Recent Tobacco Related Webinars

For those of you who missed the Oct. 10, 2012 webinar, "Current Trends in 'Roll Your Own' Tobacco Regulation," the archived recording can be accessed here.  A recording of our Nov. 13, 2012 webinar, "Pressing the FDA on Menthol," can be accessed here.  For more information about upcoming webinars in our Public Health Policy Change series, click here and follow the links.

 "Pharmacotherapy 101", presented by Frank Vitale, MA. We will be recording the webinar and it, as well as the slides, will be made available on our website: www.centerforcessation.org

November Election Results: Implications for Tobacco Control, recorded on on November 28, 2012.If you were unable to attend the webinar, or would like to share the presentation with colleagues, a recording of this webinar and other materials are available through the Tobacco Control Network’s (TCN) website: www.ttac.org/tcn/materials.

 

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com

New Tobacco Research and Policy Resources

The November 2012 supplement to the peer-reviewed American Journal of Preventive Medicine features three tobacco policy-related articles written by Public Health Law Center staff members Mike Freiberg, Brooke Nunn, Warren Ortland, and Susan Weisman.  The supplement includes articles from ClearWay Minnesota-funded tobacco research grantees, a review article by two experts from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and a commentary by Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  

Check out the Public Health Law Center articles on our website:

Federal Approaches to the Regulation of Non-Cigarette Tobacco Products. Michael J. Freiberg, J.D.  An investigation of how federal laws apply, or fail to apply, to the regulation of non-cigarette tobacco products.

 

Secondhand Smoke and Smoke-Free Policies in Owner-Occupied Multi-Unit Housing.  Martha J. Hewett, MS; Warren H. Ortland, JD; Betsy E. Brock, MPH; Curtis J. Heim, MS.  A study of the prevalence of secondhand smoke incursion in common interest communities that assesses residents' attitudes toward secondhand smoke and interest in smoke-free policies.

Influencing Taft-Hartley Funds to Provide Tobacco Cessation Benefits.  Susan R. Weisman, JD; Deborah Hennrikus, PhD; Kelvin Choi, PhD; Brooke Nunn, MPH, MSW; Jean L. Forster, PhD, MPH; Mary Kay Hunt, MPH; Rodney Skoog, BA; Wade Luneburg; Bernie Hesse, BA.  A study testing a pilot intervention to increase the provision and promotion of cessation benefits among Minnesota-based Taft-Hartley Health and Welfare Funds by educating the funds' advisors.

Here are two great resources for those working on university  tobacco free campuses.

·         Jones A and Sanders S . (February 2009). Guide for a tobacco-free campus: Why we should make campuses tobacco-free – and how to do it.  Action on Smoking and Health Australia.  Kings Cross NSW Australia.    Available at http://www.ashaust.org.au/pdfs/TFcampusGuideAus09.pdf
       
·         Jones A.  Tobacco-free Educational Campuses: A tobacco-free futures action guide.  International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.  Edinburgh UK.    Available at:  http://www.tobaccofreeunion.org/assets/Technical%20Resources/Tobacco-free%20Futures%20Action%20Guide/Campus/Campus%20Factsheet%20-%20EN.pdf

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com

Findings of Nat. Adult Tobacco Survey

Current tobacco use among adults in the United States: Findings from the National Adult Tobacco Survey
Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com

Data from a national tobacco survey indicate that tobacco use is still prevalent among adults in the United States. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assessed the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of tobacco use among adults ages 18 and older in the U.S by analyzing data from the 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey. Nationally, 25.2% of the participants used any form of tobacco.

With regard to type of tobacco used, 19.5% of respondents were cigarette smokers, 6.6% used cigars, cigarillos, or small cigars, 3.4% were chewing tobacco, snuff, or dip users, and very few used either water pipes (1.5%) or pipes (1.1%). Tobacco use was more prevalent among respondents who were male, younger, less educated, less wealthy, of non-Hispanic “other” race/ethnicity, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). Tobacco is still widely used by adults in the U.S., and evidence-based cessation strategies are needed to reduce the burden of health and economic disparities attributed to tobacco use.

Read the study abstract published in the American Journal of Public Health. Click here to read the statement released by The Network for LGBT Health Equity at the Fenway Institute on how this study sheds light on tobacco use in the LGBT community.

