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ASH News and Events Bulletin - 16-31 July 2011

HEADLINES

EVENTS

  • Call for councils to remove £1bn in pension funds from tobacco firms

    Doctors claim that councils are profiting from deaths through smoking by investing tens of millions of pounds of their pension funds in tobacco firms.

    They spoke out after a freedom of information request by a health campaigner in the South West of England revealed that local authorities in that region have made investments of £103.8m in tobacco firms.

    Cornwall council has the most: £24.5m in Imperial Tobacco, Altria Group and British American Tobacco. Devon county council has £20.8m, Gloucestershire holds £16.8m and Dorset has £14.7m.

    Dr Gabriel Scally, the NHS regional director of public health for the South West said, "I am shocked by the size and extent of the South West local government pension investments in the tobacco industry and I am sure many of those contributing to the funds, as well as those receiving local government pensions, will be as well."

    Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of science and ethics at the BMA said, "It’s sad organisations are continuing to invest in tobacco, given that it shortens people's lives. Obviously, it's up to them what they do, but it would be good to see their employees putting pressure on them to invest elsewhere."

    Source: The Guardian - 17 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/q4iLx0

  • Colombia bans sales of loose cigarettes, tobacco adverts

    A ban on sales of loose cigarettes and tobacco advertising was implemented in Colombia on 21 July.

    The clampdown is part of an anti-tobacco law approved by Congress in June 2009, following a ban on smoking in enclosed public places in May 2008.

    Cigarettes can now only be sold in packets of 10 or more and tobacco companies are no longer allowed to advertise, including on foreign TV channels broadcasting in the country.

    All cigarette packets must also carry health warnings.

    Source: Yahoo!/AFP - 22 July 2011
    Link: http://yhoo.it/qKq2dd

  • Drug firm admits smoking vaccine is a failure

    A pharmaceutical company developing a vaccine for nicotine addiction has said the drug has failed to meet expectations.

    Nabi Biopharmaceuticals said that its experimental NicVax did not meet its main goal in a late-stage test. Only about 11 per cent of patients who were treated with NicVAX managed to quit smoking. The year-long study involved 1,000 patients. Quitting was self-reported by patients and also measured biologically.

    The study was part of the last of three stages of clinical trials generally required for U.S. regulatory approval. Despite the disappointment Nabi is pressing ahead with more tests on the anti-smoking vaccine.

    Source: Daily Mail - 19 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/pGsrG2

  • El Salvador congress overrides president’s veto, approves ban on smoking in public places

    El Salvador’s congress has overridden a veto by President Mauricio Funes and approved a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces.

    The law explicitly bans smoking in work places, public transport and public areas where children gather.

    It also bans the sale of single cigarettes and requires health warnings on cigarette packs.

    Source: Washington Post - 22 July 2011
    Link: http://wapo.st/qfxB4L

  • EU Commission: report on the consultation on tobacco products Directive

    The European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Consumers has published the results of the public consultation on the upcoming revision of the Tobacco Products Directive. The public consultation generated an unprecedented 85 000 responses. The vast majority of contributions came from individual citizens, illustrating the great interest in EU tobacco control policy. Other respondents represented industry, non-governmental organisations, governments and public authorities.

    The public consultation on the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive was launched last autumn in which respondents were asked to give their input on a number of policy options such as:

    Mandatory pictorial health warnings – or graphic images - on packs of tobacco;

    Plain or generic packaging;

    Regulating harmful and attractive substances in tobacco products; and

    Restricting or banning the sale of tobacco products over the internet and from vending machines.

    The outcome of the public consultation will serve as input to the ongoing process of reviewing the Tobacco Products Directive.

    Many participants provided very detailed responses, some of which included new sources of information. Much of this work will be taken into account in the ongoing impact assessment addressing the economic, social and health impacts as well as the legal feasibility of different policy options. The outcome of this analysis will be presented together with the legislative proposal, which is due during the course of next year.

    See also:

    - Report summarising the public consultation on the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive

    (links to further relevant documents are available by clicking on the link below)

    Source: Wired-gov - 28 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/nc3wC4

  • Ghana parliament discusses tobacco bill

    A long-delayed tobacco bill has passed its first reading by the Ghanaian parliament. The bill was sent to the Health Select Committee for final amendments. It is tipped to pass into law when the Ghanaian parliament reconvenes on October 25th 2011.

