Carl Albert State College regents unanimously voted Tuesday to make the campus 100 percent buy cigarette online free.
The policy will take effect Aug. 1.
CASC Vice President of Student Affairs Leah McLaughlin originally presented the regents with a policy that would ban only smoking cigarettes and leave other forms of buy cigarettes unrestricted.
However, the regents decided to amend the policy to include all forms of tobacco.
“It would be very easy to change it to tobacco-free,” McLaughlin said, adding that the student government, which originally pushed for the policy change, would support the change.
The faculty and staff at CASC were also supportive of the original smoke-free policy, McLaughlin said. She said 79 percent of the faculty and staff supported that measure, 18 percent weren’t supportive, and 3 percent were undecided. Students were 70 percent in favor of the original smoke-free policy, according to McLaughlin.
The tobacco-free policy was quickly amended following Tuesday’s meeting to include all forms of cigarettes and is still subject to change, said Judi White, CASC’s public relations director. It includes all forms of tobacco, including electronic cigarettes, and states that visitors are subject to the ban. Tobacco-use cessation programs will be available to those who desire to quit using tobacco.
The initial policy includes three parts regarding enforcement.
Faculty and staff who violate the policy will be handled by the Office for Human Resources, and supervisors will be made aware of the violations and help with the discipline process.
The Office of Student Conduct will handle student violators.
The Office of Campus Police will handle visitors who violate the policy. “Visitors will be informed that CASC is a tobacco-free campus. Visitors who continue to violate the policy following a warning will be escorted off-campus,” the policy states.
McLaughlin also said if larger universities in the state like Oklahoma State University are tobacco-free, then CASC can implement the policy as well.
According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, 639 colleges and universities in the country — including all public colleges and universities in Arkansas and 17 in Oklahoma — are 100 percent smoke-free as of Jan. 2.
According to the American Lung Association, 258 colleges and universities in the country — including seven in Arkansas and 12 in Oklahoma — prohibit smoking cigarettes and all forms of tobacco everywhere on campus as of January 2012.
The next step is advertising the change as well as training and preparing the campus for the change, McLaughlin said.
Also Tuesday, James Yates, vice president of academic affairs, presented the regents with preliminary enrollment figures for the spring 2012 semester.
According to Yates, 2,542 students are enrolled at CASC this spring. On the Poteau campus were 1,708 students, 767 students are enrolled at the Sallisaw campus, and 67 are enrolled online, Yates said.
The numbers are preliminary and could change because today is the last day of enrollment, and there is a period where students can add or drop classes.
The numbers are a “slight increase,” which is “very positive,” Yates said.
“We won’t know until the final numbers are in,” he said.
The regents also unanimously approved the removal of a $15 fee students pay to graduate. CASC President Brandon Webb said he wanted to remove any barrier students might have to graduate.
“We shouldn’t ask them to pay for this milestone,” he said.
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Showing posts with label tobacco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tobacco. Show all posts
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Sandoval County Considering Eliminating Jailhouse Smoking
County commissioners are set to vote on whether to ban buy cigarette online products from the grounds of the county jail. The measure is on the agenda for the commission meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday in the county administration building in Bernalillo.
If approved, the ban would prevent inmates from using or having cheap cigarette online products. Staff members would be allowed to use and have them only in the employee parking lot. As it stands, inmates and staff can smoke cigarettes in outdoor areas.
Detention Center Director Al Casamento said the ban is aimed at creating a healthier environment for employees and inmates.
Commis-sioner Don Leonard said he supports the ban because the county must pay for health care for inmates, including state prisoners housed in Sandoval County. Removing cigarettes for sale use could curb health problems in both smokers and inmates exposed to second-hand smoke, he said.
"I'm sure it's going to be tough," Leonard said.
Some inmates are addicted to tobacco, so the ban will be a struggle, he continued. However, Leonard said taxpayers should get relief because they would pay for fewer inmate medical problems.
The ban would forbid staff, inmates, visitors and contractors from having or using tobacco inside or on the outdoor grounds of the jail or in jail vehicles, according to county documents. Inmates would never be able to use or have tobacco products, including when they were off-site under supervision of jail personnel.
According to county documents, inmates caught with tobacco could receive administrative discipline and criminal charges under the ban. Visitors and contractors are subject to revocation of their security clearance and immediate removal, as well as possible criminal charges.
Staff found with tobacco on jail grounds, except in the employee parking lot, could receive discipline up to and including termination, and might face criminal charges as well, according to the information.
If the commission approves the ban, it's scheduled to take effect June 4.
Commissioner Don Chapman said detention center staff must think the new rule is a good idea if they're coming forward with it, and he agrees.
"Smoking is hazardous to your health," he said.
If approved, the ban would prevent inmates from using or having cheap cigarette online products. Staff members would be allowed to use and have them only in the employee parking lot. As it stands, inmates and staff can smoke cigarettes in outdoor areas.
Detention Center Director Al Casamento said the ban is aimed at creating a healthier environment for employees and inmates.
Commis-sioner Don Leonard said he supports the ban because the county must pay for health care for inmates, including state prisoners housed in Sandoval County. Removing cigarettes for sale use could curb health problems in both smokers and inmates exposed to second-hand smoke, he said.
"I'm sure it's going to be tough," Leonard said.
Some inmates are addicted to tobacco, so the ban will be a struggle, he continued. However, Leonard said taxpayers should get relief because they would pay for fewer inmate medical problems.
The ban would forbid staff, inmates, visitors and contractors from having or using tobacco inside or on the outdoor grounds of the jail or in jail vehicles, according to county documents. Inmates would never be able to use or have tobacco products, including when they were off-site under supervision of jail personnel.
According to county documents, inmates caught with tobacco could receive administrative discipline and criminal charges under the ban. Visitors and contractors are subject to revocation of their security clearance and immediate removal, as well as possible criminal charges.
Staff found with tobacco on jail grounds, except in the employee parking lot, could receive discipline up to and including termination, and might face criminal charges as well, according to the information.
If the commission approves the ban, it's scheduled to take effect June 4.
Commissioner Don Chapman said detention center staff must think the new rule is a good idea if they're coming forward with it, and he agrees.
"Smoking is hazardous to your health," he said.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
St. Francis Wins State Grant For Anti-tobacco Efforts
Monroe’s St. Francis Medical Center will use a grant awarded by the state’s health department for cheap cigarettes cessation and control programs.
The grant award, announced Tuesday by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, provides funds to health care facilities committed to using research-based strategies for cigarettes online prevention, control and awareness, empowering citizens to make healthy lifestyle choices and reduce buy cigarettes use.
St. Francis was one of nine hospitals that applied, and one of four that was awarded funding, according to a DHH news release.
The other recipients were CHRISTUS Schumpert Health System of Shreveport, Women & Children’s Hospital of Lake Charles and Ochsner Clinic Foundation of New Orleans, the release stated.
“We’re very pleased that we’ve been chosen as one of the four recipients,” said Louis Bremer, president and chief executive officer of St. Francis Medical Center. “It will enable us to further our efforts on trying to make a positive impact on the health status of our community as a whole and, more specifically, having a positive impact relative to reducing the number of people who smoke, reducing secondhand
smoke, getting people who smoke cigarettes to quit (or) using smoke-free tobacco products to quit, and hopefully creating enough education (for) others who may be thinking about smoking cigarettes to never start.”
Each hospital is expected to use the funds within 2 1/2 years to eliminate nonsmokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke cigarettes by establishing tobacco-free policies; promoting tobacco cessation; increasing education for at-risk populations; or preventing the initiation of tobacco use among young people, according to DHH.
Recipients were selected based on their existing infrastructure and abilities to implement an effective tobacco control program, said Rene Stansbury, tobacco control coordinator for Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center, which partnered with DHH’s Tobacco Control Program.
For instance, Bremer said St. Francis already has a history of adopting policies relative to having a smoke-free environment, both inside the building and outside on the hospital’s property. So far, efforts have centered on smoking cigarettes cessation classes, offering patches, medications and incentives to encourage the hospital’s staff to quit smoking cigarettes. Now, with additional resources, the hospital will try to take these efforts beyond its walls to have a greater impact on the community.
“It encourages us to work with local governments throughout the region, municipalities, such that they can, for example, implement regulations for smoke-free parks and things of that nature,” he said.
He added that the program initiatives are important as 22 percent of adults in Louisiana smoke, compared to the national average of about 17 percent.
“It’s clear that people in Louisiana are utlizing tobacco at a heavier rate,” he said.
The state health department estimate 6,500 adults in Louisiana die each year from smoking cigarettes or from diseases caused by secondhand smoke.
Bremer noted smoking cigarettes is linked to several diseases that negatively impact the health Louisiana residents. That adds to the state’s reputation of landing at the bottom of national health rankings, he said.
The grant award, announced Tuesday by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, provides funds to health care facilities committed to using research-based strategies for cigarettes online prevention, control and awareness, empowering citizens to make healthy lifestyle choices and reduce buy cigarettes use.
St. Francis was one of nine hospitals that applied, and one of four that was awarded funding, according to a DHH news release.
The other recipients were CHRISTUS Schumpert Health System of Shreveport, Women & Children’s Hospital of Lake Charles and Ochsner Clinic Foundation of New Orleans, the release stated.
“We’re very pleased that we’ve been chosen as one of the four recipients,” said Louis Bremer, president and chief executive officer of St. Francis Medical Center. “It will enable us to further our efforts on trying to make a positive impact on the health status of our community as a whole and, more specifically, having a positive impact relative to reducing the number of people who smoke, reducing secondhand
smoke, getting people who smoke cigarettes to quit (or) using smoke-free tobacco products to quit, and hopefully creating enough education (for) others who may be thinking about smoking cigarettes to never start.”
Each hospital is expected to use the funds within 2 1/2 years to eliminate nonsmokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke cigarettes by establishing tobacco-free policies; promoting tobacco cessation; increasing education for at-risk populations; or preventing the initiation of tobacco use among young people, according to DHH.
Recipients were selected based on their existing infrastructure and abilities to implement an effective tobacco control program, said Rene Stansbury, tobacco control coordinator for Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center, which partnered with DHH’s Tobacco Control Program.
For instance, Bremer said St. Francis already has a history of adopting policies relative to having a smoke-free environment, both inside the building and outside on the hospital’s property. So far, efforts have centered on smoking cigarettes cessation classes, offering patches, medications and incentives to encourage the hospital’s staff to quit smoking cigarettes. Now, with additional resources, the hospital will try to take these efforts beyond its walls to have a greater impact on the community.
“It encourages us to work with local governments throughout the region, municipalities, such that they can, for example, implement regulations for smoke-free parks and things of that nature,” he said.
He added that the program initiatives are important as 22 percent of adults in Louisiana smoke, compared to the national average of about 17 percent.
“It’s clear that people in Louisiana are utlizing tobacco at a heavier rate,” he said.
The state health department estimate 6,500 adults in Louisiana die each year from smoking cigarettes or from diseases caused by secondhand smoke.
Bremer noted smoking cigarettes is linked to several diseases that negatively impact the health Louisiana residents. That adds to the state’s reputation of landing at the bottom of national health rankings, he said.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Underage Smoking Wants To License Some Tobacco Sales
A group determined to prevent minors from using cigarettes online is asking the city to issue licenses to sell cigarettes products other than cigarettes.
Tobacco-Free Aurora has in recent weeks urged City Council members to adopt a licensing policy.