Public Health Law Fellowship Available

The Network for Public Health Law is seeking six law professors for new fellowships designed to provide them with field experiences that will enrich their teaching of public health law. The Scholars in Residence fellowship goals are:

To bring the expertise of legal scholars to the front lines to assist public health agencies on a specific public health issue, and

To give master teachers field experience to enhance their teaching and advance their scholarly work.

The scholars will be affiliated with a host site such as a state, local or tribal health department for six months, including a minimum of one month on-site that can be completed during a sabbatical, a non-teaching semester or during the summer. Applications are due January 8, 2013. To read more about this exciting opportunity, click here.

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NALBOH offers tobacco Prevention Toolkit

The National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) has released its fourth edition of the Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Toolkit. This free toolkit contains information about programs and services that support tobacco prevention and ways to become involved. Click here to access this toolkit.

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com

Mpowered Best and Promising Practices for LGBT Tobacco Control

The Network had the pleasure of presenting our MPOWERED: Best and Promising Practices for LGBT Tobacco Control document through a CDC wide Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) hosted Seminar in Atlanta recently.

As many of you know the Network released its MPOWERED Document at the National LGBT Health Equity Summit in coordination of the National Conference on tobacco or health this past August. As the first document of its kind to culminate LGBT best and promising practices in this way we have received and outpour of requests for the document and to-date have disseminated almost 900 copies, not to mention the online downloads. The document brought a value to the field at such a critical moment in tobacco control. While slow, there is still progress in LGBT tobacco control efforts nationally. With tailored programs addressing LGBT communities, and programs searching to include the population this vital resource helps folks to effectively engage the community.  Because of its popularity along with support of our friends within CDC we had the privilege to showcase the document with CDC Staff.

Through the presentation we aimed to increase more efforts CDC wide on LGBT inclusion within all aspects of CDC. With a wide range of folks from CDC in attendance we had the ability to truly elaborate on the MPOWERED model and our process to create the document. Walking away I feel really great that the information presented will be utilized and will help to increase more awareness of LGBT communities and strategies to include the community in their work.

Written by Gustavo Torrez, The Network for LGBT Health Equity, MPOWERED

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com,

States Spend Less Than 2 cents of Tobacco $ on Reduction

States will collect a record $25.7 billion in revenue from the 1998 state tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes this year, but will spend just 1.8 percent of it—less than two cents of every dollar—on programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit, according to a new report released by a coalition of public health organizations, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Total state funding for tobacco prevention amounts to just 12.4 percent of the $3.7 billion that the CDC recommends for all the states combined. Only two states, Alaska and North Dakota, currently fund tobacco prevention programs at the CDC-recommended level. 

 As the nation implements health care reform, the report titled “Broken Promises to Our Children,” warns that states are missing the opportunity to reduce tobacco-related health care costs which total $96 billion every year in the United States.

 Written by Gustavo Torrez, Program Manager, The Network for LGBT Health Equity. EMPOWERED: Taking on CDC . Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com

Secondhand Smoke Exposure Persists in Multi-unit Housing

Secondhand smoke exposure persists in multiunit housing
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Residents of multiunit housing continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke, and are supportive of smoke-free housing policies according to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health. This nationally-representative study assessed the attitudes, experience, and acceptance regarding smoke-free policies among multiunit housing residents across the United States.

Multiunit housing was defined as apartments, duplexes, double/multifamily homes, condominiums, or townhouses. Among the respondents, 29% reported living in smoke-free buildings, and 56% supported 100% smoke-free policies in their buildings. Additionally, 79% of the respondents implemented smoke-free rules in their homes. Those with smoke-free homes were more likely to be nonsmokers, live with children, and have achieved higher education levels.

The results suggest that about 30 million residents are exposed to secondhand smoke from other areas of their building, regardless of a smoke-free policy in their homes, and many multiunit housing residents welcome policies that protect them from secondhand smoke at home. To read more about this study, click here.

Click here to read the study abstract.

Study: Graphic Campaigns Increase Quit Attempts

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New study shows clearly that highly emotional and graphic anti-smoking advertisements increase quit attempts A new study reports the effects of emotional, graphic anti-smoking advertisements on smoking cessation. Data were used from the 2003-2010 New York Adult Tobacco Surveys to analyze the impact of exposure to anti-smoking advertisements on adult smokers’ attempts to quit smoking in the previous twelve months.

