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ASH News and Events Bulletin - 16 - 30 November 2011

HEADLINES

EVENTS

  • Australia: Plain packaging laws passed

    The Federal Government's plain packaging laws for cigarettes have passed both houses of Parliament but are facing their first legal challenge.

    The Senate agreed to the legislation earlier in November but made a number of amendments, including to the start date, and sent the legislation back to the Lower House.

    The House of Representatives have now voted to support the changes. The legislation means cigarettes will have to be sold in plain packaging from December next year, six months later than the original time frame.

    Source: ABC News, 21 November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/s80JTe

  • California criticised for low spending on anti-smoking programs

    California is being criticized by a national health coalition for its relatively low level of spending on smoking prevention.

    In a new nationwide report, The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids says that California ranks 22nd in the nation by spending just 15.8 percent of what the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends on smoking prevention.

    Source: The Sacramento Bee, 30 November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/spzGOI

  • Cigarette safety standards tightened across EU

    In an attempt to cut the number of people killed in house fires cigarettes sold in the EU must now meet a reduced ignition propensity (RIP) requirement. Cigarette paper must have special bands at intervals down its length so that, once lit, a cigarette will go out if it is not actively smoked.

     

    Source: BBC News, 17 November 2011
    Link: http://bbc.in/vYyxiQ

  • Tobacco firm gave thousands of pounds worth of hospitality to nine MPs who opposed smoking bill

    The parliamentary register of members’ interests shows that MPs who received thousands of pounds worth of hospitality from one of the world’s largest tobacco companies opposed a new law banning smoking in cars.

    Japan Tobacco International, which produces Benson & Hedges, Silk Cut and Camel cigarettes, spent £23,000 entertaining 20 MPs in the past six months.

    Almost half of them voted against a Ten Minute Rule Bill banning smoking in cars carrying children.

    Source: Daily Mail, 23 November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/tbdER8

  • USA: Obama administration appeals cigarette warning ruling

    The Obama administration is appealing against  U.S. District Judge, Richard Leon's ruling and injuction, which aims to stop tobacco companies from having to display graphic images on cigarette packs and advertisting.

    In June the Food and Drug Administration released nine new warnings to go into effect in September 2012, the first change in U.S. cigarette warning labels in 25 years. The warnings are required to cover the top half of the front and back of cigarette packs.

     

    Source: International Business Times, 30 November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/rDqOvT

  • Question: Smoking in private motor vehicles

    Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to bring about behaviour change amongst parents smoking around children in cars; how his Department plans to evaluate whether such steps are changing parents' behaviour; and whether his Department will bring forward legislative proposals if behaviour change is not successful.

    Anne Milton (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Public Health), Health; Guildford, Conservative): In March, we published the “Tobacco Control Plan for England”, which sets out our plans to help drive down smoking rates and reduce the harms from tobacco over the next five years. This plan includes our commitment to launch a national marketing campaign, planned for spring 2012, to remind smokers of the risks of exposing children and adults to second hand smoke and to encourage them to stop smoking in their homes and cars when children are present. We will evaluate the impact of the campaign on smokers' behaviour.

    Rather than extending smokefree legislation, we want people to recognise the risks of second hand smoke and decide voluntarily to make their cars and homes smokefree.

    A copy of the “Tobacco Control Plan for England” has already been placed in the Library.

    Source: Hansard, 24 November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/uJK9BN

  • Question: Smoking in Cars

    Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department plans to spend on campaigns to reduce smoking in cars in the presence of children in each of the next three years.

    Anne Milton (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Public Health), Health; Guildford, Conservative): £15 million has been allocated for tobacco control marketing and communications activity during 2011-12. The Department is currently developing a national campaign to remind smokers of the harms of second hand smoke and to encourage them to change their behaviour to protect children and non-smokers. This activity is planned to run in spring 2012 and the exact budget for this campaign has not yet been confirmed. Marketing budgets have not been agreed beyond March 2012.

     

    Source: Hansard, 15 November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/vtTPkL

  • Question: Smoking cessation

    Andrew Rosindell (Romford, Conservative): To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on smoking cessation.

    Anne Milton (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Public Health), Health; Guildford, Conservative): The Public Health White Paper ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England’ (cm 7985) sets out the Government's long-term vision for improving public health in England. The White Paper, which is available in the Library, recognises the devastating impact that tobacco use has on public health in our communities.

    Following on from the publication of the White Paper, the Government published ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England’ in March 2011. The ‘Tobacco Control Plan for England’, which has already been placed in the Library, was agreed across Government prior to its publication in March 2011, and it includes a chapter on helping tobacco users to quit.