    Provisions of the tobacco bill include a total ban on smoking in indoor and outdoor public places, and a total ban on tobacco advertisements, promotion and sponsorships. Also included are the prohibition of people under 21 to purchase or sell tobacco products, and the provisions of pictorial warnings covering a minimum of 70% of tobacco products packaging.

    Source: GhanaWeb - 31 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/pEIEdH

  • Global anti-smoking campaigns urgently needed

    Mass-media campaigns about the harms of tobacco can induce quitting and prevent young people from taking up the habit, especially if implemented as part of a comprehensive tobacco-control programme. In many developed countries, anti-tobacco public-education campaigns have been a regular feature of these efforts. As a consequence, basic awareness of the harms is high although many users are still unaware of the full extent of their risk.

    [requires subscription]

    Source: The Lancet - 08 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/qVFRBo

  • Ireland: Smoking in cars may soon be banned, says Health Minister

    The Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, has said the Government is considering banning smoking in cars.

    Dr Reilly said he was “in favour of legislating in this area” but added the public would need persuading first. He was responding to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fail parliamentarian Sean Fleming.

    A spokeswoman for the Department of Health confirmed that officials were examining two possible scenarios. One would be a ban on smoking if children under 16 were present. If this was considered unworkable, a blanket ban on smoking in private cars would be considered.

    Source: The Irish Times - 27 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/pm8hJ9

  • Love, loss.... and a smoking gun: the harm a lifetime of smoking can do

    Former High Road actress Tamara Kennedy tells the moving story of her mother and father's agonising battles with cancer and reveals her fears for a daughter who still smokes despite it all
     

    Source: The Scotsman - 29 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/nHtQnH

  • Parliamentary question: Breaches of the smoking ban in public places

    Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people were convicted last year of breaching the smoking ban.


    The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): 78 persons were found guilty at all courts in England and Wales for smoking in a smoke free place in 2010.

    The figures given on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

    Court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in the spring of 2012.

    Source: Hansard - 20 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/pIXNfL

  • Higher cigarette prices spark earnings rise for BAT

    British American Tobacco raised its cigarette prices in the first half of 2011 to offset declining underlying volumes helping the group to beat forecasts with a 10 percent rise in half year earnings.

    BAT, the world's second-biggest cigarette maker and most globally spread of the big tobacco groups, said its ability to raise prices even in low growth markets put it in good shape for growth for 2011.

    Source: The London Evening Standard - 27 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/ppHVNl

  • Imperial Tobacco profits rise but volumes fall

    Imperial Tobacco Group PLC has said that emerging market demand boosted tobacco sales, but the maker of Gauloises Blondes and JPS cigarettes nonetheless recorded a fall in overall volumes as the slowdown in mature markets continued.

    Imperial is focused on building its position in developing economies such as Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia to offset a weaker performance in developed markets where consumers are struggling with tough economic conditions.

    Smokers in developed markets are switching to low-cost brands in the face of dented discretionary income as governments impose austerity measures such as tax hikes and public spending cuts to rein in borrowing.

    The Bristol-based company has offset falling sales with price rises which have helped maintain and build margins in markets like Western Europe and the U.S., where volumes are either in long-term decline or at best flat.

    The world's fourth-largest global tobacco group by revenue said it is trading in line with expectations and posted a 2% rise in global tobacco sales in the nine months to June 30
     

    Source: Market Watch - 26 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/rmi1al

  • R.J. Reynolds sues e-cigarette websites

    The intellectual property holding company for R.J. Reynolds has filed two trademark lawsuits in North Carolina against online retailers selling liquid nicotine products.

    The suits allege that the web sites sell products bearing the images of their famous Camel and Winston marks.

    Source: Domain Names Wire - 21 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/ouhDl5

  • Tobacco farmers in transition to sustainability

    Various contrary economic and social factors are pushing African tobacco growers to move towards different cultures.  Lesley Lammers explores the different ways in which this transition is happening.

    [this article contains videos]

    Source: Triple Pundit - 31 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/p9rvTj

  • USA: Big tobacco spent over $100m on Californian politics in past decade

    Over the past decade, “Big Tobacco” spent over $100 million to influence elections and legislative policy in California, according to a report, Tobacco Money in California Politics. 