The reported recall of advertising, type (emotional and/or graphic as well as others), and amount of exposure were measured. The participants were categorized by desire to quit, income, and education. Increased exposure to emotional and/or graphic anti-smoking advertisements was found to increase the amount of attempts to quit smoking among all smokers, smokers who want to quit, and in all income and education levels studied.

Click here to access the study abstract and full report published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Click here for a press release from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids which notes that the study findings support the use of emotional, anti-smoking advertisements as an effective method of promoting population-level smoking cessation in adults.

Resourses for Clinical Reimbursement Tobbacco Coding Fact Sheet

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com

The American Academy of Pediatrics released a tobacco coding fact sheet to help primary care pediatricians and other healthcare providers be reimbursed for providing smoking cessation services to their patients.Created by AAP’s coding experts, the fact sheet offers multiple CPT codes for inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as non-face-to-face and non-physician provider services. Also covered are ICD-9-CM codes for medical diagnoses, comorbid diseases, substance abuse, and related supplemental codes. At the end of the coding section are six short vignettes that feature different clinical scenarios. Applicable codes and diagnoses for each situation are listed, and teaching points are given where necessary. Click here to access the fact sheet, or click here to view other resources from AAP that are designed to assist clinicians with reimbursement.

Study: Smoking Harms Brain

Smoking harms the brain by damaging learning, memory and reasoning, according to a new study. British researchers looked at 8,800 people over age 50 and found a "consistent association" between smoking and lower scores on mental skills tests. Having high blood pressure and being overweight also seemed to have a harmful effect on the brain, but to a less degree than smoking.  (HealthDay News, 11/26/12) Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com

50-Cent Rise in Cigarrette Tax Could Result in 3 mill. Fewerr Smokers

By Join Together Staff  November 29, 2012 Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com,

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates a 50-cent hike in the U.S. cigarette tax could result in a decrease of more than three million smokers by 2085. The tax increase would either encourage people to quit, or would keep people from starting to smoke, the researchers say.

The CBO report, which appears in the New England Journal of Medicine, estimates 200,000 of those three million people would have died before that year if the tax hike were not in effect. The CBO does independent analyses of budget issues for Congress.

The current federal cigarette tax is $1.01, HealthDay reports.

The decrease in the number of smokers would result in $730 million in savings in healthcare costs between 2013 and 2021, the report notes. In the long term, federal spending would increase, because of the additional people living into old age, who would use Social Security and Medicare.

Overall, the CBO estimated the cigarette tax increase would result in a small projected reduction in the federal deficit in 2035. “Consequences for the federal budget are only one factor that lawmakers may consider when developing policies to promote health,” the report concluded.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1210319

Chief of the Tobacco Control Branch Position Posting

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The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Cancer Institute’s (NCI), Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS), Behavioral Research Program (BRP) is seeking a senior scientist to serve as Chief of the Tobacco Control Research Branch (TCRB).  TCRB provides national and international leadership and support for research activities related to prevention and control of tobacco use and the elimination of cancer and suffering due to tobacco use.  TCRB also synthesizes and disseminates scientific findings through publications, special journal issues, and its Tobacco Control Monograph series.

The successful candidate will lead a group of behavioral and social scientists, fellows, and administrative staff to develop innovative research initiatives, and to encourage research in key scientific areas, to advance tobacco control.  The Branch Chief will work collaboratively with the Associate Director and other Branch Chiefs in BRP to lead new initiatives within the program, the NCI, and the NIH.  Moreover, the Branch Chief will play an important role in increasing functional integration of substance use, abuse, and addiction-related research across NIH, and collaborate with senior leadership across agencies within DHHS, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with other Federal Agencies, as well as with diverse non-governmental agencies on a range of tobacco control programs and initiatives to advance public health. 

There are many new opportunities to advance tobacco control research including the regulatory authority of the FDA, a greater focus on addressing the burden of global tobacco, and new prevention efforts driven by the Affordable Care Act.