State statutes place financial penalties on communities that license cigarette sales, allowing the state to withhold funds collected from cigarettes store taxes. But other tobacco products are free to be licensed without penalty.
By licensing the noncigarette products, including chewing tobacco and cigars, cities may better track who is selling those items and can enforce laws, similar to the way communities regulate alcohol sales to minors.
For example, cities could have the power to suspend or revoke a license if a retailer sells tobacco to minors.
Steamboat Springs, Fountain and Manitou Springs have adopted licensing policies in recent months for many tobacco products. Aurora would be the first in the Denver area should it decide to adopt such a policy.
About 90 percent of adult tobacco users consumed tobacco before age 18, according to Tad Spencer, director of the Colorado Tobacco Prevention Initiatives for The BACCHUS Network. Spencer is spearheading the Tobacco-Free Aurora effort.
Aurora is the first area city that the group is reaching out to because the city has numerous youth-focused initiatives and is home to the Anschutz Medical Campus, Spencer said.
"Our push of this is definitely the illegal sales to minors," Spencer said. "Certainly, that's not the whole problem. We are trying to close the gaps, and we do have a long-term view."
That long-term view involves changing state law to allow cities to license the sale of cigarettes.
A proposal in the legislature two years ago would have done just that, but it never made it out of committee, said Bob Doyle, executive director of the Colorado Tobacco Education and Prevention Alliance.
"Why are we protecting cigarettes?" Doyle said. "It's the deadliest consumer product."
Aurora City Councilman Bob FitzGerald, who wanted to make it illegal in Aurora a few years ago for an adult to smoke cigarettes in a vehicle containing a child, commended the group for its efforts but said such a licensing policy would do little to prevent minors from obtaining tobacco.
Such a license would place an added requirement on retailers that may do little to curb tobacco use, he said.
"I admire their tenacity and their thoughtfulness," FitzGerald said of Tobacco-Free Aurora, "but I don't think it is a necessary thing to do in burdening businesses right now."
Tobacco retailers such as J2 Tobacco & Gift on South Havana Street agree that another regulation would be a burden.
"I don't like it," J2 owner Jim Albermani said. "We would have to pay more fees."
Tobacco-Free Aurora has in recent weeks urged City Council members to adopt a licensing policy.
State statutes place financial penalties on communities that license cigarette sales, allowing the state to withhold funds collected from cigarettes store taxes. But other tobacco products are free to be licensed without penalty.
By licensing the noncigarette products, including chewing tobacco and cigars, cities may better track who is selling those items and can enforce laws, similar to the way communities regulate alcohol sales to minors.
For example, cities could have the power to suspend or revoke a license if a retailer sells tobacco to minors.
Steamboat Springs, Fountain and Manitou Springs have adopted licensing policies in recent months for many tobacco products. Aurora would be the first in the Denver area should it decide to adopt such a policy.
About 90 percent of adult tobacco users consumed tobacco before age 18, according to Tad Spencer, director of the Colorado Tobacco Prevention Initiatives for The BACCHUS Network. Spencer is spearheading the Tobacco-Free Aurora effort.
Aurora is the first area city that the group is reaching out to because the city has numerous youth-focused initiatives and is home to the Anschutz Medical Campus, Spencer said.
"Our push of this is definitely the illegal sales to minors," Spencer said. "Certainly, that's not the whole problem. We are trying to close the gaps, and we do have a long-term view."
That long-term view involves changing state law to allow cities to license the sale of cigarettes.
A proposal in the legislature two years ago would have done just that, but it never made it out of committee, said Bob Doyle, executive director of the Colorado Tobacco Education and Prevention Alliance.
"Why are we protecting cigarettes?" Doyle said. "It's the deadliest consumer product."
Aurora City Councilman Bob FitzGerald, who wanted to make it illegal in Aurora a few years ago for an adult to smoke cigarettes in a vehicle containing a child, commended the group for its efforts but said such a licensing policy would do little to prevent minors from obtaining tobacco.
Such a license would place an added requirement on retailers that may do little to curb tobacco use, he said.
"I admire their tenacity and their thoughtfulness," FitzGerald said of Tobacco-Free Aurora, "but I don't think it is a necessary thing to do in burdening businesses right now."
Tobacco retailers such as J2 Tobacco & Gift on South Havana Street agree that another regulation would be a burden.
"I don't like it," J2 owner Jim Albermani said. "We would have to pay more fees."
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Linn Supervisors Consider Nicotine Regulation
The Ariva tablet is “the future of tobacco,” according to its maker. A proposal in Linn County to regulate the sale of the dissolvable product may be the future of public-health efforts to restrict access to nicotine.
“These products are popping up more and more,” said Jill Roeder, Linn County Public Health healthy behaviors branch manager. “This is just to set the stage so when they come our kids can’t buy them.”
At least one retailer doesn’t care to be caught up by the new rules.
“I’m just confused on why I need a permit to sell discount cigarette online when I never have and never will sell tobacco,” said Jake Barnes, Marion, owner of the Electracigz kiosk at Lindale Mall. “It just concerns me.”
The agenda for this morning’s county board work session includes the second reading of a proposed ordinance to require a cigarettes store sales permit for “the sale of nicotine delivery systems and unregulated products containing nicotine.”
Last August, supervisors voted down an outright ban on dissolvable buy cigarette online products. The new measure, which received supervisors’ unanimous support in its first reading last week, would be the county’s first under a 2009 federal law that extended local regulation to new products that contain nicotine but not tobacco.
“A lot of the product you’re seeing come onto the market is nicotine derived in laboratories, so they don’t fall under the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) definition of tobacco,” said Roeder.
If the proposal passes, retailers will be required to take out a tobacco license to sell any product containing nicotine. The state sets the annual license fee based on population: they’re $100 in cities of more than 15,000 population, $75 in smaller cities. Counties set the fee for businesses in unincorporated rural areas – in Linn County it’s $50.
The measure would also ban the sale of nicotine products, including the “ecigarette” devices sold by Barnes, to minors under 18. Barnes says he hasn’t, and wouldn’t, sell to minors.
Availability of traditional tobacco products wouldn’t change, and the the measure doesn’t affect smoking cigarettes-cessation products – gum and patches – now regulated by the FDA.
The 2009 law, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, came after a campaign by public health officials and activists to extend tobacco restrictions to cover the new smokeless products.
“The marketplace has unfortunately advanced beyond the laws,” said Peggy Huppert, Iowa director of government relations for the American Cancer Society. “Smokeless tobacco is the next frontier for the tobacco companies.”
In 2002 the attorneys general of 40 states, including Iowa, petitioned the FDA seeking regulations on the new products. The petition specifically targeted Ariva, which appeared in test markets the previous year.
The law, which also mandated new warnings on cigarette packs and other tobacco products, didn’t federally regulate the new products but gives local governments the authority to regulate their sale.
Aaron Swanson, interim director of the state Department of Public Health’s Division of Tobacco Use, Prevention, and Control, said he’s not aware of any other Iowa counties that have used their new authority.
The new products are sometimes sold as ways to quit smoking cigarettes, but haven’t been clinically proven for that purpose.
“There’s yet to be a lot of research done as to the long term health effects of these products,” said Swanson. “They’re not FDA-approved for the purpose of quitting tobacco.”
“They promote them as ways to stop smoking cigarettes, but if you look at their marketing it’s ‘here’s something you can use when you can’t smoke,’” said Huppert.
That’s case with Star Scientific, the small Virgina company that makes Ariva. Actors in an Ariva promotional video tout the dissolvable taplets, which resemble TicTacs gum, as “for when you can’t smoke…a new way to enjoy real tobacco satisfaction and pleasure anytime, anywhere.”
But Barnes, 25, who started his business last September, said most of his customers use their Electracigz to quit smoking cigarettes.
“Our goal is to have people quit smoking cigarettes altogether,” he said.
An Electracig includes a simulated cigarette tube with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a detachable atomizer in the “filter” that may contain nicotine. A sensor detects the rush of air when a user inhales and activates a tiny coil that heats a vapor that carries the flavor and nicotine, and a red LED in the tip simulates a cigarette’s ash.
Electracigz retail for $10 for a disposable version to $109 for the regular model. Atomizers are five for $20 – heavier smokers use them up more quickly.
The user can select a range of nicotine levels, or no nicotine at all. That allows a smoker to taper off their nicotine dependency, said Barnes, who works with his customers to develop their smoking cigarettes-cessation plan.
“It’s not a magic pill, it’s not going to make you quit the next day,” he said, but he’s had customers who have used Electracigz to quit smoking cigarettes. “At the end of the day, people are using this to quit smoking cigarettes cigarettes.”
“These products are popping up more and more,” said Jill Roeder, Linn County Public Health healthy behaviors branch manager. “This is just to set the stage so when they come our kids can’t buy them.”
At least one retailer doesn’t care to be caught up by the new rules.
“I’m just confused on why I need a permit to sell discount cigarette online when I never have and never will sell tobacco,” said Jake Barnes, Marion, owner of the Electracigz kiosk at Lindale Mall. “It just concerns me.”
The agenda for this morning’s county board work session includes the second reading of a proposed ordinance to require a cigarettes store sales permit for “the sale of nicotine delivery systems and unregulated products containing nicotine.”
Last August, supervisors voted down an outright ban on dissolvable buy cigarette online products. The new measure, which received supervisors’ unanimous support in its first reading last week, would be the county’s first under a 2009 federal law that extended local regulation to new products that contain nicotine but not tobacco.
“A lot of the product you’re seeing come onto the market is nicotine derived in laboratories, so they don’t fall under the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) definition of tobacco,” said Roeder.
If the proposal passes, retailers will be required to take out a tobacco license to sell any product containing nicotine. The state sets the annual license fee based on population: they’re $100 in cities of more than 15,000 population, $75 in smaller cities. Counties set the fee for businesses in unincorporated rural areas – in Linn County it’s $50.
The measure would also ban the sale of nicotine products, including the “ecigarette” devices sold by Barnes, to minors under 18. Barnes says he hasn’t, and wouldn’t, sell to minors.
Availability of traditional tobacco products wouldn’t change, and the the measure doesn’t affect smoking cigarettes-cessation products – gum and patches – now regulated by the FDA.
The 2009 law, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, came after a campaign by public health officials and activists to extend tobacco restrictions to cover the new smokeless products.
“The marketplace has unfortunately advanced beyond the laws,” said Peggy Huppert, Iowa director of government relations for the American Cancer Society. “Smokeless tobacco is the next frontier for the tobacco companies.”
In 2002 the attorneys general of 40 states, including Iowa, petitioned the FDA seeking regulations on the new products. The petition specifically targeted Ariva, which appeared in test markets the previous year.
The law, which also mandated new warnings on cigarette packs and other tobacco products, didn’t federally regulate the new products but gives local governments the authority to regulate their sale.
Aaron Swanson, interim director of the state Department of Public Health’s Division of Tobacco Use, Prevention, and Control, said he’s not aware of any other Iowa counties that have used their new authority.
The new products are sometimes sold as ways to quit smoking cigarettes, but haven’t been clinically proven for that purpose.
“There’s yet to be a lot of research done as to the long term health effects of these products,” said Swanson. “They’re not FDA-approved for the purpose of quitting tobacco.”
“They promote them as ways to stop smoking cigarettes, but if you look at their marketing it’s ‘here’s something you can use when you can’t smoke,’” said Huppert.
That’s case with Star Scientific, the small Virgina company that makes Ariva. Actors in an Ariva promotional video tout the dissolvable taplets, which resemble TicTacs gum, as “for when you can’t smoke…a new way to enjoy real tobacco satisfaction and pleasure anytime, anywhere.”
