E-cigarette sales in jails

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

In Tennessee, an e-cigarette brand called CROSS BAR is being sold in at least one county jail to raise funds for local jails (read more, and watch a video clip here: Mid-state jail turns to electronic cigarettes to raise money), with another county sheriff proposing the idea to policymakers this week as a way to raise revenues to increase jail officers’ pay (read more here). This brand is made for inmates-no metal all plastic, and the vendor is marketing to jailers.

Given the potential financial gain to the county from the e-cigarette sales, we anticipate that raising concerns about potential legal liabilities to the county may be a strong argument, in addition to educating policymakers regarding the individual and population health risks of e-cigarettes.

Tennessee would like to know: Have any other states heard of state or county jailers selling e-cigarettes?

• Have counties that are selling e-cigarettes in jails seen any legal exposure or liability (e.g. from selling an unregulated device)? Similarly, are there any pending lawsuits by prisoners against counties that have sold e-cigarettes to prisoners?
• Please tell us about your experiences, if you’re aware of a state or county that has encountered a similar situation, or share any other resources or suggestions about how to respond.

This request is part of the Tobacco Control Network's (TCN) Help Your Peers service. If you have any information to share, or have a contact who would be able to respond, please reply to the TCN staff at tcn@sph.emory.edu by August 23, 2013. 

Seeking Tobacco / behavioral health campaign materials

Dear Tobacco Control Network members:
Please see below for a Help Your Peers request we are distributing on behalf of one of our national partners.

Tobacco / behavioral health campaign materials

Deadline: June 13, 2013
Abt Associates is working on behalf of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the federal agency focused to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities, to identify and examine existing media campaigns for youth and young adults on tobacco prevention and cessation and behavioral health (mental health- such as depression, anxiety, ADHD or substance use disorders).  From initial reviews, there are limited campaigns/messaging for tobacco and behavioral health (mental health/substance use disorders) and youth, so we are welcoming tobacco prevention and cessation materials that we can test with a behavioral health youth audience.   

Please tell us about any state or local campaigns or educational materials of any type with messages on tobacco prevention/cessation and behavioral health targeting 12-25 year olds that you are aware of. If available, please provide sample materials that can be reviewed in support of formative research for future media campaign planning. Messages that have been tested that tested well with this youth target audience are appreciated; if the materials or messages have not been formally tested, that is ok also. If we use your organization’s materials, we will let you know ahead of testing that we’re using their messages/products and share the results of the formative testing we do with them.

Also, please tell us about any messages or campaigns that target parents of youth ages 12-17 for tobacco prevention and cessation. Whether or not the messages focus on behavioral health, these examples may be useful to inform development of messages tailored for behavioral health.

Thank you,
The Tobacco Control Network (TCN)
tcn@sph.emory.edu • www.ttac.org/TCN

**Please note that all responses sent to the TCN will be provided to the respective question submitter. With permission, responses will be posted in the Help Your Peers Archives on the TCN website.**

About Help Your Peers:
Although every tobacco prevention and control program is unique, states and territories share many of the same challenges and opportunities. The Help Your Peers listserv is a resource available to Tobacco Control Network participants that enables them to ask each other questions and to share information based on their knowledge and experience. Visit www.ttac.org/tcn/peers to view responses to past inquiries and learn more about this TCN service. Submit a question by e-mailing your inquiry to the TCN staff at tcn@sph.emory.edu.
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About the Tobacco Control Network:
The TCN’s mission is to improve the public’s health by providing education and state-based expertise to tobacco prevention and control at the state and national levels. Click here to learn more about the TCN. Feel free to forward this communication or encourage others to subscribe directly by emailing the TCN staff.

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