    $9.3 million was spent on campaign contributions and lobbying during the 2009-2010 election cycle. 48 percent of California’s state legislators — 59 members out of 122 — have received campaign contributions from the tobacco industry (a total that was the same in previous election cycles). More than $62 million was spent to oppose Proposition 86, a 2006 ballot initiative that would have increased California’s tobacco tax by $2.60 a pack, to pay for pay for “additional hospital funding, health coverage of children, nursing education, anti-smoking education programs, and funding for nonprofit clinics.” Proposition 86 lost by a narrow margin.

    Further, Philip Morris USA Inc. alone spent more than $750,000 on lobbying from April to June of 2009, the second quarter of that year: This was a “record amount for lobbying expenditures in one quarter by any tobacco interest over the last decade,” according to a press release from the American Lung Association

    Read the full report, Tobacco Money in California Politics, at the Center For Tobacco Policy and Organizing.

    Source: Care2 - 20 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/pcGccz

  • What does Imperial Tobacco do with its free cash?

    Many companies talk about the ways they enhance shareholder value by returning cash through dividends or stock buybacks, but investors shouldn't just take the company's word for it.

    This article, which focuses on Imperial Tobacco, investigates how companies spent free cash flow over the past five years.

    Source: The Motley Fool - 14 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/o2jwOI

  • Ethnic minorities and smoking

    Abstract
    Findings from the Health Surveys for England indicate that Bangladeshi and Black Caribbean men report higher current smoking rates than other men, while white and Black Caribbean women smoke more frequently than other women. Deprivation explains differences in current smoking rates between Bangladeshi and Black Caribbean, and white English men. The smoking rates of Pakistani men and Black Caribbean women were significantly lower than those of white English people after adjusting for socio-economic status. The smoking rates of white English, Black Caribbean and Pakistani men and Black Caribbean women appear more stable over time than those of other groups.

    Karlsen, S., et al., Investigating ethnic differences in current cigarette smoking over time using the health surveys for England, European Journal of Public Health. 2011 Jul 12. [Epub ahead of print]

     

    Source: Oxford Journals - 12 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/quddoN

  • Impact of smoking in cars

    Abstract

    The health risks associated with second hand smoke (SHS) are well-known. However, little is known about exposure to SHS in cars and risk of smoking uptake. This paper investigates the association between pre-adolescents reported exposure to smoking in cars and prevalence of early stage smoking activity. Data from Keeping Kids Smokefree baseline surveys of students were used to investigate smoking status and reported exposure to smoking in cars. Log binomial regression analyses were used to investigate if reported exposure to SHS in cars was associated with smoking prevalence. 83% of 5676 students invited took part. After controlling for all variables reported exposure to smoking in cars and homes were significantly associated with increased risk of initiated smoking (RR 1.87, 95% CI 1.43-2.44, and RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.13 - 1.97, respectively). Exposure to smoking in cars was substantially and significantly associated with risk of current smoking (RR 3.21, 95% CI 1.45 - 7.08). Early smoking uptake is associated with students’ reported exposure to smoking in cars which confirms the importance of protecting children from SHS. Smoking in cars is under parental control and therefore modifiable. Moreover, children's reports of SHS exposure offer a simple way of identifying families who can be targeted for tobacco control interventions. 

    Glover, M., et al., Driving kids to smoke? Children's reported exposure to smoke in cars and early smoking initiation, Addictive Behaviors, Article in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 22 June 2011. 

    Source: Science Direct - 22 June 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/qKP91q

  • Religious attitude and smoking in Turkey

    Abstract

    Background Tobacco control effort should be first started in people that are looked upon as role models for the general population. We aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of religious officials towards smoking and the new tobacco law.

    Method The study group was comprised of 492 Imams and 149 Quran course instructors working in Kahramanmaras city of Turkey, 641 religious officials in total, and our survey form was applied on 406 (63.3%) of those religious officials who agreed to participate in the study.

    Results Twenty-eight (6.9%) participants were current smokers and 35 (8.6%) were ex-smokers. 99.8% of the religious officials believed that smoking was harmful and/or prohibited in terms of religion. While 43.6% respondents thought smoking was "haram" (forbidden by islam), 56.2% believed it was "makruh" (something regarded as reprehensible, though not forbidden by God according to Islam). 85.2% of the participants were aware of the recent tobacco law. 55.5% of the respondents, who were aware of the recent tobacco law, evaluated their knowledge level on the law as adequate, whereas 44.5% evaluated it as inadequate. 92.4% of the participants noted that religious officials should play active roles in tobacco control effort.