But Barnes, 25, who started his business last September, said most of his customers use their Electracigz to quit smoking cigarettes.
“Our goal is to have people quit smoking cigarettes altogether,” he said.
An Electracig includes a simulated cigarette tube with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a detachable atomizer in the “filter” that may contain nicotine. A sensor detects the rush of air when a user inhales and activates a tiny coil that heats a vapor that carries the flavor and nicotine, and a red LED in the tip simulates a cigarette’s ash.
Electracigz retail for $10 for a disposable version to $109 for the regular model. Atomizers are five for $20 – heavier smokers use them up more quickly.
The user can select a range of nicotine levels, or no nicotine at all. That allows a smoker to taper off their nicotine dependency, said Barnes, who works with his customers to develop their smoking cigarettes-cessation plan.
“It’s not a magic pill, it’s not going to make you quit the next day,” he said, but he’s had customers who have used Electracigz to quit smoking cigarettes. “At the end of the day, people are using this to quit smoking cigarettes cigarettes.”
Monday, January 9, 2012
Employers Tackle The Cost Of Smoking
Local businesses are taking initiative in the health of their employees by offering healthy options to those willing to change. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the annual health-related economic losses of smoking cigarettes costs $96 billion in direct medical costs and approximately $97 billion in lost productivity totaling $193 billion a year. With the cost of smoking cigarettes, employers took initiative and are reconstructing their health insurance policies to help their employees maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Companies can either reduce benefits or do what they can to change lifestyle choices that result in higher medical costs. The health care costs for an average smoker is $1,600 more a year than the average non-smoker, which is 18 percent more expensive for employers.
Pottawatomie County Health Department employees have insurance options as a state employee. Administrative Director Tina Johnson said insurance options are now looking at positive ways to help employees make changes in their health status.
“Many of the insurance policies now provide a Health Risk Assessment option that not only looks at online cigarettes use but also other factors that affect our health,” Johnson said. “The insurance options are providing opportunities for enhanced discount cigarette online cessation benefits as well as physical activity options.”
In the latest CDC data, cigarette companies spent $12.4 billion on advertising and promotional expenses in the U.S. While the cheap cigarettes industry increases its profits, local citizens continue to pay the price both financially and physically through addiction. In Oklahoma alone, the cost of tobacco dependence is 6,200 deaths a year and $1.2 billion in added healthcare costs.
“Many times when people stop smoking cigarettes, they not only identify that smoking cigarettes was a health risk, but they also begin to look at their overall health and what factors or behaviors are they doing that affect that,” Johnson said. “As a result of healthier employees, you have fewer days of productivity loss.”
The average smoker takes two extra sick days a year, is eight percent less productive and spends 30 minutes per work shift on smoking cigarettes rituals. With employers’ increase of health insurance premiums for smokers, employers can offer cessation classes for those employees willing to quit smoking cigarettes. In addition, the adoption of a tobacco-free worksite can help companies provide a healthier environment for its employees and visitors. By taking tobacco-free measures, employers can support its employees to stop smoking cigarettes in hopes to decrease sick days and increase productivity. In addition to the health department, local tobacco free worksites include: Oklahoma Baptist University, St. Gregory’s University, Gordon Cooper Technology Center, Pottawatomie County DHS and Eaton Corp.
Pottawatomie County DHS became tobacco free this past April. County Director Carmen Hutchins said one of its major benefits in becoming tobacco free was improving and protecting the health of the employees.
“We have offered onsite tobacco-cessation assistance for any employee who is interested at no cost to the employee,” Hutchins said. “We have also encouraged staff to utilize assistance through their benefit package and insurance to assist them with becoming tobacco free. Employees also receive] reimbursement for all evidence-based tobacco-cessation treatments including counseling, prescription medicines and over-the-counter medicines.”
Raising health insurance rates, providing cessation classes and implementing tobacco-free worksites are approaches local employers can take in trying to reduce the smoking cigarettes rate in our communities. However, the need for restoring local control can provide more privileges for communities to create a healthier environment. Restoring local rights remains an issue in the upcoming 53rd Oklahoma legislative session beginning in February. By bringing power back into local communities, these communities could make their own decisions in regards to tobacco control, and attempt to raise the state of Oklahoma above its current 46th ranking in health status.
Companies can either reduce benefits or do what they can to change lifestyle choices that result in higher medical costs. The health care costs for an average smoker is $1,600 more a year than the average non-smoker, which is 18 percent more expensive for employers.
Pottawatomie County Health Department employees have insurance options as a state employee. Administrative Director Tina Johnson said insurance options are now looking at positive ways to help employees make changes in their health status.
“Many of the insurance policies now provide a Health Risk Assessment option that not only looks at online cigarettes use but also other factors that affect our health,” Johnson said. “The insurance options are providing opportunities for enhanced discount cigarette online cessation benefits as well as physical activity options.”
In the latest CDC data, cigarette companies spent $12.4 billion on advertising and promotional expenses in the U.S. While the cheap cigarettes industry increases its profits, local citizens continue to pay the price both financially and physically through addiction. In Oklahoma alone, the cost of tobacco dependence is 6,200 deaths a year and $1.2 billion in added healthcare costs.
“Many times when people stop smoking cigarettes, they not only identify that smoking cigarettes was a health risk, but they also begin to look at their overall health and what factors or behaviors are they doing that affect that,” Johnson said. “As a result of healthier employees, you have fewer days of productivity loss.”
The average smoker takes two extra sick days a year, is eight percent less productive and spends 30 minutes per work shift on smoking cigarettes rituals. With employers’ increase of health insurance premiums for smokers, employers can offer cessation classes for those employees willing to quit smoking cigarettes. In addition, the adoption of a tobacco-free worksite can help companies provide a healthier environment for its employees and visitors. By taking tobacco-free measures, employers can support its employees to stop smoking cigarettes in hopes to decrease sick days and increase productivity. In addition to the health department, local tobacco free worksites include: Oklahoma Baptist University, St. Gregory’s University, Gordon Cooper Technology Center, Pottawatomie County DHS and Eaton Corp.
Pottawatomie County DHS became tobacco free this past April. County Director Carmen Hutchins said one of its major benefits in becoming tobacco free was improving and protecting the health of the employees.
“We have offered onsite tobacco-cessation assistance for any employee who is interested at no cost to the employee,” Hutchins said. “We have also encouraged staff to utilize assistance through their benefit package and insurance to assist them with becoming tobacco free. Employees also receive] reimbursement for all evidence-based tobacco-cessation treatments including counseling, prescription medicines and over-the-counter medicines.”
Raising health insurance rates, providing cessation classes and implementing tobacco-free worksites are approaches local employers can take in trying to reduce the smoking cigarettes rate in our communities. However, the need for restoring local control can provide more privileges for communities to create a healthier environment. Restoring local rights remains an issue in the upcoming 53rd Oklahoma legislative session beginning in February. By bringing power back into local communities, these communities could make their own decisions in regards to tobacco control, and attempt to raise the state of Oklahoma above its current 46th ranking in health status.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Takes Action Against American Thrust Tobacco
The state Division of Consumer Affairs has filed suit against a New York-based company, alleging that the firm violated the state’s Consumer Fraud Act through its advertisement and sale of roll-your-own cheap cigarettes to New Jersey residents.
American Thrust Tobacco of Plattsburgh, N.Y. allegedly told consumers it was legally permitted to sell roll-your-own buy cigarettes in New Jersey when, in fact, the firm was in violation of the federal “Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (‘PACT’) Act” of 2009 and on the federal non-compliant list, according to the three-count lawsuit announced by Consumer Affairs on Tuesday. The suit was filed in state Superior Court in Newark.
“We allege that the company misled consumers into believing that they could legally purchase roll-your-own cigarettes online from the defendant,” state Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said. “We’re asking that the court put a permanent stop to the company’s illegal activities and impose civil penalties for the violations it allegedly has committed.”
The state also is seeking reimbursement of its investigative and legal costs in the case.
The alleged violations of the state Consumer Fraud Act include unconscionable commercial practices, making false promises and knowing omissions of material facts, as well as false advertising.
“We won’t allow a business to enrich itself by misleading consumers,” Consumer Affairs Director Thomas R. Calcagni said. “We will not tolerate such business practices.”
The alleged violations committed by American Thrust Tobacco include:
• Misrepresenting that roll your own tobacco may be sold to New Jersey consumers and delivered through the United States Postal Service, FedEx, and/ or UPS while it was included on the non-compliant list;
• Misrepresenting that it had complied with all provisions of the PACT Act and other legislation;
• Selling roll your own tobacco to New Jersey consumers while being included on the non-compliant list;
• Failing to comply with the terms of the PACT Act and other related legislation;
• Misrepresenting on its websites that it is “þroperly licensed with the USA" and "in compliance with all the rules, regulations and guidelines affecting the ever changing tobacco industry;" and
• Misrepresenting on its websites that it could deliver roll your own tobacco "to your door.”
Deputy Attorney General Glenn T. Graham is representing the state. Consumer Affairs Investigator Aziza Salikhov conducted the investigation.
American Thrust Tobacco of Plattsburgh, N.Y. allegedly told consumers it was legally permitted to sell roll-your-own buy cigarettes in New Jersey when, in fact, the firm was in violation of the federal “Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (‘PACT’) Act” of 2009 and on the federal non-compliant list, according to the three-count lawsuit announced by Consumer Affairs on Tuesday. The suit was filed in state Superior Court in Newark.
“We allege that the company misled consumers into believing that they could legally purchase roll-your-own cigarettes online from the defendant,” state Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said. “We’re asking that the court put a permanent stop to the company’s illegal activities and impose civil penalties for the violations it allegedly has committed.”
The state also is seeking reimbursement of its investigative and legal costs in the case.
The alleged violations of the state Consumer Fraud Act include unconscionable commercial practices, making false promises and knowing omissions of material facts, as well as false advertising.
“We won’t allow a business to enrich itself by misleading consumers,” Consumer Affairs Director Thomas R. Calcagni said. “We will not tolerate such business practices.”
The alleged violations committed by American Thrust Tobacco include:
• Misrepresenting that roll your own tobacco may be sold to New Jersey consumers and delivered through the United States Postal Service, FedEx, and/ or UPS while it was included on the non-compliant list;
• Misrepresenting that it had complied with all provisions of the PACT Act and other legislation;
• Selling roll your own tobacco to New Jersey consumers while being included on the non-compliant list;
• Failing to comply with the terms of the PACT Act and other related legislation;
• Misrepresenting on its websites that it is “þroperly licensed with the USA" and "in compliance with all the rules, regulations and guidelines affecting the ever changing tobacco industry;" and
• Misrepresenting on its websites that it could deliver roll your own tobacco "to your door.”
Deputy Attorney General Glenn T. Graham is representing the state. Consumer Affairs Investigator Aziza Salikhov conducted the investigation.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Humana Refuses To Hire Smokers In Arizona
If you light up a cigarette, it will snuff out your chances to land a job with health-insurance giant Humana in Arizona.
The Louisville-based health insurer said Wednesday that it will no longer hire workers in Arizona who smoke cigarettes or use other cigarettes store products, part of a trend of employers who are cracking down on cigarettes use among workers.
To enforce the cigarettes online ban that starts Friday, Humana will test new employees for nicotine use during a pre-employment urine drug screen.