The BRP provides a unique and nationally visible multidisciplinary environment and participates in NCI’s many internship, postdoctoral training, and visiting scientist programs. The TCRB Chief will enjoy a scientifically energizing and collegial environment with opportunities to:

·         Develop research and funding initiatives;

·         Cultivate a diverse portfolio of grant-supported research;

·         Lead and participate in cross-disciplinary research collaborations involving public, private,  and academic stakeholders;

·         Develop national and international scientific programming (e.g., symposia, special journal issues and supplements, conferences, and workshops);

·         Conduct research, publish, and present at professional meetings; and

·         Contribute to the development of major tobacco-related documents.

 

Candidates must have earned an MD or PhD or the equivalent in the behavioral or social sciences, public health, quantitative sciences, medicine, or related areas.  Successful candidates will have an exceptional record of publications and extramural funding as well as a high degree of national/international visibility in one or more areas related to the mission of the TCRB. Extensive experience in several areas of tobacco control research, the ability to manage complex research projects and engage in interdisciplinary collaborations, supervise scientific staff and manage budgets is also essential.
The salary range for this position is $123,758 – $155,500 annually, depending upon qualifications and experience (GS-15 pay grade).  The work site location is the Washington, D.C. suburb of Rockville, Maryland.  United States citizenship is required for all applicants.  Excellent benefits will be provided; a relocation package will be negotiable.  All applicants will receive consideration without regard to ethnicity, gender, national origin, age, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NCI are Equal Opportunity Employers.

Please submit a letter of interest, CV, and copies of two representative publications to Ms. Juanita Cox at juanita.cox@nih.gov.  For questions about the position, contact Dr. Deborah Winn (search committee chair) at winnde@mail.nih.gov, or Dr. William Klein (Associate Director, Behavioral Research Program) at kleinwm@mail.nih.gov.  Review of applications will begin on March 15, 2013.  Applications will be considered until the position is filled.  To learn more about the TCRB, please visit: http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/tcrb.  To learn more about the BRP, please visit: http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/.

First Ever Evidenced Based Quit Smoking App Launches on Facebook

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com

December 19, 2012
Research demonstrates that more than 10 million adults annually search for quitting smoking information online, but only a third of searchers reach evidence-based interventions, and even fewer will take advantage of social support recommended by clinical guidelines for treatment. As part of an innovative 3-year project, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), The Schroeder Institute at Legacy® have developed a new Facebook app that will both help smokers quit as well as provide data about how people quit smoking on social networks like Facebook. UbiQUITous is currently the only evidence-based app on Facebook dedicated to helping users quit smoking. The development of UbiQUITous capitalized on more than a decade of work and experience by Schroeder Institute and Legacy staff, including the design, development and evaluation of the largest and best known online social networks for smoking cessation - BecomeAnEX.org and QuitNet.com.

“Instead of encouraging smokers to join networks of other quitters, UbiQUITous helps smokers build a support network out of their own friends and family on Facebook,” said Dr. Nathan Cobb , lead researcher and developer of the app. “This Facebook-based study is unique in how it will help public health researchers understand how a quitting smoking tool ‘goes viral’ through clusters of smokers online, and what conditions make a public health intervention most likely to spread between individuals.

For More Information:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-ever-evidenced-based-quit-smoking-app-launches-on-facebook-183932931.html

Smoking Deadlier for HIV Patients than Virus itself: Study

December 19, 2012
A new study finds that HIV patients who receive good care but who smoke lose more years of life to smoking than to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The findings show the importance of including quit-smoking counseling in long-term HIV care, the Danish researchers said. They looked at nearly 3,000 HIV patients who were treated in Denmark from 1995 to 2010 and received well-organized care with free access to antiretroviral therapy.

The researchers found that more than 60 percent of the deaths that occurred among the patients were associated with smoking rather than HIV. They also found significant differences in life expectancy between HIV patients who smoked and nonsmokers. For example, a 35-year-old patient who smoked had a life expectancy approaching 63 years, compared with more than 78 years for a nonsmoking patient who was the same age, according to the study, which appears online Dec. 19 in the Journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

For More Information:
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/12/19/smoking-deadlier-for-hiv-patients-than-virus-itself-study

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com,

Recent Tobacco Related-Webinars

December 14, 2012 - "Meaningful Use and Tobacco Cessation." Click here to view the full screen video. You can view the slides here. A meaningful use fact sheet for Clinicians and Healthcare Systems and a fact sheet for State Tobacco Programs are available for download.

