anyone with a desire or need to gain a better understanding of the core concepts of evaluation and evaluation planning. The next course will be offered from August 29, 2011 - November 29, 2011. Click here for more information, or click here to register.

Obama Administration releases National Prevention Strategy
The National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council has announced the release of the National Prevention and Health promotion strategy, which was created to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at all stages of life. In order to achieve this goal, the strategy has identified four strategic directions for improving the nation’s health: building healthy and safe community environments, expanding quality preventive services, empowering people to make healthy choices, and eliminating health disparities. Tobacco-free living is included among the seven priority areas that are most likely to make an impact on the leading causes of preventable death. Click here for more information, or click here to view a fact sheet on the National Prevention Strategy.

Smokefree.gov presents - The Healthy Monday Challenge
The Smokefree.gov and Smokefree Women websites have collaboratively launched the Healthy Monday Challenge. Each Monday, participants can join a cyber team, sign up for a health challenge, complete the challenge throughout the week, and report back to the team the next week. The challenges are broken into different categories, including smoking cessation. Join the Healthy Monday Challenge here.

top

FDA Announcements

FDA unveils final cigarette warning labels; New labels will help prevent children from smoking and help adults quit
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has unveiled the nine graphic health warnings that will be required to appear on every pack of cigarettes sold in the United States and in every cigarette advertisement. This measure will help prevent children from smoking, encourage adults who do to quit, and ensure every American understands the dangers of smoking. The warnings represent the most significant changes to cigarette labels in more than 25 years, will affect everything from packaging to advertisements, and are required to be placed on all cigarette packs, cartons, and ads no later than September 2012. Click here to read a press release from the FDA Center for Tobacco Products about the new warning labels, or click here to visit FDA's Cigarette Health Warning webpage. Read a statement from Legacy applauding the announcement of the warning labels here.

Get free materials from FDA Center for Tobacco Products Clearinghouse
The FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) Clearinghouse now has free Break the Chain of Tobacco Addiction promotional materials in Spanish and English. Anyone can order or download free posters, bookmarks, self mailers, and other materials designed to educate retailers about tobacco product regulations. Click here to visit the Clearinghouse, and to place an order.

Updates to retailer section of CTP website
In an effort to help educate retailers about relevant tobacco regulations and increase voluntary compliance with FDA’s regulations, the FDA Center for Tobacco Products has made some notable changes to the retailer section of CTP’s website. The newly improved Break the Chain of Tobacco Addiction webpage now contains more user-friendly content, including free retailer education materials about tobacco product regulations. Free Break the Chain of Tobacco Addiction campaign materials are now available in English and Spanish. Retailers can test their knowledge by taking the Tobacco Retailer Quiz. English and Spanish versions of a Retailer Quiz Widget and News You Can Use are available on the Stay Connected with Center for Tobacco Products Widgets webpage.

Menthol update: 90 day update on FDA's review of all the available science
In March, the FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) issued a report and recommendations on the impact of menthol cigarettes on the public’s health. At that time, FDA pledged to provide an update on the agency’s review of all the available science approximately 90 days after the report was issued. At this time, experts within the FDA Center for Tobacco Products are drafting an independent review, and will submit this review to an external peer review panel in July 2011. Upon the completion of the peer review process, FDA will make the results of the peer review and the preliminary scientific assessment available for public comment in the Federal Register. Click here to read more.

top

Back to Table of Contents