January 12, 2010 (Citizen’s-Times.com) — NC law changes, workplace aid add incentives to end tobacco use
“From smoking bans to higher insurance premiums, governments and employers are implementing all sorts of policies that may encourage people to stop using tobacco this year. While some have opted for the stick, or penalty, approach, others like Smith's employer, the Metropolitan Sewerage District, are using a carrot approach to help workers quit using tobacco. Starting this year, the sewerage district increased the amount of money it spends on tobacco cessation from $150 to $2,000 per year per employee, which covers the cost of stop-smoking aids and on-site one-on-one counseling with a tobacco cessation specialist. More than 20 employees have signed up for the program, which amounts to about 40 percent of tobacco users at the company. Smith, who was instrumental in changing the company's policy, is leading the charge.”
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January 12, 2010 (Wall Street Journal) — Rise of the Part-Time Smoker
“Taxes have pushed the cost of smoking ever higher ($10 per pack in New York City) and the social costs — in disgusted looks and lectures from friends and family members — have escalated too. Such inconveniences are forcing a sea change in smoking habits and upending traditional approaches to smoking cessation. For one thing, there's a growing group of intermittent and secret smokers who seem to smoke as much for psychological and emotional reasons as nicotine addiction. In addition to breaking the physical addiction, smokers who want to quit today need to understand why, when and where they smoke, and challenge some of the thinking that goes along with it, cessation experts say.“
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January 11. 2010 (India Today) — Govt 'quitlines' soon to help you kick the butt
In 2010 the Indian Government is planning to launch, on a pilot basis, a free telephone 'quitline' for smokers. These quit lines are expected to operate in several languages. For example, Delhi’s pilot quitline will operate in Hindi and English. To set up these quitlines, the government first sought help from the American Cancer Society. They’ve now contacted the World Health Organization for support.
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January, 8, 2010 (New York Times) — For the New Year, Cost-Effective Options to Stop Smoking
“Like many ex-smokers, Tonya Guess, 33, of Chesapeake, Va., tried just about everything to quit. There were hundreds of nicotine patches, an online support group, a prescription for an antidepressant and another prescription for Chantix, a drug that helps quell nicotine cravings. Finally, after several false starts, a long period of quitting with a relapse, and a new baby daughter, Ms. Guess quit again. She has not smoked for two years. ‘I’m so relieved,’ Ms. Guess said. ‘It’s so great to be free and not be controlled by cigarettes anymore.’ Another thing Ms. Guess was relieved about: Her insurance paid for most of her quit-smoking aids. ‘It can really add up,’ she said. ‘Fourteen patches used to cost as much as $40.’ “
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December 9, 2009 (Reuters) — Most of world exposed to deadly tobacco smoke: WHO
“More than 94 percent of the world's people are not protected by laws against smoking, leaving them exposed to the biggest cause of preventable death, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.”
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December 7, 2009 (Medical News Today) — Smoking Soon After Waking Could Increase Your Risk Of Lung Cancer
New research from the US suggests that smoking soon after waking could increase even a light smoker's risk of lung cancer, because the shorter the time between waking and having a first cigarette, no matter how many you smoke a day, the higher your levels of circulating cotinine, a derivative of nicotine that is made in the body and which has been linked to higher risk of lung cancer.
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December 4, 2009 (ABC News) — Chinese Smoking Deaths Seen Doubling in 10 Years
According to new research, one million Chinese die a year from smoking-related illnesses. According to health experts, that number will double to two million a year by 2020 if the country does not do more to reduce tobacco use. Seven Chinese cities — Hangzhou, Shenyang, Tianjin, Nanchang, Shenzhen, Lanzhou and Chongqing — are set to enact smoke-free laws beginning in 2010 which will ban smoking in healthcare facilities, government buildings, public transportation and private work places.
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November 15, 2009 (The New York Times) — For Some Smokers, Even Home Is Off Limits
"The movement to ban smoking in New York City has grown so quickly that no place seems immune — certainly not restaurants or bars, and public beaches and parks may not be far behind. Now the efforts are rapidly expanding into the living room. More landlords are moving to prohibit smoking in their apartment buildings, telling prospective tenants they can be evicted if they light up in them. This month, the Related Companies will ban smoking at some of its downtown apartment buildings because of health concerns about secondhand smoke, according to company officials."
