MDQuit News Archives - May, 2008

Evidence of switching to smokeless tobacco as a smoking cessation method - May 29, 2008
Data from the 2000 National Health Interview Study examined former smokers who used one of twelve methods to quit. Of these 12 methods, those who switched to smokeless tobacco had a higher proportion of successful quit attempts (261,000 successful quits out of 359,000 attempts, or 73%) than any of the other 12 methods. Read more about this study here.

Friends quit smoking? You probably will too: Smokers kick habit in groups, those who don't become outcasts, study finds - May 22, 2008
A study suggests individuals are more likely to quit if someone close to them quit as well.  Read more here.

FAA bans Chantix for pilots, traffic controllers - May 22, 2008
Potential physical side effects of Chantix prompts the FAA to enact the ban.  Read more here.

Turkey Broadens Ban on Public Smoking - May 20, 2008
Turkey expands their smoking ban to include a variety of places, including outdoor sports stadiums.  Read more here. 

Vending Machine Would Verify Age by Counting Wrinkles - May 19, 2008
Japan is working on a new machine that would identify underage individuals trying to buy cigarettes.  Read more here. 

Nicotine Inhalers for Indoor Smokers - May 16, 2008
New devices are being marketed that mix nicotine cartridges and water vapor that could be used inside buildings even when clean indoor air acts are in place.  Read more here. 

Many College Students Smoking Water Pipes, Study Finds - May 16, 2008
Researchers find that many college students are using Hookahs and doing so because they mistakenly think it is less dangerous than smoking cigarettes. Read more here.

Respected Peers Can Influence Youth Smoking, Researchers Say - May 15, 2008
Researchers find significant reductions in teen smoking when "cool" peers discourage smoking. Read more here.

Smoking Causes Lung Cancer by Suppressing Key Protein - May 15, 2008
Researchers work to better understand how lung cancer is caused by cigarette smoke. Read more here.

Bill Would Ban All Cigarette Flavors Except Menthol - May 14, 2008
A bill brought to Congress proposes regulation of tobacco products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and includes giving them the ability to ban flavored cigarettes, with the exception of menthol. Read more here.

Supermarket Installs Face-Recognition System to Prevent Underage Purchases - May 14, 2008
A store in London, England installs a new system to help identify underage individuals and keep them from purchasing tobacco and alcohol.  Read more here.

Case Challenging 1998 Tobacco Settlement Dismissed - May 13, 2008
The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an appeal of the California case from 2004. Read more here.

Calls to Ban Tobacco Deliveries - May 12, 2008
To prevent underage tobacco use and state tobacco tax avoidance, some lawmakers are calling for a ban from Congress on USPS tobacco deliveries.  Read more here.

Suicide Link Doesn't Prevent Chantix Endorsement - May 9, 2008
The U.S. Public Health Service acknowledges the link Chantix can have with depression and suicide but also recognizes the potential strong benefits it can have for some smokers trying to quit and recommend decisions about using the prescription drug be made with the help of a doctor.  Read more here.

Parental Awareness of Child's Drug Use - May 9, 2008
Research suggests mothers are less likely to be aware of tobacco use among their younger children, ages 12-14, as compared to their awareness of tobacco use among their older children, ages 14-17.  Read more here.

Michigan Senate Approves Smokefree Legislation - May 9, 2008
Both the House and the Senate have passed Indoor Smoking Ban bills but will need to compromise on exemptions.  Read more here. 

Ohio Shuts Down Smoking Prevention Foundation - May 9, 2008
The Ohio Senate approved a bill to shut down the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation, seize its assets and give the state Department of Health the Foundation's former responsibilities. Read more here.

Casino Smoking Ban Fails in Conn. House - May 8, 2008
The House of Representatives reject a bill to extend Connecticut's indoor-smoking law to casinos. Read more here.

Heart Benefits Come Fast for Women Who Quit Smoking - May 7, 2008
Researchers suggest the risk of dying of coronary heart disease greatly reduces during the five years after women smokers quit.  Read more here.

Leading Candidates Take Little Tobacco Money - May 7, 2008
All three leading U.S. Presidential Candidates have taken campaign donations from tobacco companies, but the amounts are said to be somewhat small compared to other candidates in the past.  Read more here.

S.C. Lawmakers Start Debate on Tobacco Tax Hike - May 7, 2008
The Senate debates a 50 cent tobacco tax increase in South Carolina.  Read more here. 

Annual Conference On Vaccine Research To Highlight Not Only Health Benefits But Also Economic Gains - May 6, 2008
A conference being held in Baltimore May 5th through 7th will include discussion of an experimental vaccine being tested that may induce antibodies that prevent nicotine from reaching the brain, thus leading to improved quit outcomes. Read more here. 

Teen Smoking Lower in Towns with Bans - May 6, 2008
Boston University researchers found evidence that indoor-smoking bans may have a significant impact on teens' future smoking choices.  Read more here.

Smoking in Pregnancy Causes Vascular Harm, Affecting Mother and Child - May 5, 2008
Researchers find evidence that smoking leads to vascular problems in pregnant women that can increase risk to both the pregnant woman and her baby.  Read more here.

Medical-Monitoring Case Against Tobacco Industry Dismissed - May 5, 2008
A class-action lawsuit brought against the tobacco industry aimed at getting medical monitoring for smokers who may develop smoking-related problems was dismissed by the Oregon Supreme Court. Read more here.

Alabama Senate Approves Indoor-Smoking Ban - May 2, 2008
The Alabama Senate approved a measure that would outlaw smoking in most indoor public places.  Read more here.

Brief Physician Interventions Encourage Smokers to Quit - May 1, 2008
British researchers have found evidence that Doctors can have a significant impact on the likelihood of patients quitting smoking by talking with them about their tobacco use and telling them to quit. Read more here.

Ohio Lawmakers Look to Kill Off Tobacco Prevention Foundation - May 1, 2008
Controversy over monies earmarked for youth tobacco prevention have led lawmakers to consider abolishing a Tobacco Prevention Foundation.  Read more here.