    Source: Hansard, 14 November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/vcImFy

  • Question: Secondhand smoke

    Lord Laird (Crossbench): To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have proposals to stop smokers from obstructing entrances of public buildings; and what assessment they have made of whether the practice contributes to passive smoking.

    Earl Howe (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Quality), Health; Conservative): The Government have no plans to stop smoking around the entrances of public buildings through legislation. However, as set out in the Tobacco Control Plan for England, published in March 2011, it is up to local authorities and National Health Service organisations who may wish to make non-enclosed parts of their properties smoke-free.

    We are not aware of any evidence which quantifies the level of exposure to secondhand smoke around entrances to public buildings.

    A copy of the Tobacco Control Plan for England has already been placed in the Library.

     

    Source: Hansard, 21 November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/rrGQJ4

  • Is it possible to sell a premium cigarette brand in plain packaging?

    Australia's regulations, set to take effect in December 2012, require cigarette manufacturers to use a standard font, uniform text position, and the same greenish-brown packaging (which research showed to be the least appealing to consumers).

    Essentially, tobacco companies will be unable to distinguish themselves. And that has the tobacco giants worried. Cigarettes can separate themselves from competing products in three ways: by brand, by shape (long, short, etc.), and by general flavour (light, menthol, etc.). But within the confines of a given style or flavour, brand becomes the most valuable distinguishing factor among otherwise similar products.

    Click on the link to continue reading.

    Source: Business Insider, 21 November 2011
    Link: http://read.bi/rV69wY

  • Namibia: Tobacco firm threatens lawsuit

    British American Tobacco, Namibia's biggest seller of tobacco is threatening lawmakers with litigation unless changes are made to the new Tobacco Products Control Act of 2010.

    The fight is over mandatory packaging methods that would include graphic pictures depicting ill-health associated with smoking.

    BAT says this would leave no space for attractive traditional branding colours that have come to be associated with its various tobacco products.

     

    Source: AllAfrica, 16 November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/vRPrm0

  • A qualitative exploration of smokers' views regarding aspects of a community-based mobile stop smoking service in the United Kingdom

    Abstract

    Background: Developing more accessible stop smoking services (SSS) is important, particularly for reaching smokers from socio-economically deprived groups who are more likely to smoke and less likely to quit in comparison to their more affluent counterparts. A drop-in mobile SSS (MSSS) was piloted across 13 locations in socio-economically deprived areas of Nottingham.

    Methods: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted to explore the views of 40 smokers who registered with the MSSS.

    Results: The MSSS appeared to trigger quit attempts. For some of the participants the attempt was totally unplanned; for others, it built on pre-existing thoughts about quitting which had not yet been acted upon. Smokers interested in quitting were comfortable about approaching the MSSS, whilst acknowledging that they did not feel pressured to register with the service. The drop-in format of the MSSS was found to be more appealing than making an appointment. In addition, several participants articulated that they may not have utilised other SSS had they not come across the MSSS.
    Conclusion

    A MSSS may be an effective way to prompt quit attempts for smokers not planning to quit and also reach smokers who would not engage with SSS.

    Bains M and Venn A et al. A qualitative exploration of smokers' views regarding aspects of a community-based mobile stop smoking service in the United Kingdom. BMC Public Health 2011,11:873

    Source: BMC Public Health, November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/uaB8dO

  • Health professional advice for smoking and weight in adults with and without diabetes: findings from BRFSS

    Abstract
    Health risk behaviors including smoking and weight-gain can cause and exacerbate chronic diseases like diabetes. Brief provider advice is an effective intervention to reduce risk from these behaviors. However, behavioral advice is provided more often to those who already have a chronic illness when compared with those who are at risk. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the frequency of provider advice for smoking cessation and weight loss varies between overweight or obese smokers with and without diabetes. BRFSS data from a subset of overweight and obese smokers with (n = 848) and without (n = 6,279) diabetes were analyzed to determine differences in reported provider advice. Overweight and obese smokers with diabetes reported receiving more advice for both weight (46.4% vs. 23.4%, P < 0.001) and smoking (84.5% vs. 72.8%, P < 0.001) compared to those without diabetes. Advice for smoking cessation was reported two to three times more often than advice for weight. Nearly a quarter of those with diabetes and almost half of those without reported no receipt of advice about weight. Results indicate that providers are not adequately addressing overweight and obesity in patients with and at risk for diabetes.