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November 10, 2009 (Forbes) — EU Ministers Agree to Boost Tax on Cigarettes
European Union finance ministers have agreed to an increase in the minimum excise tax on cigarettes. Starting in 2014, the minimum tax would be raised to 90 euros ($134.8) per 1,000 cigarettes, and no less than 60 percent of sales price. This compares to a current tax rate of 64 euros per 1,000 cigarettes and no lower than 57 percent of the sales price.
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November 9, 2009 (India PRwire) — Mouth Cancer Awareness Week
"The week of November 9th was Mouth Cancer Awareness Week in India. Mouth Cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, Over 300,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed every year around the world. The Indian sub-continent accounts for one-third of the world's oral cancer burden. Tobacco use is the number one risk factor in oral cancer."
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November 5, 2009 (American Cancer Society) — American Cancer Society Marks 34th Great American Smokeout® by Encouraging Smokers to Quit
"As the official sponsor of birthdays, the American Cancer Society marks the 34th Great American Smokeout on November 19 by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life — one that can lead to reducing cancer risk and creating more birthdays."
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November 5, 2009 (ScienceDaily) Nicotine Patch Plus Lozenge Appears Best for Smoking Cessation
"In a comparison of five different smoking cessation medications, a nicotine patch plus a nicotine lozenge appears most effective at helping smokers quit, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of General Psychiatry."
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October 15, 2009 (PR Newswire) — Institute of Medicine Report Concludes Smoke-Free Laws Prevent Heart Attacks; It's Time to Make All Workplaces and Public Places Smoke-Free
"A landmark report released today by the Institute of Medicine provides powerful new evidence that elected officials have no excuse for failing to enact comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws. The IOM report concludes smoke-free laws reduce the number of heart attacks and save lives."
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October 14, 2009 (TradingMarkets.com) — UK Government: Tobacco Will Be Kept Out Of Sight In Shops
MPs in London have voted to support a legal amendment prohibiting tobacco vending machines. Given this recommendation, the government must now work out the regulatory details. Specifically, how will the Government's proposed new tobacco control laws work in practice? The Government is now calling for views about key elements of the laws. They want to be sure to balance practicality, affordability, and public health goals to combat smoking.
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September 22, 2009 (The New York Times) — Flavors Banned From Cigarettes to Deter Youths
"Federal health officials banned the sale of flavored cigarettes on Tuesday in the first major crackdown since the Food and Drug Administration was given the authority to regulate tobacco."
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September 16, 2009 (The American Legacy Foundation®) — Congress Breathes Easier, Thanks to Speaker Pelosi's Successful Efforts to Eliminate House Smoking Rooms
"Statement by Cheryl G. Healton, Dr PH, President and CEO — The American Legacy Foundation® applauds Speaker Nancy Pelosi and all those in the U.S. House of Representatives who have worked tirelessly to protect Capitol Hill staff and visitors from the dangers of second-hand smoke. On Thursday, the House’s last two indoor smoking rooms are being cleaned and converted to smoke-free dining areas."
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September 1, 2009 (allAfrica.com) — South Africa: Govt Tightens Tobacco Laws Further
South Africa's President Zuma signed into law new anti-smoking regulations that strengthen limits on smoking in public places and regulate the manufacturing and marketing of tobacco products.
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August 19, 2009 (FDA) — FDA Launches New Center for Tobacco Products
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today launched its new Center for Tobacco Products in an historic effort to curb the hundreds of thousands of deaths caused by those products each year."
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August 11, 2009 (People's Daily Online) — Shanghai may become China's first city to ban smoking in public places
"Shanghai may become one of the first Chinese cities to ban smoking in public places. A smoking ban is supposed to be implemented in the city by the end of the year. How strict it will be, depends on city lawmakers who are set to discuss a draft that outlines several options which could be adopted."
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August 8, 2009 (Boston Globe) — Smoker who lost job loses in court
"Scott Rodrigues had been working as a lawn-care employee for The Scotts Co. for only about two weeks when he was fired in 2006 after a drug test found nicotine in his urine, a violation of a company policy forbidding employees to smoke on or off the job. He promptly filed a lawsuit that argued, among other things, that the company violated his right to privacy."
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