Humana representatives say it makes sense for a company in the health-care field to lead by example. Smoking's harmful effects on human health are well-documented, and Humana seeks to promote health and wellness — starting with its workers.
"Humana is dedicated to helping our employees take charge of their own health," said Dr. Charles Cox, Humana vice president and market medical officer for Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
Humana is part of a growing number of employers, many of them in health care, seeking to ban smoking cigarettes among new hires. The Cleveland Clinic stopped hiring smokers in 2007, and hospitals in several states have stopped hiring tobacco-using employees.
No legal protections
Legal experts say nothing under state law prohibits employers from not hiring smokers.
"Being a smoker is not a category that is protected under the law," said Lisa Coulter, an attorney with Snell and Wilmer in Phoenix.
Coulter said more and more employers are seeking to regulate employees' conduct outside the workplace. Some examples include guidelines that prohibit what an employee can post on a social-media websites such as Facebook or Twitter.
Some employers offer financial incentives or penalties to reduce health-care costs by seeking behavioral changes. Some examples include programs that encourage employees to shed weight, diet, quit smoking cigarettes or manage other risk factors that could lead to costly health conditions such as diabetes or high-blood pressure.
Such "wellness plans" may include tests that can measure things such as whether a person's body-mass index exceeds recommended standards or if cholesterol levels are dangerously high.
"They are trying to get a handle on the cost of health care and health insurance," said Henry GrosJean, a broker for GrosJean and Associates, a benefit-advisory firm.
Employees in Maricopa County, Arizona, recently complained about a new health plan that required them to submit saliva samples to test for nicotine. The employees complained that such testing represented an invasion of privacy. County employees who agreed to take the test and did not have tobacco in their system qualify for insurance premiums that are $480 less than what smokers and those who refused to take the test must pay.
Several Arizona employers have encouraged employees to quit smoking cigarettes through policies that adopt a carrot-and-stick approach. Companies often ban smoking cigarettes at work and offer discounted health insurance for employees who agree to kick the habit. Some employers have assessed a benefit surcharge on employees who continue to use tobacco, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
Humana representatives said they are merely trying to improve the health of their workers. The company cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics that show that smoking cigarettes causes about 443,000 deaths each year.
"Cigarette smoking cigarettes increases the risk of cancer and shorten life spans," Humana spokesman Ross McLerran said. "We're trying to provide a workplace that is safe and healthy. We do care about the health of our associates."
Expanding the ban
Humana implemented a tobacco ban for its new employees in Ohio two years ago. The Ohio program did not test for nicotine use among new hires like the Arizona program will, but the company said the effort has worked. In Ohio, 78 percent of Humana's employees report being tobacco-free.
Cox, the Humana vice president, said it selected Arizona to roll out the new program because state laws allow employers to require tobacco-cessation programs. The state's smoking cigarettes rate, 13.1 percent, is also among the lowest in the nation, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
"Our new hiring process is how we are going to lead by example," Cox said.
Humana may expand the smoking cigarettes ban to employees in other states, but the company has not publicly announced such plans, he said.
The policy does not apply to employees at the company's headquarters in Louisville, Ky. Kentucky has declared smokers a "protected class," making it illegal to discriminate against people because they smoke. Other states have similar laws.
Humana employs about 1,300 full-time workers in metro Phoenix and Tucson, and the company is hiring 104 full-time employees for its Medicare call center in Phoenix. Those new positions include telesales specialists and supervisors who will sell Humana products nationwide.
Humana's ban for new hires will apply to all tobacco products, including cigarettes, pipes, chewing tobacco and cigars. These workers must agree to abstain from tobacco use while employed by the company. If those new hires start using tobacco, they will be required to self-report their use and enroll in a free tobacco-cessation program that provides counseling and nicotine-replacement products.
Secondhand smoke, that which is inhaled passively by someone who is not smoking cigarettes, might be in a person's system at the time of the drug test, but the test is sensitive enough to distinguish whether a person is exposed to nicotine through secondhand smoke cigarettes or whether the person actually uses tobacco products, a Humana spokesman said.
Although existing Humana-employed smokers aren't required to halt tobacco use, they will be encouraged to do so. Those employees will be offered free stop-smoking cigarettes help, Humana officials said.
Employees who enroll in the smoking cigarettes-cessation plans also are offered discounted medical insurance.
The Louisville-based health insurer said Wednesday that it will no longer hire workers in Arizona who smoke cigarettes or use other cigarettes store products, part of a trend of employers who are cracking down on cigarettes use among workers.
To enforce the cigarettes online ban that starts Friday, Humana will test new employees for nicotine use during a pre-employment urine drug screen.
Humana representatives say it makes sense for a company in the health-care field to lead by example. Smoking's harmful effects on human health are well-documented, and Humana seeks to promote health and wellness — starting with its workers.
"Humana is dedicated to helping our employees take charge of their own health," said Dr. Charles Cox, Humana vice president and market medical officer for Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
Humana is part of a growing number of employers, many of them in health care, seeking to ban smoking cigarettes among new hires. The Cleveland Clinic stopped hiring smokers in 2007, and hospitals in several states have stopped hiring tobacco-using employees.
No legal protections
Legal experts say nothing under state law prohibits employers from not hiring smokers.
"Being a smoker is not a category that is protected under the law," said Lisa Coulter, an attorney with Snell and Wilmer in Phoenix.
Coulter said more and more employers are seeking to regulate employees' conduct outside the workplace. Some examples include guidelines that prohibit what an employee can post on a social-media websites such as Facebook or Twitter.
Some employers offer financial incentives or penalties to reduce health-care costs by seeking behavioral changes. Some examples include programs that encourage employees to shed weight, diet, quit smoking cigarettes or manage other risk factors that could lead to costly health conditions such as diabetes or high-blood pressure.
Such "wellness plans" may include tests that can measure things such as whether a person's body-mass index exceeds recommended standards or if cholesterol levels are dangerously high.
"They are trying to get a handle on the cost of health care and health insurance," said Henry GrosJean, a broker for GrosJean and Associates, a benefit-advisory firm.
Employees in Maricopa County, Arizona, recently complained about a new health plan that required them to submit saliva samples to test for nicotine. The employees complained that such testing represented an invasion of privacy. County employees who agreed to take the test and did not have tobacco in their system qualify for insurance premiums that are $480 less than what smokers and those who refused to take the test must pay.
Several Arizona employers have encouraged employees to quit smoking cigarettes through policies that adopt a carrot-and-stick approach. Companies often ban smoking cigarettes at work and offer discounted health insurance for employees who agree to kick the habit. Some employers have assessed a benefit surcharge on employees who continue to use tobacco, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
Humana representatives said they are merely trying to improve the health of their workers. The company cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics that show that smoking cigarettes causes about 443,000 deaths each year.
"Cigarette smoking cigarettes increases the risk of cancer and shorten life spans," Humana spokesman Ross McLerran said. "We're trying to provide a workplace that is safe and healthy. We do care about the health of our associates."
Expanding the ban
Humana implemented a tobacco ban for its new employees in Ohio two years ago. The Ohio program did not test for nicotine use among new hires like the Arizona program will, but the company said the effort has worked. In Ohio, 78 percent of Humana's employees report being tobacco-free.
Cox, the Humana vice president, said it selected Arizona to roll out the new program because state laws allow employers to require tobacco-cessation programs. The state's smoking cigarettes rate, 13.1 percent, is also among the lowest in the nation, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
"Our new hiring process is how we are going to lead by example," Cox said.
Humana may expand the smoking cigarettes ban to employees in other states, but the company has not publicly announced such plans, he said.
The policy does not apply to employees at the company's headquarters in Louisville, Ky. Kentucky has declared smokers a "protected class," making it illegal to discriminate against people because they smoke. Other states have similar laws.
Humana employs about 1,300 full-time workers in metro Phoenix and Tucson, and the company is hiring 104 full-time employees for its Medicare call center in Phoenix. Those new positions include telesales specialists and supervisors who will sell Humana products nationwide.
Humana's ban for new hires will apply to all tobacco products, including cigarettes, pipes, chewing tobacco and cigars. These workers must agree to abstain from tobacco use while employed by the company. If those new hires start using tobacco, they will be required to self-report their use and enroll in a free tobacco-cessation program that provides counseling and nicotine-replacement products.
Secondhand smoke, that which is inhaled passively by someone who is not smoking cigarettes, might be in a person's system at the time of the drug test, but the test is sensitive enough to distinguish whether a person is exposed to nicotine through secondhand smoke cigarettes or whether the person actually uses tobacco products, a Humana spokesman said.
Although existing Humana-employed smokers aren't required to halt tobacco use, they will be encouraged to do so. Those employees will be offered free stop-smoking cigarettes help, Humana officials said.
Employees who enroll in the smoking cigarettes-cessation plans also are offered discounted medical insurance.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
UCSF To Receive Tobacco Papers
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a proposed consent order today with a federal district court that finalizes requirements for three major cigarettes online companies to make internal documents public in accordance with an earlier ruling that the companies violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The documents will be archived in UCSF’s Legacy Tobacco Documents Library (LTDL).
The order, once approved by the court, will be part of the remedy phase of the largest civil racketeering case in the history of the United States.
The order specifies that the companies provide $6.25 million to the court to improve free public access to the documents via the Internet. The court will provide this money to the UCSF Legacy Library for this purpose. The order also specifies how the companies are to index the documents.
The UCSF Legacy Library, first launched in 2000 with a major gift from the Washington, D.C.-based American Legacy Foundation, now has 13.7 million documents (79 million pages) released as a result of litigation against the major cigarettes companies related to their advertising, manufacturing, marketing, sales, political, public relations and scientific activities.
An earlier order by Federal Judge Gladys Kessler, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., requires the buy cigarettes companies to continue to release documents through 2021. The UCSF Legacy Library has been growing by about 700,000 documents in each of the past three years.
Each month, the Legacy Library is used by an average of 16,000 academic researchers, tobacco control advocates, lawyers, journalists and students internationally who view an average of 227,000 pages. Last year, visitors came from 190 different countries to use it. Close to 600 peer-reviewed journal articles and 130 other publications, including government reports, books and newspaper articles based on research at the library have been published. The new funds will allow all of that information to be digitized for early access online.
“These funds will allow us to substantially improve the way investigators, the media and the public are able to research how tobacco companies produce, price and market their products, as well as protect their political interests globally,” said Kim Klausner, UCSF Industry Documents Digital Library Manager.
Sam Hawgood, MBBS, dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and vice chancellor for medical affairs, said the University is “gratified that the court recognizes the important contributions that UCSF has made, and will continue to make, to global public health through the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library. Making these documents freely available to everyone is an important element of UCSF’s contribution as a public university,” he said.
The defendant tobacco companies that agreed to the proposed court order are Philip Morris USA, Inc, Altria Group, and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. The proposed consent order is subject to court approval and is not final until it is signed and entered by the court.
“Research based on the documents has provided a unique insight into how the tobacco industry manipulates scientific and political processes and engineers its products and marketing to maximize its sales,” said Stanton A. Glantz, PhD, UCSF professor of medicine and director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at UCSF. “By revealing the industry’s behind-the-scenes strategies and involvement, this understanding has transformed public health from city councils to the United Nations.”
UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care.
The order, once approved by the court, will be part of the remedy phase of the largest civil racketeering case in the history of the United States.
The order specifies that the companies provide $6.25 million to the court to improve free public access to the documents via the Internet. The court will provide this money to the UCSF Legacy Library for this purpose. The order also specifies how the companies are to index the documents.