This educational program will provide participants with a high-level overview of Meaningful Use, electronic health records, and tobacco cessation. Information will be provided about Stage 3 Meaningful Use preliminary recommendations, released recently. Organizations will be encouraged to submit public comments.

http://www.prevent.org//data/images/actiontoquit/mu%20and%20tob%20cess%20webinar_final.pdf

More action to Quit webinars are archived at http://www.actiontoquit.org/webinars

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com

Rural Tobacco Reduction Webinar

"The Coalition Story: Rural Tobacco Reduction Strategies for Rural & Low SES Populations" webinar available.

The recording of the webinar along with the materials will be archived in the following places on our CADCA website:

http://www.cadca.org/training-events/past

http://www.cadca.org/ctg/events#ctgtraining.

Please give us about 7 business days to get that loaded up and ready for viewing there. In the meantime, I have included the link to the copy of the presentation materials for your immediate review until the webinar recording is posted.

Reposted notice at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com
Posted by  Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America

To make a donation and learn more, visit www.cadca.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CADCA

Twitter: @CADCA

HHS Smoking Cessation Mobile Apps

The Department of Health and Human Services offers various Smartphone applications that can assist individuals with refraining from smoking.  These Smoking Cessation apps provide strategies, tracking mechanisms and support.  They are designed to guide a smoking through various phases of quitting and staying smoke free.   Below are the apps and a brief description of what they accomplish:

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com

 NCI QuitPal

By: National Cancer Institute  Platforms: iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad

This mobile app will help you become smoke-free! It offers proven strategies and tools to help assist you with giving up smoking. Features Include:

·         Calendar functions to set a quit date, financial goals by date, and reminders

·         Track daily smoking habits with an easy-to-use log

·         Graphic features tracking the money you’ve saved and the number of packs you have not smoked

·         Health milestone alerts and craving tips to stay motivated

·         Facebook and Twitter integration so you can update your friends when you’ve reach a milestone

·         Video diary features, and the ability to receive personalized video messages from loved ones

  

QuitGuide

By: National Cancer Institute  Platforms: iPhone and Android

This mobile app can help you prepare to quit smoking and support you in the days and weeks after you quit. It describes what problems you can expect when you quit smoking and includes interactive tips to keep you smoke free. With it you can save useful information in favorites and share what you’re reading via Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail

QuitStart

By: National Cancer Institute  Platforms: iPhone

The QuitSTART mobile app will kick-start your smoke free lifestyle. With it you can track cravings and moods and monitor your progress toward achieving smoke free milestones.  The app also allows you to identify your smoking triggers, and upload personalized “pick me ups” for support during challenging times.

Community Benefit:Opportunity for Public Health Hospital Collaborations

Community Benefit: An Opportunity for Public Health and Hospitals to Work Together

Recent changes in federal law have created an opportunity for hospitals, public health departments, and community groups to forge new partnerships and improve health. To maintain their tax-exempt status, nonprofit hospitals must provide benefits to the communities they serve. Historically, hospitals’ community benefit activities have focused on providing charity care and other forms of uncompensated care. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) establishes standard requirements for nonprofit hospitals concerning community benefit reporting, community health needs assessments, and strategies to improve the health of the communities they serve. These strategies for population health improvement have the potential to bring key partners together in communities to work toward identifying and addressing important health priorities.

 The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) summarizes recent changes in federal law pertaining to this community benefit in a new brief, What’s New with Community Benefit? The brief and related reports are available here.

 

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com,

2013 Active Living Research Conference

February 26-28, 2013, San Diego, California. Paradise Point Hotel

Active Living Research (ALR) invites you to the 10th annual conference in San Diego! The theme of the 2013 conference is Achieving Change Across Sectors: Integrating Research, Policy and Practice.

 The ALR conference is an opportunity to hear the latest evidence on policy and environmental strategies to increase physical activity. There are two tracks for the conference - research and practice. The agenda includes roundtable discussions, two energetic keynote speakers, oral and poster presentations on a wide variety of topics, interactive learning workshops, an engaging panel presentation, as well as many physical activity opportunities.

 Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com,

New Publications

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The American Lung Association has made the following issues briefs available on the “Tobacco Policy Reports and Resources” page on lung.org along with a number of other tobacco-related reports and issue briefs:

·         Big Tobacco’s Next Frontier: Sustaining Addiction and Hooking Kids with Other Tobacco Products looks at traditional other tobacco products, both products that are smoked and ones that are non-combustible, i.e. cigars and smokeless tobacco. It examines the public health problems these products pose and provides recommendations about how best to address these problems.

·         The Emergence of New Smokeless Tobacco Products examines the newer and novel smokeless tobacco products, i.e. snus and dissolvables, and provides an overview of what we know about the health risks of these products, and makes recommendations to address potential public health challenges related to them.

 

MMWR: Comprehensive Smoke-Free Laws – 50 Largest U.S. Cities - Significant progress has been achieved since 2000 in expanding comprehensive smoke-free policy coverage in the 50 largest U.S. cities, but 20 cities remain without full protection from secondhand smoke in private workplaces, restaurants and bars.

Meaningful Use and Tobacco Control

Public Comment Opportunity: Meaningful Use Stage 3 Draft Recommendations

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com,

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s (ONC) Health Information Technology Policy Committee (HITPC) has begun to develop Meaningful Use stage 3 recommendations. The Request for Comment (RFC)  includes the following sections: Meaningful Use Objectives and Measures, Quality Measures, and Privacy and Security. All commenters are encouraged to provide opinions regarding feasibility, and more importantly, experiences with how something has been done in order to promote advancement, while also ensuring it is achievable. Instructions for submitting comments can be found in the Federal Register. Click here to submit a comment via regulations.gov. Deadline for comments: January 14, 2013

Wondering what “Meaningful Use” is and why it matters? Federal law provides incentives to certain types of healthcare providers and hospitals for adopting electronic health record (EHR) technology and using it a meaningful way to capture and track health data, such as smoking status and tobacco cessation counseling. Click here for a quick introduction to Meaningful Use, or click here for examples from the field of how Meaningful Use is being implemented, FAQs, and links to other resources.

Public and multi-use Housing and Tobacco

Comment period reopened: Adopting smoke-free policies in public housing agencies and multifamily housing

Deadline EXTENDED to January 22, 2013 Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com,

The Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) has extended the deadline for the public to provide input on how HUD can best continue to support the adoption and implementation of smoke-free policies in public housing agencies and multifamily housing. HUD is seeking information on best practices and practical strategies from housing providers who have implemented smoke-free policies, ideas for overcoming potential obstacles to implementing a smoke-free policy and methods for supporting residents, and housing providers in transitioning to smoke-free housing. Click here to view HUD’s request for information in the Federal Register (Docket No. FR-5597-N-02 / Document Number: 2012- 28519), or click here to submit a formal comment. On regulations.gov, the docket number is HUD-2012-0103.

HRC Legacy Webinar on LGBT Tobacco Use

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com,

December 11, 2012 at 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time Legacy is joining forces with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to host a special Warner Series Lecture on December 11th, exploring the complex issues surrounding tobacco in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community. I

 

n 1995, R.J. Reynolds created a marketing campaign targeting gays titled Project SCUM. Since then, what role has Big Tobacco played in the high rates of tobacco use in LGBT communities? Why do LGBT Americans smoke in disproportionate numbers to the general population?  What initiatives have succeeded in reducing LGBT tobacco use? The discussion will address these questions and more as Legacy releases a new report, Tobacco Control in LGBT Communities.

The lecture will take place live at the HRC headquarters in Washington, DC, and can also be viewed via webcast. To attend in person, register. To participate via Webcast, http://contacts.americanlegacy.org/reaction/RSGenPage.asp?RSID=MlcCHnYmAIlP5ld14FikQynaRsKtdIrr8a0Hn2iHukw&utm_source=Legacy+eNews+-+November+2012&utm_campaign=November+2012+eNews&utm_medium=email

Position Listing Health Ed., Tobacco Treatment

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com,

Position Description- Provides culturally appropriate, evidence-based tobacco treatment services and education to CHA patients, staff, and community members within the CHA service area. The Educator also works as part of the CHA Tobacco Treatment Program team to support program promotion and recruitment, tracking, evaluation and other activities.