    Conclusion Smoking rate among religious officials is much lower than that of general public. In order to help religious officials to take a more active role on this issue, they should be trained on the subject and appropriate platforms should be established.

    Sucakli, M., et al., Religious Officials' knowledge, attitude, and behavior towards smoking and the new tobacco law in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, BMC Public Health 2011, 11:602doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-602

    Source: Biomedcentral - 28 June 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/pP8brz

  • Secondhand smoking and mental health of children

    Abstract

    Objective To examine a potential association between biologically confirmed secondhand smoke exposure and symptoms of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) (DSM-IV) major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and conduct disorder using a nationally representative sample of US children and adolescents.

    Design Nationally representative cross-sectional survey of the United States.

    Setting Continental United States.

    Participants Children and adolescents aged 8 to 15 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001 to 2004.

    Intervention Measurement of serum cotinine level to assess secondhand smoke exposure among nonsmokers.

    Main Outcome Measures The DSM-IV symptoms were derived from selected modules of the National Institute of Mental Health's Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV, a structured diagnostic interview administered by trained lay interviewers.

    Results Among nonsmokers, serum cotinine level was positively associated with symptoms of DSM-IV major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and conduct disorder after adjusting for survey design, age, sex, race/ethnicity, poverty, migraine, asthma, hay fever, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and allostatic load. Associations with serum cotinine level were more apparent for boys and for participants of non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity.

    Conclusions Our results are consistent with a growing body of research documenting an association between secondhand smoke exposure and mental health outcomes. Future research is warranted to establish the biological or psychological mechanisms of association. 

    Bandiera, F., Et al., Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Mental Health Among Children and Adolescents, Archives of Pediatris and Adolescent Medecine. 2011;165(4):332-338. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.30

    See also:
    - Could Secondhand Smoke Exposure Harm the Mental Health of Children? Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medecine.
     

    Source: JAMA - 04 April 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/nHgrjy

  • Smoking in films and Scottish youth

    Abstract
    Background Evidence of high exposure of UK youth to images of smoking in films has led to calls for an 18 rating for films with smoking to reduce smoking in youth. However, the only study to date in the UK to test for an association showed no relation between film-smoking exposure and smoking among young adults.

    Objective To assess whether there is an association between exposure to film images of smoking and own smoking among UK adolescents and whether repeated viewings of films has an impact.

    Design Cross-sectional study.

    Participants 1999 pupils aged 15–16 years from 13 Scottish schools.

    Outcome Smoked tobacco in the past year.

    Exposure measure Film-smoking exposure was assessed using the Beach method; account for repeated viewings of films was then used to modify estimated exposure. Covariates included: media usage, parental restriction on and context of TV/film viewing, family connectedness, parental monitoring and friends' smoking.

    Results Most (71%) students had not smoked in the past year. About half reported no parental restrictions on TV/film viewing. Many reported repeated viewings of films; accounting for this more than doubled exposure estimates and strengthened the association with smoking. Adolescents with high exposure to film smoking were more likely to have smoked than those with low exposure (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.08, 95% CI 1.22 to 3.55). Additionally, adolescents who reported parental rules about TV/film watching were less likely to smoke (AOR 0.37 (0.27 to 0.52)) than those who did not. Adolescents who mainly watched films with friends had higher exposure to film smoking and were more likely to smoke (AOR 2.19 (1.10 to 4.38)).

    Conclusions Exposure to film smoking is associated with smoking among Scottish adolescents. These data lend support to calls for an 18 rating for films with images of smoking.

    Hunt, K., et al., Exposure to smoking in films and own smoking among Scottish adolescents: a cross-sectional study, Thorax, doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2011-200095

    Source: BMJ - 15 July 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/pv0Nxz

Events

  • Health and Wellbeing – the 21st Century Agenda

    The second international conference organised by the journal Public Health is taking as its theme health and wellbeing. The conference will explore the relationships between health, wellbeing and the factors which influence them in a global environment. 


    website

    Date: 08 September 2011
    Venue: Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ
    Contact: crobins@rsph.org.uk

  • UN Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases

    The Summit will focus on the four most prominent non-communicable diseases, namely, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. The aim of the summit is to agree on a global strategy to address NCDs.