The UCSF Legacy Library, first launched in 2000 with a major gift from the Washington, D.C.-based American Legacy Foundation, now has 13.7 million documents (79 million pages) released as a result of litigation against the major cigarettes companies related to their advertising, manufacturing, marketing, sales, political, public relations and scientific activities.
An earlier order by Federal Judge Gladys Kessler, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., requires the buy cigarettes companies to continue to release documents through 2021. The UCSF Legacy Library has been growing by about 700,000 documents in each of the past three years.
Each month, the Legacy Library is used by an average of 16,000 academic researchers, tobacco control advocates, lawyers, journalists and students internationally who view an average of 227,000 pages. Last year, visitors came from 190 different countries to use it. Close to 600 peer-reviewed journal articles and 130 other publications, including government reports, books and newspaper articles based on research at the library have been published. The new funds will allow all of that information to be digitized for early access online.
“These funds will allow us to substantially improve the way investigators, the media and the public are able to research how tobacco companies produce, price and market their products, as well as protect their political interests globally,” said Kim Klausner, UCSF Industry Documents Digital Library Manager.
Sam Hawgood, MBBS, dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and vice chancellor for medical affairs, said the University is “gratified that the court recognizes the important contributions that UCSF has made, and will continue to make, to global public health through the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library. Making these documents freely available to everyone is an important element of UCSF’s contribution as a public university,” he said.
The defendant tobacco companies that agreed to the proposed court order are Philip Morris USA, Inc, Altria Group, and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. The proposed consent order is subject to court approval and is not final until it is signed and entered by the court.
“Research based on the documents has provided a unique insight into how the tobacco industry manipulates scientific and political processes and engineers its products and marketing to maximize its sales,” said Stanton A. Glantz, PhD, UCSF professor of medicine and director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at UCSF. “By revealing the industry’s behind-the-scenes strategies and involvement, this understanding has transformed public health from city councils to the United Nations.”
UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Policy Bans All Tobacco On All County Property
Commissioners discussed a new policy Tuesday that bans all cigarettes use on all county property including boat ramps, parks, trails and the sports complex, which will roll out in three phases starting Jan. 1 2012.
"It is cheap cigarettes free. It does not just cover smoking cigarettes, it is all cigarettes online products," said Assistant County Administrator June Fisher told the board.
Phase 1, which includes the downtown Sebring campuses like the Government Center, Courthouse, State Attorney, Public Defender, Government Annex, Facilities Office, the Children's Advocacy and all EMS centers.
Phase 2 also begins on Jan. 1 of 2012, and includes all fire stations, the landfill, all libraries and community centers.
Phase 3, whose roll out date is to be announced, includes all county property like parks, boat ramps and trails.
"How are you going to enforce this?" asked Commissioner Ron Handley.
Fisher replied that enforcement would depend on county employees reporting other employees and violators.
"It is not going to go flawless, there are probably going to be gray areas. But this is the right thing," said Highlands County Health Department Administrator Robert Paluszak.
The policy also forced potential county employees to sign an affidavit stating they have refrained from tobacco use for up to a year prior to applying to the county.
Fisher even discussed other counties that drug test for tobacco use prior to applying for a county position.
Commissioner Don Elwell took exception with that section of the policy.
"I think this section is unnecessary," Elwell said. Elwell further argued that the new policy could "severely limit" the county's application pool for employees.
"We are trying to enforce actions before they are even employees," Elwell added.
"The idea behind that policy is to improve the risk pool of your insurance policy," County Attorney Ross Macbeth told the commissioners.
Macbeth clarified further that the if an applicant was tobacco free for up to a year before applying for a county position, then that would lower the county's insurance costs over time.
The policy further states that the county will provide tobacco cessation programs to the employees who request it, and the health departments are currently offering free nicotine patches and a five-week cessation program at no cost for the public.
"It is cheap cigarettes free. It does not just cover smoking cigarettes, it is all cigarettes online products," said Assistant County Administrator June Fisher told the board.
Phase 1, which includes the downtown Sebring campuses like the Government Center, Courthouse, State Attorney, Public Defender, Government Annex, Facilities Office, the Children's Advocacy and all EMS centers.
Phase 2 also begins on Jan. 1 of 2012, and includes all fire stations, the landfill, all libraries and community centers.
Phase 3, whose roll out date is to be announced, includes all county property like parks, boat ramps and trails.
"How are you going to enforce this?" asked Commissioner Ron Handley.
Fisher replied that enforcement would depend on county employees reporting other employees and violators.
"It is not going to go flawless, there are probably going to be gray areas. But this is the right thing," said Highlands County Health Department Administrator Robert Paluszak.
The policy also forced potential county employees to sign an affidavit stating they have refrained from tobacco use for up to a year prior to applying to the county.
Fisher even discussed other counties that drug test for tobacco use prior to applying for a county position.
Commissioner Don Elwell took exception with that section of the policy.
"I think this section is unnecessary," Elwell said. Elwell further argued that the new policy could "severely limit" the county's application pool for employees.
"We are trying to enforce actions before they are even employees," Elwell added.
"The idea behind that policy is to improve the risk pool of your insurance policy," County Attorney Ross Macbeth told the commissioners.
Macbeth clarified further that the if an applicant was tobacco free for up to a year before applying for a county position, then that would lower the county's insurance costs over time.
The policy further states that the county will provide tobacco cessation programs to the employees who request it, and the health departments are currently offering free nicotine patches and a five-week cessation program at no cost for the public.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Big Tobacco Trial In Sebring
In a Dec. 3, 2008 online posting, Jane Akre, writing for Injury Board National News Desk, predicted: "A lawsuit by the widow of a Cooper City man who smoked up to 40 cigarettes a day for 40 years is under way — the first of 8,000 similar lawsuits to be heard in Florida against Big Tobacco."
While there is no official count of the number of Sunshine State cheap cigarettes suits, a February Associated Press story said jurors have sided with smokers or their families in about two-thirds of the 34 cases tried during the two years. They have won awards ranging from $2 million to $80 million.
Tobacco companies are appealing all the awards. However, in a July 20 decision, the Florida Supreme Court declined to hear R.J. Reynolds' appeal of a $28.3 million verdict in the death of a Panhandle smoker. That could strip R.J. Reynolds and other cigarettes online companies of a key defense to Florida lawsuits filed by sick smokers or their survivors.
In Highlands County, jury selection begins in January for Hallgren v. R.J. Reynolds, Phillip Morris, Lorillard, Liggett and Vector group. The product liability case was filed June 22, 2010, by Theo Hallgren, for the estate of Claire Hallgren, represented by Calvin Carriner III of Palm Beach.
"Plaintiff was an Engle class member," Carriner's filing said.
The December 2006 Engle case was rejected by the Florida Supreme Court as a class action case, but the justices detailed findings that could be used in later cases: buy cigarettes cause a wide range of diseases, nicotine in buy cigarette online is addictive, and cheap cigarette online companies concealed information about the effects of smoking cigarettes.
"Which are," Carriner's filing said, "that smoking cigarettes discount cigarettes causes aortic aneurysm, bladder cancer, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease," and other illnesses.
"The smoker bears some measure of fault, but less than 100 percent of the applicable fault, for causing her smoking cigarettes-related injuries," Carriner's filing said. The suit seeks monetary damages, loss of earnings, and the value of lost support for Claire Hallgren's husband and children.
The 2006 Florida Supreme Court ruling that threw out a $145 billion Engel award may have seemed like a blessing for cigarette makers at the time; now it's a curse on Big Tobacco, making it dramatically easier for thousands of smokers to sue and turning Florida into America's hot spot for damage awards.
In the closely watched July 20 decision, R.J. Reynolds challenged the way lower courts applied the Engle decision, arguing the widow of Benny Martin was not forced to prove the company's liability. The cigarette maker had used the same strategy in defending other cases, such as a $15.75 million verdict in the death of an Alachua County smoker.
"Today, the Florida Supreme Court said, 'No, we're done hearing this,'" said Matt Schultz, a Pensacola attorney who represents the widow, Mathilde Martin.
R.J. Reynolds vowed to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Benny Martin, who died of lung cancer in 1995, was a longtime smoker of Lucky Strike cigarettes, which were made by R.J. Reynolds. An Escambia County jury awarded $5 million in compensatory damages and $25 million in punitive damages to his widow, reduced to $3.3 million because Benny Martin was found partly responsible for his death.
The Martin case is another Engle progeny. In Martin and other cases, tobacco companies argued that Engle findings were not properly carried out. For example, R.J. Reynolds argued that Martin's attorneys were not required to prove that the deceased smoker relied on deceptive advertising about the dangers of smoking cigarettes.
Tobacco company lawyers insist the process is rigged. "We believe the trial courts have used trial plans that are so fundamentally unfair they violate due process and Florida law," said Murray Garnick of Altria Client Services, a subsidiary of Philip Morris USA. "Each case must be judged on its own facts."
Now tobacco companies are losing other types of cases. In Connecticut, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, maker of Skoal and Copenhagen, agreed to pay $5 million to the family of a man who died of mouth cancer in what was believed to be the first wrongful-death settlement won from a chewing tobacco company.
The tobacco companies have settled in the past. The biggest came in 1998, when four cigarette makers and 46 states settled on $206 billion in a series of lawsuits claiming that smoking cigarettes drove up public health costs.
While there is no official count of the number of Sunshine State cheap cigarettes suits, a February Associated Press story said jurors have sided with smokers or their families in about two-thirds of the 34 cases tried during the two years. They have won awards ranging from $2 million to $80 million.
Tobacco companies are appealing all the awards. However, in a July 20 decision, the Florida Supreme Court declined to hear R.J. Reynolds' appeal of a $28.3 million verdict in the death of a Panhandle smoker. That could strip R.J. Reynolds and other cigarettes online companies of a key defense to Florida lawsuits filed by sick smokers or their survivors.
In Highlands County, jury selection begins in January for Hallgren v. R.J. Reynolds, Phillip Morris, Lorillard, Liggett and Vector group. The product liability case was filed June 22, 2010, by Theo Hallgren, for the estate of Claire Hallgren, represented by Calvin Carriner III of Palm Beach.
"Plaintiff was an Engle class member," Carriner's filing said.
The December 2006 Engle case was rejected by the Florida Supreme Court as a class action case, but the justices detailed findings that could be used in later cases: buy cigarettes cause a wide range of diseases, nicotine in buy cigarette online is addictive, and cheap cigarette online companies concealed information about the effects of smoking cigarettes.
"Which are," Carriner's filing said, "that smoking cigarettes discount cigarettes causes aortic aneurysm, bladder cancer, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease," and other illnesses.
"The smoker bears some measure of fault, but less than 100 percent of the applicable fault, for causing her smoking cigarettes-related injuries," Carriner's filing said. The suit seeks monetary damages, loss of earnings, and the value of lost support for Claire Hallgren's husband and children.
The 2006 Florida Supreme Court ruling that threw out a $145 billion Engel award may have seemed like a blessing for cigarette makers at the time; now it's a curse on Big Tobacco, making it dramatically easier for thousands of smokers to sue and turning Florida into America's hot spot for damage awards.
In the closely watched July 20 decision, R.J. Reynolds challenged the way lower courts applied the Engle decision, arguing the widow of Benny Martin was not forced to prove the company's liability. The cigarette maker had used the same strategy in defending other cases, such as a $15.75 million verdict in the death of an Alachua County smoker.