    Schauer G and Abigail et al. Health professional advice for smoking and weight in adults with and without diabetes: findings from BRFSS. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 2011 DOI: 10.1007/s10865-011-9386-9

    Source: Journal of Behavioral Medicine, November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/uyTqFz

  • Socioeconomic status and smoking: a review

    Abstract

    Smoking prevalence is higher among disadvantaged groups, and disadvantaged smokers may face higher exposure to tobacco's harms. Uptake may also be higher among those with low socioeconomic status (SES), and quit attempts are less likely to be successful. Studies have suggested that this may be the result of reduced social support for quitting, low motivation to quit, stronger addiction to tobacco, increased likelihood of not completing courses of pharmacotherapy or behavioral support sessions, psychological differences such as lack of self-efficacy, and tobacco industry marketing. Evidence of interventions that work among lower socioeconomic groups is sparse. Raising the price of tobacco products appears to be the tobacco control intervention with the most potential to reduce health inequalities from tobacco. Targeted cessation programs and mass media interventions can also contribute to reducing inequalities. To tackle the high prevalence of smoking among disadvantaged groups, a combination of tobacco control measures is required, and these should be delivered in conjunction with wider attempts to address inequalities in health.


    Hiscock R and Bauld L et al. Socioeconomic status and smoking: a review. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Article first published online: 17 November 2011;  DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06202.

    Source: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 17 November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/tpfOSI

  • Tobacco smoking increases the risk of high-grade dysplasia and cancer among patients with barrett’s esophagus

    Abstract
    Background: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) arises from Barrett’s esophagus (BE); patients with this cancer have a poor prognosis. Identification of modifiable lifestyle factors that affect the risk of progression from BE to EAC might prevent its development. We investigated associations between body size, smoking, and alcohol use with progression of BE to neoplasia.

    Methods: We analyzed data from patients with BE, identified from the population-based Northern Ireland BE register, diagnosed between 1993 and 2005, with specialized intestinal metaplasia (n=3167). Data on clinical, demographic, and lifestyle factors related to diagnosis of BE were collected from hospital case notes. We used the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry to identify which of these patients later developed EAC, adenocarcinomas of the gastric cardia, or esophageal high grade dysplasia (HGD). Cox proportional hazards models were used to associate lifestyle factors with risk of progression.

    Results: By 31 December 2008, 117 of the patients with BE developed esophageal HGD or adenocarcinomas of the esophagus or gastric cardia. Current tobacco smoking was significantly associated with an increased risk of progression (hazard ratio=2.03, 95% confidence interval, 1.29–3.17) compared with never smoking, and across all strata of smoking intensity. Alcohol consumption was not related to risk of progression. Measures of body size were infrequently reported in endoscopy reports, and body size was not associated with risk of progression.

    Conclusions: Smoking tobacco increases the risk of progression to cancer or HGD 2-fold among patients with BE, compared with patients with BE that have never smoked. Smoking cessation strategies should be considered for patients with BE.

    Coleman, H and Bhat, S et al. Tobacco smoking increases the risk of high-grade dysplasia and cancer among patients with barrett’s esophagus. Gastroenterology. November 2011; doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2011.10.034

    Source: Gastroenterology, November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/rUDedi

  • When movies matter: Exposure to smoking in movies and changes in smoking behaviour

    Researchers investigated the association between exposure to smoking in movies and the initiation and progression of adolescent smoking over time among 6,522 U.S. adolescents (between the ages of 10 and 14 years, at baseline) in a nationally representative, 4-wave random-digit-dial telephone survey. They conducted a hazard (survival) analysis testing whether exposure to movie smoking and demographic, personality, social, and structural factors predict (a) earlier smoking onset and (b) faster transition to experimental (1–99 cigarettes/lifetime) and established smoking (>100 cigarettes/lifetime).

    Results suggest that higher exposure to movie smoking is associated with less time to trying cigarettes for the first time (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.66; 95% CI [1.37, 2.01]) but not with faster escalation of smoking behavior following initiation (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.53; 95% CI [0.84, 2.79]). In contrast, age, peer smoking, parenting style, and availability of cigarettes in the home were predictors of earlier onset and faster transition to established smoking.

    Conclusion: The authors concluded that the effect of exposure to mass-mediated images of smoking in movies may decline once adolescents have started to smoke, whereas peers and access to tobacco remain influential.

    Cina S, Stoolmiller M and Sargent J. When Movies Matter: Exposure to Smoking in Movies and Changes in Smoking Behavior. Journal of Communication. November 2011

    Source: Journal of Health Communication
    Link: http://bit.ly/v7JHFO

Events

  • 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