Qualifications and required experience:

·         Bachelor’s degree required.  Master’s degree in health related field strongly preferred.

·         Eligible for certification as a Massachusetts Tobacco Treatment Specialist within 12 months of hire required.

·         Verbal and written fluency in English required.  Fluency in Portuguese preferred.

·         Minimum 2-3 years experience providing health and/or mental health counseling and education with individuals and groups in clinical and community settings.

·         Previous experience with multi-cultural populations and mental health and addictions treatment preferred.

·         Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; relates respectfully and empathetically to a diverse patient populations including individuals with mental illness and substance abuse conditions, and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, other staff members, and the general public; communicates effectively to individuals and groups.

·         Knowledge of chronic conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and common mental health and substance abuse disorders. Familiarity with treatment and medication regimens for these conditions.

·         Strong desire to enhance patient, community and CHA staff’s knowledge and understanding of tobacco treatment and other tobacco related issues.

Position is full-time, with some evening hours required. Competitive salary and benefits.  Primary office space in Somerville, but candidate must be able to travel to sites throughout the CHA service area for program activities.

 

To apply:  If interested, please apply on-line at: www.challiance.org.  (Go to Careers, then current listings.  Search for Keywords = “Health Educator”). A full job description (“Community Health Educator II”) is posted on-line.  For more information about the position, contact Lisa Montuori Trimble, Department of Community Affairs, at 617-591-6942    lmontuoritrimble@challiance.org

Effective Advocacy Resource

If you haven’t seen it yet, National SOPHE has recently created a comprehensive guide to Effectively Educating State and Local Policy Makers.  It should be a nice resource for many of you.  Additionally, Ohio is highlighted in the Case Studies Chapter!   This chapter presents a variety of case studies featuring or in collaboration with health educators who participated in the SOPHE State Health Policy Institutes (SHPI).

 The case studies were carefully chosen for this guide to include SHPI participants who have been actively implementing their policy education action plans.  Congratulations to Heather Vilvens for submitting one of just 4 case studies to be included!

 The SHPI program was very selective, choosing just 44 participants over a 4 year period.  Ohio SHPI representatives include Kristen Frame, Heather Vilvens, Jennifer Scofield, Beth Canfield-Simbro.  Congratulations and thanks to all of all you for putting Ohio in the spotlight!  We are lucky to have so many public policy experts in the state!

 The guide is available at: http://www.sophe.org/CDP/Ed_Policymakers_Guide.cfm

Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com,

American Lung Assoc. Freedom from Smoking Facilitator Training

The American Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking Facilitator Training

January 10 and 11, 2013 at the American Lung Association in Nevada in Las Vegas
 Reposted at http://www.tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com,

The American Lung Association in Nevada is offering our Freedom From Smoking Facilitator Training for our adult smoking cessation program. 

The FFS program includes comprehensive behavior modification techniques, including Motivational Interviewing training, and deals with both the physical and psychological addictive nature of nicotine. The group setting provides a much needed support element, which is basic for anyone trying to quit.  The program has been proven effective for over 25 years in helping those who want to quit smoking to quit for good.  Through the ALA’s partnership with the Nevada Tobacco Users Helpline, the Helpline provides limited nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to eligible FFS participants and we will discuss NRT referral protocol as part of the training.  Included in the training is practice in performing a brief intervention for tobacco use.

This 12 hour training costs $350.00 ($245.00 non-profit rate). The training includes the facilitator manual and participants are eligible to be certified as an American Lung Association Freedom From Smoking Facilitator once they have facilitated one Freedom From Smoking program.  Our trainer is Richard Davis, an experienced Freedom From Smoking facilitator and trainer.  We will brown bag for lunch.  Please bring your own hot beverages. 

Please complete the attached confidential registration form and return by mail to ALAN, 3552 W. Cheyenne Ave., Ste. 130, North Las Vegas, NV 89032.  Fax to 702-431-6630.  Or e-mail rdavis@lungnevada.org.  Register online at

 http://action.lungusa.org/site/PageNavigator/Freedom_From_Smoking_Facilitator_Training.html

 Payment is due on day of training.  Make checks payable to the American Lung Association in Nevada.  For more information, please call Richard Davis at 702-431-6348.