"Today, the Florida Supreme Court said, 'No, we're done hearing this,'" said Matt Schultz, a Pensacola attorney who represents the widow, Mathilde Martin.
R.J. Reynolds vowed to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Benny Martin, who died of lung cancer in 1995, was a longtime smoker of Lucky Strike cigarettes, which were made by R.J. Reynolds. An Escambia County jury awarded $5 million in compensatory damages and $25 million in punitive damages to his widow, reduced to $3.3 million because Benny Martin was found partly responsible for his death.
The Martin case is another Engle progeny. In Martin and other cases, tobacco companies argued that Engle findings were not properly carried out. For example, R.J. Reynolds argued that Martin's attorneys were not required to prove that the deceased smoker relied on deceptive advertising about the dangers of smoking cigarettes.
Tobacco company lawyers insist the process is rigged. "We believe the trial courts have used trial plans that are so fundamentally unfair they violate due process and Florida law," said Murray Garnick of Altria Client Services, a subsidiary of Philip Morris USA. "Each case must be judged on its own facts."
Now tobacco companies are losing other types of cases. In Connecticut, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, maker of Skoal and Copenhagen, agreed to pay $5 million to the family of a man who died of mouth cancer in what was believed to be the first wrongful-death settlement won from a chewing tobacco company.
The tobacco companies have settled in the past. The biggest came in 1998, when four cigarette makers and 46 states settled on $206 billion in a series of lawsuits claiming that smoking cigarettes drove up public health costs.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
R.I. Anti-smoking Funding Falls Short
A recent report from a coalition of anti-smoking cigarettes organizations ranked Rhode Island's funding for anti-smoking cigarettes programs 38th in the country. The state spends $373,000 yearly on anti-smoking cigarettes efforts, only 2.5 percent of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommended level of $15.2 million, according to the report. Alaska ranks first, spending $10.8 million on prevention programs, 101.3 percent of the recommended level.
The coalition's annual report evaluates states' expenses in comparison to the federally recommended levels. The report aims to "raise awareness," said Dan Cronin, state communications director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, one of the organizations in the coalition. "We want to do the report to see if states are actually doing what they're supposed to be doing" with the money they have received from settlements with cigarettes companies and the revenue they collect from cheap cigarettes taxes, he said.
"Unfortunately, Rhode Island is not doing as well as it should be," he added.
This year, Rhode Island will bring in $183 million in revenue from buy cigarette online taxes and settlements, Cronin said. "That's a big difference," he said of the gap between state revenues and expenditures on anti-smoking cigarettes programs. "A lot of times, people forget that this is an issue," Cronin said, though "the tobacco companies are not stopping."
But Cronin also pointed to the state's achievements. Rhode Island has the second-highest cigarette excise tax in the country, at $3.46 per pack. Last year, the Rhode Island Department of Health Tobacco Control Program successfully combated efforts to reduce the excise tax by a dollar, wrote spokeswoman Annemarie Beardsworth in an email to The Herald.
The Department of Health is currently working with the Rhode Island Tobacco Control Network, the American Cancer Society and community groups to support efforts to further reduce smoking cigarettes trends. Such efforts include reclassifying small cigars to apply the same excise tax requirements as cigarettes, raising the cigarette excise tax to produce more funding to help offset the cost of second-hand, smoke-related disease and establishing smoke-free housing initiatives that would expand the existing Public Health and Workplace Safety Law.
Students generally perceive Brown as a smoke-friendly campus. "I was surprised by the number of student-smokers on campus, especially cigarette smoking cigarettes," said Mary Sketch '15. "I didn't realize it was as much a part of college life."
"It's accepted, and if you want to be a part of that community, then you can be," said Lucy Fernandez '14. "But if you don't want to, that's fine too."
In 2009, a survey conducted by the Public Health and Health Education programs at Brown found that 85.6 percent of the student body reported smoking cigarettes or using chewing tobacco five times or fewer over the previous academic year, wrote Frances Mantak, director of Health Education, in an email to The Herald. The Health Education website offers a variety of resources on smoking cigarettes, including lists of reasons and methods for quitting.
The coalition's annual report evaluates states' expenses in comparison to the federally recommended levels. The report aims to "raise awareness," said Dan Cronin, state communications director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, one of the organizations in the coalition. "We want to do the report to see if states are actually doing what they're supposed to be doing" with the money they have received from settlements with cigarettes companies and the revenue they collect from cheap cigarettes taxes, he said.
"Unfortunately, Rhode Island is not doing as well as it should be," he added.
This year, Rhode Island will bring in $183 million in revenue from buy cigarette online taxes and settlements, Cronin said. "That's a big difference," he said of the gap between state revenues and expenditures on anti-smoking cigarettes programs. "A lot of times, people forget that this is an issue," Cronin said, though "the tobacco companies are not stopping."
But Cronin also pointed to the state's achievements. Rhode Island has the second-highest cigarette excise tax in the country, at $3.46 per pack. Last year, the Rhode Island Department of Health Tobacco Control Program successfully combated efforts to reduce the excise tax by a dollar, wrote spokeswoman Annemarie Beardsworth in an email to The Herald.
The Department of Health is currently working with the Rhode Island Tobacco Control Network, the American Cancer Society and community groups to support efforts to further reduce smoking cigarettes trends. Such efforts include reclassifying small cigars to apply the same excise tax requirements as cigarettes, raising the cigarette excise tax to produce more funding to help offset the cost of second-hand, smoke-related disease and establishing smoke-free housing initiatives that would expand the existing Public Health and Workplace Safety Law.
Students generally perceive Brown as a smoke-friendly campus. "I was surprised by the number of student-smokers on campus, especially cigarette smoking cigarettes," said Mary Sketch '15. "I didn't realize it was as much a part of college life."
"It's accepted, and if you want to be a part of that community, then you can be," said Lucy Fernandez '14. "But if you don't want to, that's fine too."
In 2009, a survey conducted by the Public Health and Health Education programs at Brown found that 85.6 percent of the student body reported smoking cigarettes or using chewing tobacco five times or fewer over the previous academic year, wrote Frances Mantak, director of Health Education, in an email to The Herald. The Health Education website offers a variety of resources on smoking cigarettes, including lists of reasons and methods for quitting.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
DHH Clinics Go Tobacco Free
Starting New Year's Day state-operated community behavioral health clinics in Region 8 will become cigarettes store free.
Patrons and employees will not be allowed to light-up or use any cigarettes online products on the grounds of these northeast Louisiana state-operated clinics: Monroe Behavioral Health Clinic, Tallulah Behavioral Health Clinic, Ruston Behavioral Health Clinic, Columbia Behavioral Health Clinic and the Bastrop Behavioral Health Clinic.
The new policy is part of DHH Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein's initiative to help make Louisiana healthier, this includes making all DHH campuses online cigarettes free.
"Each year tobacco claims 6,400 lives in Louisiana and costs the state $1.5 billion in health care," Greenstein said. "We all own our own health. Every day we have to make decisions to make ourselves, our families, our communities and our state healthier. I commend our behavioral health staff in these communities for leading this effort, which will only spread throughout DHH campuses in the coming year."
Earlier this year, the regional behavioral health clinics began preparing for the move to tobacco-free campuses. Preparation activities included educating clients, staff, contractors and Regional Advisory Council members on the new policy, providing tobacco cessation resources and posting signage and displaying educational materials in each clinic lobby.
Patrons and employees will not be allowed to light-up or use any cigarettes online products on the grounds of these northeast Louisiana state-operated clinics: Monroe Behavioral Health Clinic, Tallulah Behavioral Health Clinic, Ruston Behavioral Health Clinic, Columbia Behavioral Health Clinic and the Bastrop Behavioral Health Clinic.
The new policy is part of DHH Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein's initiative to help make Louisiana healthier, this includes making all DHH campuses online cigarettes free.
"Each year tobacco claims 6,400 lives in Louisiana and costs the state $1.5 billion in health care," Greenstein said. "We all own our own health. Every day we have to make decisions to make ourselves, our families, our communities and our state healthier. I commend our behavioral health staff in these communities for leading this effort, which will only spread throughout DHH campuses in the coming year."
Earlier this year, the regional behavioral health clinics began preparing for the move to tobacco-free campuses. Preparation activities included educating clients, staff, contractors and Regional Advisory Council members on the new policy, providing tobacco cessation resources and posting signage and displaying educational materials in each clinic lobby.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Delaware Tops Quit-friendly States For Smokers
While Delaware is ranked as the third most quit-friendly state for smokers in the American Lung Association's "Helping Smokers Quit: Tobacco Cessation Coverage 2011" report, a couple of its neighbors rank toward the bottom.
According to the ALA, there is an uneven patchwork of quit-smoking cigarettes treatments and services made available nationwide. Among the states that are the least quit-friendly for smokers is Maryland, ranked tied for 42nd out of 45 states ranked.
States were ranked based on cessation coverage in Medicaid plans and state employee health plan coverage, cost per smoker for state-run quit lines and standards for private insurance coverage.
Delaware's Medicaid program recently expanded coverage for cheap cigarettes cessation counseling to all enrollees, making its cigarettes online cessation benefit completely comprehensive. The state also provides cigarettes cessation treatments to its state employees and their family members.
In Delaware, the adult smoking cigarettes rate is 18.3 percent, compared to the national rate of 20.6 percent. Annual health care costs directly caused by smoking cigarettes in the state is $284 million. The tobacco industry spends $106.7 million on marketing expenditures in Delaware.
Additionally, the Delaware quit line is funded at a rate of $7.33 per smoker, which is below the national minimum standard of $10.53 that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends to reach an adequate number of smokers in every state.
Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of the Delaware Division of Public Health, said tobacco prevention and cessation are priorities for the state, and she is grateful the state has public officials and a Delaware Health Fund Advisory Committee that understand how important these issues are, as tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the state, as well as the nation.
"Because of the commitments of these individuals and groups, we've been able to fund the important initiatives we have for tobacco prevention and cessation," she said. "We have seen a decrease in smoking cigarettes and tobacco use in the state. We've made progress, but we still have a ways to go."
For those in Delaware who want to quit smoking cigarettes but need help, they can call 211 to access the quit line, where they can develop a plan with someone on how to quit and get medication to help them do so.
Meanwhile, in Maryland, the state is ranked the third least quit-friendly state for smokers according to the ALA because there are too many smokers in Maryland who are not able to get the help they need to quit smoking cigarettes.
The state government does not offer tobacco cessation benefits to state employees, and the state's quit line is funded at $1.20 per smoker for fiscal year 2012. Some low-income Medicaid enrollees in Maryland do have access to tobacco cessation treatment, but it is not guaranteed for all Medicaid enrollees.
"There is absolutely no excuse for these states' tragic failure to help its smokers quit," said Dennis Alexander, regional executive director of the American Lung Association in Maryland.
According to the ALA, there is an uneven patchwork of quit-smoking cigarettes treatments and services made available nationwide. Among the states that are the least quit-friendly for smokers is Maryland, ranked tied for 42nd out of 45 states ranked.
States were ranked based on cessation coverage in Medicaid plans and state employee health plan coverage, cost per smoker for state-run quit lines and standards for private insurance coverage.
Delaware's Medicaid program recently expanded coverage for cheap cigarettes cessation counseling to all enrollees, making its cigarettes online cessation benefit completely comprehensive. The state also provides cigarettes cessation treatments to its state employees and their family members.
