MDQuit News Archive - July 2008
Smoking before age 13 declined between 1997 and 2007 -- July 29, 2008
An
analysis of data collected in the youth risk behavior study (YRBS)
found a decline in the percent of high school students who had smoked a
whole cigarette for the first time before age 13 between 1997 and 2007.
For more information, consult the volume 17, issue 27 of CESAR FAX here.
Genetic variation a risk factor for adolescent smoking -- July 25, 2008
Examination
of a common genetic variation has been linked to greater risk for
nicotine dependence beginning in adolescence. Read more here and here.
Perceptions of cigarette availability risk factor for youth smoking -- July 25, 2008
A
study following a cohort of Massachussets 6th graders between 2002 and
2006 found that those who became regular smokers during this period
perceived cigarettes as being more easily accessible than those who did
not initiate smoking. Read more here.
Menthol levels manipulated to hook youth -- July 17, 2008
A
recent study suggests that cigarette manufacturers in recent years have
controlled menthol levels in two ways, making milder varieties which
may appeal more to adolescent smokers, and by producing stronger
varieties to appeal more to more experienced smokers. Read more here.
Decline in Secondhand Smoke exposure -- July 17, 2008
A
new report from the Centers for Disease Control found that Americans'
exposure to secondhand smoke had significantly declined from the late
1980s-early 1990s to 1999-2004. Read more about this here.
Movie studios to include anti-smoking message in movies -- July 17, 2008
Six Hollywood movie studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros., have agreed to include anti-smoking messages in DVDs of films with scenes with tobacco use. Read more here.
WHO advocates indoor smoking bans -- July 8, 2008
A
WHO report issued Monday, June 30 called on policy makers to implement
indoor smoking bans, citing positive effects such as decreasing heart
disease, motivating smokers to quit, and limiting the exposure of
children to second-hand smoke as benefit to be gained. Read more here.
While using smokeless tobacco may put one at less risk for certain types of disease, it is not without it's own dangers. A recent study found that smokeless tobacco users were at 80% greater risk for developing oral cancer than non-users, and 60% greater risk for developing esophagus and pancreatic cancer. Read more here.
