Tobacco News

Japan Tobacco is to launch redesigned versions of seven of its popular Pianissimo brand of cigarettes in mid-January.
Pianissimo is the top-selling brand in Japan’s 100mm slim menthol category and has proven particularly popular among female smokers for what Japan’s largest tobacco company says is a “smooth, unassertive and refreshing menthol flavour and aroma.”

Smoking rates are declining in Japan, although they remain higher for both men and women than in Europe and North America. Ream more »

Despite regulations and health education, tobacco companies continue to thrive. Tobacco products are easily available to kids. According to the CDC, each day in the United States, approximately 3,450 young people between 12 and 17 years of age smoke their first cigarette, and an estimated 850 youth become daily cigarette smokers.
Through the efforts of our Chippewa County communities, sales to minors in 2002 were at 44 percent and have since dropped to an impressive 1 percent in 2011. A comprehensive community approach to the prevention of illegal tobacco sales to minors has proven to be effective over the past 10 years. Ream more »

Anti-smoking advocates may finally be on the verge of getting a stronger statewide smoking ban passed by the General Assembly.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in both the Senate and House is pushing to ban smoking in most public places and workplaces, including bars. The only exemptions it includes are the gambling floors of casinos and pari-mutuel betting parlors, private clubs and cigar and hookah bars. Various forms of a smoking ban have passed the House five times, only to die in the Senate. But with Gov. Mitch Daniels throwing his weight behind the idea this time, supporters are crossing their fingers that this is finally the year.
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A new study suggests cigarette smokers who quit after using over-the-counter medication such as nicotine patches are just as likely to relapse as smokers who go “cold turkey,” casting fresh doubt on the effectiveness of such products.

The finding, from a survey of several hundred smokers, could heighten U.S. smoking-policy debates at a time when the federal health-care overhaul is widening eligibility for cessation medication but states are slashing funding for public-service announcements and telephone quit lines. Ream more »

Miley Cyrus is doing a great job with her New Year’s resolution. The teen queen is reportedly trying to quit smoking—or at least cut back on the amount of cigarettes she smokes. According to a source, she’s doing really well with it.”So far so good. She probably smokes half the amount she once smoked. She was, at one point, like a chain smoker, which is no longer the case,” shared a source. It’s great that Miley has decided to cut back on smoking. While it may be perfectly acceptable (socially) to have a cigarette once in a while, chronic smoking is beyond bad for your health. Ream more »

The woman was a mess. Because she was shaking and crying so hard, she was barely coherent enough to answer questions about the events of the last hour. And it had been a pretty nasty one.

As the details finally emerged, I learned that four armed men had entered her residence and threatened harm to the woman and her sleeping children. They took cash, property and, she added almost as an afterthought, her marijuana. Specifically, they had taken her medicinal marijuana grow operation, about fifteen plants in all. Ream more »

Efforts are under way around the state to limit the placement of candy-flavored tobacco products that might entice young people to pick up the smoking habit. On Tuesday, the Safe Climate Coalition of Lake County will get an update on the issue from Melaine Chin, health-education program consultant for the Lake County Health Department’s Tobacco Prevention Program. Ream more »

Perhaps one of the most common new year’s resolutions is “I’m going to quit smoking.”

But as many have probably come to find, actually going through with quitting can be much more difficult that just talking about it. For any who feels like they need a little help in this area, the Mason County Health Department will be offering a free smoking cessation class from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Health Department. Ream more »

What is really serious about the phenomenon is that most shisha smokers wrongfully take to the hubble-bubble thinking that it poses only “light” health risks compared to the serious health-related complications of cigarette smoking.

Medical experts have warned that shisha has a more perilous impact on health compared to cigarette smoking. They say most shisha smokers have a misconception based on a wrongful and unscientific notion that tobacco used in shisha is herbal and does not affect body organs.
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Veteran anti-smoking advocate Prakit Vathesatogkit was recently elected secretary-general of the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations. He talks to APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL about his work and challenges in advancing health promotion activities around the world.
What is the INHPF’s mission?

Prakit: Finance is the biggest battle Ream more »