GRASSROOTS NEWSLETTER
January-February 2007
Volume 5 Number 4
As 2007 begins Arkansans can be proud to be among the
ranks of smoke
“The movement for smoke-free
air has gone from being a
In the few months since these
proactive smoke free measures,
several outstanding events have further justified
challenging tobacco. First, the Surgeon
General’s report concluded that secondhand smoke is not a mere nuisance but a serious health risk that causes death
and disease among nonsmokers. Second,
the California Air Resources Board, citing research showing a 68% increased
risk of breast cancer among primarily pre-menopausal woman, classified
secondhand smoke as a Toxic Air
Contaminant. A federal court in the United States Vs Phillip Morris convicted the largest tobacco manufacturers
of fraud and racketeering for over 50 years of deceit and manipulation of
information and public opinion regarding smoking and the dangers of secondhand
smoke. And last, the Harvard School of Public Health
has released a study substantiating earlier Massachusetts Department of Health
research showing that the amount of nicotine
in cigarettes has increased significantly since the major American tobacco
companies signed the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) in 1998.
Clearly it is no time to back
away from laws that protect the public
from tobacco and the tobacco industry.
As the 86th
General Assembly rolls into action several issues are on the forefront for tobacco free advocates:
Increased
tobacco taxes. The consensus among research is that for
every 10% increase in the cost of tobacco a 7% reduction among youth use and a
4% overall reduction is expected.
Fire safe
cigarettes. 6 states already
require these fire safe cigarettes with ridges built into the paper that cause
a cigarette to go out rather than continue to burn. Cigarettes are the leading cause of fire
deaths in the nation.
Internet
tobacco sales. Not only do youth have unfettered access to
tobacco products over the internet but the state is losing tobacco substantial
tax revenue.
Foster children. Inmates in
state prisons enjoy protection from secondhand smoke but younger wards of the
state, foster children, do not. A
University of Maryland School of Law poll of states that have such regulations
shows NO loss of foster parents.
As always the tobacco cartel
will have many more resources to
challenge or weaken existing laws. Be on
the lookout for tools of the industry to try and create more exemptions to the ACIA. Readers may recall that tobacco prevention in
Previous Arkansas General
Assemblies have distinguished themselves with being on the forefront in
challenging an evidence based hazard
in secondhand smoke and predatory industry in big tobacco. If you would like to
learn more about the legislative goings on we encourage visiting www.arkleg.state.ar.us.
We know that children of
smokers are more likely to become
smokers themselves but new research from Duke University Medical Center shows
the issue may be more complex than first thought. A study recently published in the online
journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and
Behavior shows that rats exposed to nicotine in utero actually were more likely to return to the habit
after quitting than those unexposed before birth.
"Smoking during
pregnancy can harm the baby in ways that extend far beyond preterm delivery or
low birth weight," said Edward Levin, PhD, one of the study’s authors.
"It causes changes in the brain development of the baby that can last a lifetime."
The study suggests further
reasons for mothers to quit smoking during pregnancy, with serious implications
for avoiding Nicotine Replacement
Therapy to do so. The good news is that the recently FDA approved drug varenicline has triple
the success rate for quitting smoking according to the prestigious Cochran
Review group.
TFMC is expanding its
outreach into the community into parent/teacher organizations emphasizing the
tremendous power and subtlety of tobacco
marketing. We will also continue advocating
event planners to refuse tobacco cartel sponsorship. Research
has shown that youth are twice as susceptible to advertising as adults, and more likely to start smoking because of marketing than
peer pressure.
Just because
The Division of Health’s
Clean Air Act Complaint Coordinator, Felicia Thomason reports receiving 397
complaints statewide resulting in 10 inspections thus far. No fines or penalties will be imposed until after
a meeting of the Board of Health. The enforcement process is careful and educational rather than punitive but we
have to make it work. Smoking is a privilege. Breathing is a right, a legal right.
Know
a quitter?! Share 1-866-NOW QUIT for free tobacco cessation counseling for a
personalized quit plan to fit individual situations beginning a smoke free
life.