In Delaware, the adult smoking cigarettes rate is 18.3 percent, compared to the national rate of 20.6 percent. Annual health care costs directly caused by smoking cigarettes in the state is $284 million. The tobacco industry spends $106.7 million on marketing expenditures in Delaware.
Additionally, the Delaware quit line is funded at a rate of $7.33 per smoker, which is below the national minimum standard of $10.53 that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends to reach an adequate number of smokers in every state.
Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of the Delaware Division of Public Health, said tobacco prevention and cessation are priorities for the state, and she is grateful the state has public officials and a Delaware Health Fund Advisory Committee that understand how important these issues are, as tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the state, as well as the nation.
"Because of the commitments of these individuals and groups, we've been able to fund the important initiatives we have for tobacco prevention and cessation," she said. "We have seen a decrease in smoking cigarettes and tobacco use in the state. We've made progress, but we still have a ways to go."
For those in Delaware who want to quit smoking cigarettes but need help, they can call 211 to access the quit line, where they can develop a plan with someone on how to quit and get medication to help them do so.
Meanwhile, in Maryland, the state is ranked the third least quit-friendly state for smokers according to the ALA because there are too many smokers in Maryland who are not able to get the help they need to quit smoking cigarettes.
The state government does not offer tobacco cessation benefits to state employees, and the state's quit line is funded at $1.20 per smoker for fiscal year 2012. Some low-income Medicaid enrollees in Maryland do have access to tobacco cessation treatment, but it is not guaranteed for all Medicaid enrollees.
"There is absolutely no excuse for these states' tragic failure to help its smokers quit," said Dennis Alexander, regional executive director of the American Lung Association in Maryland.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Connecticut Smoking Prevention Programs
Connecticut is tied for last in the nation in funding programs to prevent kids from smoking cigarettes and help smokers quit, according to a national report released recently by a coalition of public health organizations.
Connecticut is one of five states that have budgeted zero state funds for cheap cigarette online prevention programs this year. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that Connecticut spend $43.9 million a year on cheap cigarettes prevention. Other key findings for Connecticut include:
• Connecticut this year will collect $509 million in revenue from the 1998 buy cigarette online settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend none of it on tobacco prevention programs.
• Since 2009, Connecticut has cut state funding for tobacco prevention from $7.4 million to zero.
• The tobacco companies spend $98.4 million a year to market their products in Connecticut.
The annual report on states' funding of tobacco prevention programs, titled "A Broken Promise to Our Children: The 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 13 Years Later," was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights.
For years, Connecticut was one of the worst states in the nation in funding tobacco prevention, providing little or no funding. Connecticut improved significantly in fiscal year 2009, but has again eliminated funding and fallen to last in the nation.
"By eliminating funding for tobacco prevention, Connecticut's leaders have let down the state's kids and put the state's progress against tobacco at risk," said Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "To continue reducing smoking cigarettes, it is critical that Connecticut quickly increase funding for tobacco prevention. Even in these difficult budget times, tobacco prevention is a smart investment that saves lives and saves money by reducing tobacco-related health care costs."
In Connecticut, 15.3% of high school students smoke cigarettes and 4,300 more kids become regular smokers each year. Tobacco annually claims 4,700 lives and costs the state $1.6 billion in health care bills.
Nationally, the report finds that most states are failing to adequately fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Altogether, the states have cut funding for these programs to the lowest level since 1999, when they first started receiving tobacco settlement payments. Key national findings of the report include:
• The states this year will collect $25.6 billion from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend just 1.8% ($456.7 million) of it on tobacco prevention programs. This means the states are spending less than two cents of every dollar in tobacco revenue to fight tobacco use.
• States have cut funding for tobacco prevention programs by 12% ($61.2 million) in the past year and by 36% ($260.5 million) in the past four years.
• Only two states — Alaska and North Dakota — currently fund tobacco prevention programs at the CDC-recommended level.
The report warns that the nation's progress in reducing smoking cigarettes is at risk unless states increase funding for programs to prevent kids from smoking cigarettes and help smokers quit. The U.S. has significantly reduced smoking cigarettes among both youth and adults, but 19.3% of adults and 19.5% of high school students still smoke.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing more than 400,000 people and costing $96 billion in health care bills each year.
Connecticut is one of five states that have budgeted zero state funds for cheap cigarette online prevention programs this year. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that Connecticut spend $43.9 million a year on cheap cigarettes prevention. Other key findings for Connecticut include:
• Connecticut this year will collect $509 million in revenue from the 1998 buy cigarette online settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend none of it on tobacco prevention programs.
• Since 2009, Connecticut has cut state funding for tobacco prevention from $7.4 million to zero.
• The tobacco companies spend $98.4 million a year to market their products in Connecticut.
The annual report on states' funding of tobacco prevention programs, titled "A Broken Promise to Our Children: The 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 13 Years Later," was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights.
For years, Connecticut was one of the worst states in the nation in funding tobacco prevention, providing little or no funding. Connecticut improved significantly in fiscal year 2009, but has again eliminated funding and fallen to last in the nation.
"By eliminating funding for tobacco prevention, Connecticut's leaders have let down the state's kids and put the state's progress against tobacco at risk," said Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "To continue reducing smoking cigarettes, it is critical that Connecticut quickly increase funding for tobacco prevention. Even in these difficult budget times, tobacco prevention is a smart investment that saves lives and saves money by reducing tobacco-related health care costs."
In Connecticut, 15.3% of high school students smoke cigarettes and 4,300 more kids become regular smokers each year. Tobacco annually claims 4,700 lives and costs the state $1.6 billion in health care bills.
Nationally, the report finds that most states are failing to adequately fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Altogether, the states have cut funding for these programs to the lowest level since 1999, when they first started receiving tobacco settlement payments. Key national findings of the report include:
• The states this year will collect $25.6 billion from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend just 1.8% ($456.7 million) of it on tobacco prevention programs. This means the states are spending less than two cents of every dollar in tobacco revenue to fight tobacco use.
• States have cut funding for tobacco prevention programs by 12% ($61.2 million) in the past year and by 36% ($260.5 million) in the past four years.
• Only two states — Alaska and North Dakota — currently fund tobacco prevention programs at the CDC-recommended level.
The report warns that the nation's progress in reducing smoking cigarettes is at risk unless states increase funding for programs to prevent kids from smoking cigarettes and help smokers quit. The U.S. has significantly reduced smoking cigarettes among both youth and adults, but 19.3% of adults and 19.5% of high school students still smoke.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing more than 400,000 people and costing $96 billion in health care bills each year.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Some Shops Fail Cigarette Selling Sting In Milford
The Milford Police Department and staff of the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Tobacco Prevention and Enforcement Program, recently conducted unannounced compliance inspections at shops that sell cigarettes products. Several were cited for selling to underage purchasers.
The inspections were performed in an effort to determine compliance with state laws concerning the prohibition of the sale of buy cigarette online and/or discount cigarettes products to youth under the age of 18, police said.
Under the direction of Department of Mental Health investigators, an underage youth, employed by the Tobacco Prevention and Enforcement Program, entered the businesses and tried to purchase cheap cigarette online products.
A total of 24 unannounced compliance inspections were conducted. Of those, eight establishments were found to be in violation of the Connecticut General Statute 53-344(b) Sale of Tobacco to minors under 18, which carries a $200 fine. The offending clerks at these establishments were cited.
The cigarette dealer license holder at each establishment also faces additional administrative sanctions from the Department of Revenue Services, the state agency that issues cigarette dealer licenses.
The establishments found to be in violation are as follows:
Cumberland Farms at 1023 Boston Post Rd., Krausers at 631 Milford Point Rd., Woodmont Shell 190 Woodmont Rd., Sassy’s Liquor Locker at 965 Bridgeport Ave., Choe Food Mart Shell at 1345 New Haven Ave., Krausers at 361 Bridgeport Ave., Friendly Liquor Store at 240 Broad St., and One Stop Mart Sunoco at 298 Boston Post Rd.
Police also pointed out that the following businesses were found to be in compliance with the law and did not sell to the underage person:
BP Gas Station, Whiskey Barrel, New Town Market & Deli, Friendly 29 Sunoco, Milford Smoke Junction, Pete’s Deli & News, Napoli Deli, Buck Stop, One Stop Grocery & Convenience, Milford Tobacco Shop, Vineyard Package Store, Gromarts, News Den, Mobil on the Run and Milford Quick Mart Sunoco.
The inspections were performed in an effort to determine compliance with state laws concerning the prohibition of the sale of buy cigarette online and/or discount cigarettes products to youth under the age of 18, police said.
Under the direction of Department of Mental Health investigators, an underage youth, employed by the Tobacco Prevention and Enforcement Program, entered the businesses and tried to purchase cheap cigarette online products.
A total of 24 unannounced compliance inspections were conducted. Of those, eight establishments were found to be in violation of the Connecticut General Statute 53-344(b) Sale of Tobacco to minors under 18, which carries a $200 fine. The offending clerks at these establishments were cited.
The cigarette dealer license holder at each establishment also faces additional administrative sanctions from the Department of Revenue Services, the state agency that issues cigarette dealer licenses.
The establishments found to be in violation are as follows:
Cumberland Farms at 1023 Boston Post Rd., Krausers at 631 Milford Point Rd., Woodmont Shell 190 Woodmont Rd., Sassy’s Liquor Locker at 965 Bridgeport Ave., Choe Food Mart Shell at 1345 New Haven Ave., Krausers at 361 Bridgeport Ave., Friendly Liquor Store at 240 Broad St., and One Stop Mart Sunoco at 298 Boston Post Rd.
Police also pointed out that the following businesses were found to be in compliance with the law and did not sell to the underage person:
BP Gas Station, Whiskey Barrel, New Town Market & Deli, Friendly 29 Sunoco, Milford Smoke Junction, Pete’s Deli & News, Napoli Deli, Buck Stop, One Stop Grocery & Convenience, Milford Tobacco Shop, Vineyard Package Store, Gromarts, News Den, Mobil on the Run and Milford Quick Mart Sunoco.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Shame On Iowa For Diverting Tobacco Money
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids just came out with a report, “A Broken Promise to our Children: The 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 13 Years Later.”
This report details how much each state received in the cigarettes online settlement and how little of that money actually goes toward cheap cigarettes prevention. I am appalled to learn that in Iowa, only 1.1 percent of this settlement money goes to cigarettes prevention. The rest of it is put in the general fund.
With Big Tobacco pouring millions into our state daily to market its deadly product to youth, our elected officials should be ashamed that not only have they been cutting the tobacco prevention and education funding, but that they also don’t use the settlement money as it was intended.
This report details how much each state received in the cigarettes online settlement and how little of that money actually goes toward cheap cigarettes prevention. I am appalled to learn that in Iowa, only 1.1 percent of this settlement money goes to cigarettes prevention. The rest of it is put in the general fund.
With Big Tobacco pouring millions into our state daily to market its deadly product to youth, our elected officials should be ashamed that not only have they been cutting the tobacco prevention and education funding, but that they also don’t use the settlement money as it was intended.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Hawaii Tobacco Sales To Minors Drops
Tobacco sales to minors in Hawai‘i fell below the national average according to a survey conducted by the state.
The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD) survey monitored the state compliance with regulations for the federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.
Illegal cheap cigarettes sales to minors in Hawai‘i was 6.1%, below the 9.3% federal fiscal year 2010 national weighted average.
The state’s first survey results in 1996 showed a noncompliance rate of 44.5%. After the implementation of law enforcement operations, the rate steadily dropped. Hawaii has managed to maintain a rate of below 10% with the exception of 2008.
