HEADLINES

• Australia: Sydney apartment block goes smokefree
• Different genes influence smoking risk during adolescence and adulthood
• Scotland’s disparity in smoke-related deaths
• Australia: Social network sites to help fight smoking
• Canada: Newfoundland bans smoking in cars with children

• Australia: Sydney apartment block goes smokefree

  A small block of flats in Sydney has made history by becoming the first residential building in Australia to ban smoking inside all residents' homes.

  The unit owners have introduced a bylaw to stop anyone smoking anywhere within the building and on its balconies.

  Owners of the building in Ashfield introduced a bylaw to stop anyone smoking anywhere within the building and on its balconies, following complaints about smoke drifting into neighbouring flats, and butts dropped from balconies

  Alex Antic, chairman of the owners' corporation said, "We've made it a smokefree zone in its entirety."

  He added, "The right for people to smoke has to be balanced with other people's rights to clean and fresh air in their own home. Smoking isn't just a nuisance, either; it has serious health effects."

  Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, 02 April 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/eanKbo

• Different genes influence smoking risk during adolescence and adulthood

  Researchers have found that teenagers carrying variants in two gene regions were three times more likely to become regular smokers in adolescence and twice as likely to be persistent smokers in adulthood, compared to non-carriers.

  The study, published in Biological Psychiatry, found that variation in a set of dopamine-related genes was associated with a person's risk of starting smoking, and these genes had a stronger impact on smoking initiation in adolescents than in adults. Individuals carrying the risk variants had a 1.3-fold increased risk of starting smoking in their teenage years.

  The researchers say the findings could help develop genetic testing for those wishing to know their susceptibility to nicotine dependence and tobacco-related disease. It could also pave the way for targeted drugs that influence an individual's response to nicotine. However, further research is necessary before these goals could be implemented.

  Source: Science Daily, 01 April 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/f9GoUn

• Scotland’s disparity in smoke-related deaths

  ASH Scotland has called on Scotland's political parties to make reducing health inequalities and tackling smoking key parts of their public health strategies ahead of next month's election.

  More than four people out of ten in Scotland's most deprived areas smoke, compared to less than one in ten in the best off. Almost a third of deaths in the most deprived areas are due to smoking, compared to 15 per cent in the most affluent – with a similar pattern for tobacco-related diseases.

  Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland said she was encouraged by the feedback from politicians so far. “I think it’s time we had a new strategy – the first tobacco action plan was published six years ago and yes, it has been successful, but we need a new comprehensive approach going forward.”

  She said, such a tobacco control strategy would have “clear goals, challenging targets, and a robust evaluation programme".

  Source: Caledonian Mercury, 04 April 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/gcG5UV

• Australia: Social network sites to help fight smoking

  A new wave of anti smoking messages, as part of a programme to stop teenagers taking up the habit will target young Facebook, Twitter and MySpace users.

  New research on mass media intervention for the prevention of smoking among young people found that existing media techniques were trapped in communications strategies dating back to the 1980's which include billboards, television and radio advertising.

  Researcher Kristin Carson said addiction to nicotine usually began in adolescence and people had difficulty quitting later in life. Facebook is the newest emerging medium that young people are especially involved in and something that they enjoy doing. Children spend 22,000 hours of their lifetime on social media sites. It really is the way of the future in what we should be doing in mass media intervention."

  Source: The Western Australian, 04 April 2011
  Link: http://yhoo.it/gUd4FN

• Canada: Newfoundland bans smoking in cars with children

  Newfoundland has passed a bill which bans smoking in a car with children. But Alberta has put on hold legislation that would ban smoking in a car when children are present.
  
  Health and Wellness Minister, Gene Zwozdesky, said that they are looking into the matter. Zwozdesky said that they are reviewing how the ban has worked in other jurisdictions. He said they are also reviewing Alberta municipalities who have passed similar local bans.
  
  Les Hagen from Action on Smoking and Health said only Alberta and Quebec do not currently have legislation banning smoking in cars with children.

  Source: TopNews United States, 04 April 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/gZ94UI