    There will be a High-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on the prevention and control of Non-communicable Diseases (19-20 September 2011), while Non-communicable disease indicators are on the agenda for discussion during the Millennium Development Goals Review Session (20-22 September 2011).

    Date: 19 September 2011
    Venue: New York City, USA
    Contact: http://bit.ly/dOgoW4

  • Working together to reduce health inequalities

    This half-day briefing will explore the implications, risks and opportunities involved in the practical application of the Department of Health’s Healthy Lives white paper, published in December 2010, with regards to understanding and reducing health inequalities.
     

    Date: 23 September 2011
    Venue: ORT House Conference Centre, London NW1
    Contact: http://www.pavpub.com/p-399-working-together-to-reduce-health-inequalities.aspx

  • 14th European Health Forum Gastein

    The EHFG has developed into a key annual event, bringing together, politicians, senior decision-makers, representatives of interest groups, and experts coming from government and administration, business and industry, civil society and science and academia.

    Date: 05 October 2011
    Venue: Salzburg, Austria
    Contact: http://www.ehfg.org/registration.html?&L=0

  • Study day at Royal Marsden Hospital: It's never too late to stop

    The day covers Smoking and the impact on cancer treatment and how to support cancer patients and their families to stop smoking.

    Date: 07 October 2011
    Venue: Royal Marsden Hospital
    Contact: www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/studydays or call: (0044) 020 78082924

  • Tobacco and Alcohol: Learning From Each Other Conference

    Cigarette smoking is highly prevalent among people with alcohol use disorders. People who are dependent on alcohol are more likely than those in the general population to be smokers, and people who are dependent on tobacco are more likely than the general population to be dependent on alcohol. Alcohol use problems are associated with higher levels of nicotine dependence and a lower likelihood of smoking cessation. More alcoholics die of tobacco-related illness than die of alcohol-related problems. The link between alcohol and tobacco has important implications for those in the alcohol and smoking cessation treatment and policy fields. The conference is an opportunity to learn from each other and to present new models and ways of working.

    Date: 12 October 2011
    Venue: Parc Thistle Hotel, Cardiff
    Contact: http://www.ashwales.org.uk/conference-registration/

  • Tobacco science at ICAA 54th International Conference on Dependencies

    Plenary sessions with keynote speakers of international renown will address major themes, most of them having a general, non-substance-specific nature covering aspects relevant to matters regarding alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

    On Monday 14th November one plenary session will deal with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. (Presenters: Deborah Arnott, Director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) UK,  Prof. Robert West, Professor of Health Psychology and Director of Tobacco Studies. University College London

    On Wednesday 16th November there will be Major sessions including four presentations with tobacco-specific content: 
    Harm reduction 
    Prof Ann McNeil, Professor in Health Policy and Promotion, Deputy Director of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies. Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham. UK

    Pharmacological and non-pharmacological features of Substance Dependence : comparisons between alcohol/drugs/tobacco
    Karl Olov Fagerstrom PhD, Fagerstrom Consulting, Helsingborg, Sweden

    Scientific basis for tobacco product regulation
    Lars Ramström PhD, Institute for Tobacco Studies, Stockholm, Sweden

    Tobacco control policies
    Deborah Arnott, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), London, UK

    SESSIONS OF THE ICAA SECTION ON TOBACCO DEPENDENCE 
    All participants are encouraged to submit abstracts of contributed papers for oral presentation in the sessions of the ICAA Section on Tobacco Dependence. We welcome presentations dealing with any aspect of tobacco science and control (research, prevention, treatment, policy etc). 


     

    Date: 13 November 2011
    Venue: British Medical Association's Conference Centre, BMA House, London
    Contact: www.icaa.ch/london/

  • Fiftieth anniversary of RCP report on smoking and health

    To mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of its first report on Smoking and Health in 1962, the Royal College of Physicians is organising a one-day conference.

    Date: 06 March 2012
    Venue: Royal College of Physicians
    Contact: http://events.rcplondon.ac.uk/details.aspx?e=2497

  • 15th World Conference on Tobacco or Health

    The premier, international conference on tobacco control attracts thousands of academics, practitioners, non-government organisations and public officials. 

    Date: 20 March 2012
    Venue: Singapore
    Contact: http://wctoh2012.org