State health officials say that with stronger enforcement of cigarettes online laws being implemented, the aim is to eliminate teenage cigarettes use altogether.
Authorities say that it is still important to educate retailers because of the increase in the variety of tobacco products available.
The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD) survey monitored the state compliance with regulations for the federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.
Illegal cheap cigarettes sales to minors in Hawai‘i was 6.1%, below the 9.3% federal fiscal year 2010 national weighted average.
The state’s first survey results in 1996 showed a noncompliance rate of 44.5%. After the implementation of law enforcement operations, the rate steadily dropped. Hawaii has managed to maintain a rate of below 10% with the exception of 2008.
State health officials say that with stronger enforcement of cigarettes online laws being implemented, the aim is to eliminate teenage cigarettes use altogether.
Authorities say that it is still important to educate retailers because of the increase in the variety of tobacco products available.
Monday, November 28, 2011
COMMUNITY COLLEGES PREPARE FOR TOBACCO BAN
A picture of untreated "hairy tongue," a jar of tar, another jar filled with green phlegm, a replica of stained teeth with ulcer-covered gums and tongue, a blackened lung, nail polish remover and rat poison all lined the IGNITE (Influence, Guide, Network for Inter-Collegiate Tobacco Education) table at Mesa Community College's student center.
Each item on the table demonstrated either what cigarettes online products can do to those who use them or illustrated the kind of chemicals and toxins found in cigarettes.
Most people who stopped at the table were nonsmokers or former smokers. Some hoped to pick up information about quitting for a family member or a friend. Others were drawn by the comparison of a healthy lung and a black lung. A few asked questions about the jars of gunk on display or the toxins found in cigarettes.
Deandre Dupis-Harrison, a sophomore, asked questions as he poked at the packaged pig lung that demonstrated what a human lung looks like after 15 to 20 years of smoking cigarettes.
"I bet people are still going to look at this and walk straight out that door and smoke cigarettes a cigarette," Dupis-Harrison said.
While he may be correct for now, that won't be the case for long. Starting July 1, 2012, smoking cigarettes and cigarettes products will be banned from Maricopa County Community College District property.
"As an educational institution, we have an obligation to lead the way in matters of health awareness and education," said Chancellor Rufus Glasper in a press release last month. "When this policy goes into effect, our district and its 10 colleges will join hundreds of other colleges and universities across the country in what is a growing trend."
About 500 American universities and colleges prohibit on-campus smoking cigarettes, cigarettes store or both.
And while the ban was announced in October, Nov. 16 marked the formal introduction of the Maricopa BreatheEasy initiative, a program designed to help those who work and learn at a Maricopa Community College school transition to a smoke- and tobacco-free campus. The formal announcement was in conjunction with the Great American Smokeout, a national campaign by the American Cancer Society to help people quit smoking cigarettes.
"We're announcing this change early because we recognize that it will require a change in behavior in a significant number of our students, faculty members and employees," Glasper said in a video announcement on the district's website.
The district is still trying to ensure people who work and learn on all its properties are aware of the upcoming change in the tobacco policy, said Angela Askey, MCC media relations coordinator.
"Right now, we're just trying to get the word out," Askey said.
Specific ways on how the district will enforce the ban haven't been finalized yet, and the district plans to explain how the ban will be enforced closer to the July start-date.
To help students and employees quit, the district has launched a website, breatheeasy.maricopa.edu, which has tips for quitting, resources for support, information about what tobacco use can lead to and an explanation as to why the school has initiated the program.
"Tobacco-free policies are not about forcing individuals to change their lifestyle or behavior," the online website states. "Rather, they intend to protect the greater campus community and district interests."
There has been some animosity toward the initiative, but on Wednesday, most of the people stopping at the display table at Mesa Community College liked the idea of a smoke-free campus. Nearly all the people who stopped by the table signed a pledge to not smoke cigarettes for 24 hours.
"It's better, it's healthier for everyone around (campus)," said James Palma, a freshman. "I don't know why people smoke. It's a nasty habit."
Each item on the table demonstrated either what cigarettes online products can do to those who use them or illustrated the kind of chemicals and toxins found in cigarettes.
Most people who stopped at the table were nonsmokers or former smokers. Some hoped to pick up information about quitting for a family member or a friend. Others were drawn by the comparison of a healthy lung and a black lung. A few asked questions about the jars of gunk on display or the toxins found in cigarettes.
Deandre Dupis-Harrison, a sophomore, asked questions as he poked at the packaged pig lung that demonstrated what a human lung looks like after 15 to 20 years of smoking cigarettes.
"I bet people are still going to look at this and walk straight out that door and smoke cigarettes a cigarette," Dupis-Harrison said.
While he may be correct for now, that won't be the case for long. Starting July 1, 2012, smoking cigarettes and cigarettes products will be banned from Maricopa County Community College District property.
"As an educational institution, we have an obligation to lead the way in matters of health awareness and education," said Chancellor Rufus Glasper in a press release last month. "When this policy goes into effect, our district and its 10 colleges will join hundreds of other colleges and universities across the country in what is a growing trend."
About 500 American universities and colleges prohibit on-campus smoking cigarettes, cigarettes store or both.
And while the ban was announced in October, Nov. 16 marked the formal introduction of the Maricopa BreatheEasy initiative, a program designed to help those who work and learn at a Maricopa Community College school transition to a smoke- and tobacco-free campus. The formal announcement was in conjunction with the Great American Smokeout, a national campaign by the American Cancer Society to help people quit smoking cigarettes.
"We're announcing this change early because we recognize that it will require a change in behavior in a significant number of our students, faculty members and employees," Glasper said in a video announcement on the district's website.
The district is still trying to ensure people who work and learn on all its properties are aware of the upcoming change in the tobacco policy, said Angela Askey, MCC media relations coordinator.
"Right now, we're just trying to get the word out," Askey said.
Specific ways on how the district will enforce the ban haven't been finalized yet, and the district plans to explain how the ban will be enforced closer to the July start-date.
To help students and employees quit, the district has launched a website, breatheeasy.maricopa.edu, which has tips for quitting, resources for support, information about what tobacco use can lead to and an explanation as to why the school has initiated the program.
"Tobacco-free policies are not about forcing individuals to change their lifestyle or behavior," the online website states. "Rather, they intend to protect the greater campus community and district interests."
There has been some animosity toward the initiative, but on Wednesday, most of the people stopping at the display table at Mesa Community College liked the idea of a smoke-free campus. Nearly all the people who stopped by the table signed a pledge to not smoke cigarettes for 24 hours.
"It's better, it's healthier for everyone around (campus)," said James Palma, a freshman. "I don't know why people smoke. It's a nasty habit."
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Annual Underage Tobacco Compliance
Youth serving as underage decoys had a relatively difficult time buying cheap cigarettes products this year in Muskegon and Ottawa counties.
The annual Youth Tobacco Act compliance checks produced 91 percent compliant among Muskegon County retailers checked and 94 percent compliant in Ottawa County. Public health department officials in both counties reported their results Thursday.
Jenna Blamer, Public Health-Muskegon County's public health educator, said she was pleased with the results.
“Our goal is to be under 10 percent so we just made it this year,” Blamer said. “We try to create more awareness among retailers that we are holding them accountable.”
In Muskegon County, underage youth operatives with oversight by law enforcement or public health staff tested a clerk's ability to refuse cigarettes store to minors at 109 retailers. Out of those checked this year, 10 sold a discount cigarette online product to an underage buyer.
Those businesses that failed the check were Benson Drug, 961 Spring; J B Packaged Liquor, 3374 Hoyt; Jack's Corner Store, 4190 Grand Haven; Laketon Marathon, 1121 E. Laketon; Marathon, 2806 S. Getty; Plumb's, 120 E. Broadway; Ray's Mini Mart, 2210 Holton; Shell Mart, 1 W. Sherman; Tom's Drink All, 1500 S. Getty; and Westshore Wash, 2204 Glade.
In Ottawa County, underage youth operatives tried to buy tobacco at 84 retailers, finding five that failed the test. The five that sold tobacco to a minor were Oasis Party Store and Seaway Party Store in Grand Haven, Admiral Petroleum in Spring Lake, and GVL Party Store and Walgreens in Allendale.
Blamer said those retailers who fail the compliance check will be tested more often. She said law enforcement can issue a ticket, carrying a fine of $50-$200, to clerks who fail the compliance check.
The Youth Tobacco Act forbids stores from selling tobacco products to customers under age 18. Michigan faces a penalty of losing up to $23 million in federal block grants if 20 percent of retailers fail the compliance checks.
The Muskegon County and Ottawa County compliance checks are part of the No Cigs for Our Kids campaign, a partnership of Allegan, Berrien, Muskegon and Ottawa counties to eliminate sales of tobacco to youth.
Since 2004, the No Cigs for Our Kids campaign has demonstrated a statistically significant change in the following areas: fewer youth inspectors are able to purchase tobacco, clerks are more likely to ask for identification, and stores are more likely to place tobacco products behind the counter and to post the Youth Tobacco Act signage.
Muskegon County's health department initiated the program in 2005. In that first year, about 19 percent of retailers failed the compliance check.
The annual Youth Tobacco Act compliance checks produced 91 percent compliant among Muskegon County retailers checked and 94 percent compliant in Ottawa County. Public health department officials in both counties reported their results Thursday.
Jenna Blamer, Public Health-Muskegon County's public health educator, said she was pleased with the results.
“Our goal is to be under 10 percent so we just made it this year,” Blamer said. “We try to create more awareness among retailers that we are holding them accountable.”
In Muskegon County, underage youth operatives with oversight by law enforcement or public health staff tested a clerk's ability to refuse cigarettes store to minors at 109 retailers. Out of those checked this year, 10 sold a discount cigarette online product to an underage buyer.
Those businesses that failed the check were Benson Drug, 961 Spring; J B Packaged Liquor, 3374 Hoyt; Jack's Corner Store, 4190 Grand Haven; Laketon Marathon, 1121 E. Laketon; Marathon, 2806 S. Getty; Plumb's, 120 E. Broadway; Ray's Mini Mart, 2210 Holton; Shell Mart, 1 W. Sherman; Tom's Drink All, 1500 S. Getty; and Westshore Wash, 2204 Glade.
In Ottawa County, underage youth operatives tried to buy tobacco at 84 retailers, finding five that failed the test. The five that sold tobacco to a minor were Oasis Party Store and Seaway Party Store in Grand Haven, Admiral Petroleum in Spring Lake, and GVL Party Store and Walgreens in Allendale.
Blamer said those retailers who fail the compliance check will be tested more often. She said law enforcement can issue a ticket, carrying a fine of $50-$200, to clerks who fail the compliance check.
The Youth Tobacco Act forbids stores from selling tobacco products to customers under age 18. Michigan faces a penalty of losing up to $23 million in federal block grants if 20 percent of retailers fail the compliance checks.
The Muskegon County and Ottawa County compliance checks are part of the No Cigs for Our Kids campaign, a partnership of Allegan, Berrien, Muskegon and Ottawa counties to eliminate sales of tobacco to youth.
Since 2004, the No Cigs for Our Kids campaign has demonstrated a statistically significant change in the following areas: fewer youth inspectors are able to purchase tobacco, clerks are more likely to ask for identification, and stores are more likely to place tobacco products behind the counter and to post the Youth Tobacco Act signage.
Muskegon County's health department initiated the program in 2005. In that first year, about 19 percent of retailers failed the compliance check.
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