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Tobacco Control Program Newsletter |
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FYI: A Message from the Team has changed to Mark's Monthly Message to highlight information from our TCP Program Manager, Mark Boldt.
“It seemed like reaching for the moon.” Barbara Johns
On the Virginia Capitol grounds a bronze monument honors Barbara Johns who at 16 years old organized a student strike to protest poor conditions at an all-black school in Farmville, VA. The 1951 protest that led to the landmark Supreme Court decision banning segregation in public schools is a reminder of the power that advocates have in promoting equitable laws and changing social norms.
In Tobacco Control, a group of flight attendants and public health groups waged a successful campaign that led to a ban on smoking on airlines in 1990 and paved the way for state adoption of laws banning smoking in public places. Decades later, a citizen lawsuit petition and lawsuit led to adoption of the proposed FDA Rule banning menthol in tobacco products. Sixty years after the landmark Surgeon General Report on Smoking and Health adult smoking rates declined from 42% to less than 13%. While challenges remain, such as the youth e-cigarette epidemic and the disproportional use of tobacco by priority populations, the Virginia Tobacco Control Program would like to celebrate the work of public health advocates in Virginia and across the globe that are creating a tobacco-free norm. In 2024, as we look toward the future, the CDC vision of a world without tobacco-related illnesses and diseases seems within reach.
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Meet our TCP partners: Colleen Hughes, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
Colleen has been at DBHDS for ten years (this month!) serving as Behavioral Health Wellness Consultant and Synar Coordinator. In her role as Synar Coordinator she has expanded the State’s tobacco retailer merchant education program and implemented the Counter Tools initiative. Partnering with the Community Services Boards, we have worked to document tobacco/nicotine retailers across the state, conduct store assessments and provide merchant education to each retailer. As a result, we have a comprehensive database of point-of-sale information dating back to 2016 which can be found here: https://mapping.countertools.org/virginia/Â
To expand the merchant education efforts to reach more employees, Colleen, in partnership with Action on Smoking and Health Canada and many Virginia stakeholders, is developing a free, online training module that will be available to every employee at every Virginia tobacco/nicotine retailer. These modules, one for employees and one for managers, will be ready by Summer 2024.
Colleen resides in Midlothian with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. When not working to change the tobacco retailer landscape, you can find her ubering her children from place to place and cheering for them on the lacrosse field!
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Empowering Health: A Guideline to Advocate for Tobacco/Nicotine Cessation
As we embark on a new year, let us underscore the importance of supporting our patients/clients in their journey towards better health. One powerful resolution that promises a trifecta of benefits—improved health outcomes, clean air for loved ones, and substantial economic savings—is the decision to quit tobacco and nicotine use.
Encourage individuals to consider the profound impact quitting tobacco can have on their overall health, as smoking is a major risk factor for a myriad of debilitating conditions. This can be easily achieved through ASK (about tobacco/nicotine usage) ADVISE (users to quit) and REFER (users to Quit Now Virginia).
Highlight the ripple effect of quitting tobacco on the immediate social circle. Secondhand smoke poses serious health risks to family and friends, especially children. By quitting, individuals create a healthier home environment and protect their loved ones from the harmful effects of passive smoking.
Smoking places a substantial financial burden on individuals, from the daily cost of cigarettes to heightened healthcare expenses. By quitting, individuals not only save money on immediate expenditures but also on long-term healthcare costs associated with smoking-related illnesses.
By advocating for tobacco cessation, we empower individuals to make choices that resonate beyond the confines of the clinic, shaping a future marked by vitality, clean air, and financial well-being. Let us stand united in our commitment to support individuals in their journey towards better health and a brighter tomorrow.
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Data/Research Highlight
 “The brain is the only weapon that can defeat the mind.” – Leonardo da Vinci
Smoking affects nearly every organ in the human body, but the deleterious impacts smoking has on the brain tend to get overlooked. In this month’s newsletter, we review a recent study published in Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science where researchers were able to conclude that “a history of daily smoking is strongly associated with a decreased total brain volume.” Previous studies had uncovered similar results, but this particular study looked to discern whether lower brain volume is a risk factor for smoking or if smoking is the prime characteristic in reducing total brain volume. For more information on this intriguing topic, read the full article, “Investigating the Relationship Between Smoking Behavior and Global Brain Volume.”
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Tobacco Control in the News
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The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth is excited to announce its Best Value Request for Proposals (RFP) funding opportunity for research projects. Individual grant awards will not exceed $150,000 per year for projects with a duration of 1-3 years to implement research projects studying tobacco use prevention among youth. All RFP instructions found here. Proposals are due on February 15th.
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Joint federal operation results in seizure of more than $18 million in illegal e-cigarettes. Seized brands include Elf Bar, which is the most commonly used brand among youth e-cigarette users, and EB Create products. The manufacturer of Elf Bar started marketing the product under the names "EB Design" and "EB Create" earlier this year.Â
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2023 Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey shows encouraging declines in youth e-cigarette use and increased risk of perception among high school students. The data show a significant decline from 27.3% to 23.2% among 12th graders and from 20.5% to 17.6% among 10th graders in the past year. Meanwhile, 8th grade use remained relatively stable at 11.4%.
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Counter Tobacco's Latest Podcast Counter Tobacco has a new podcast out. In Counter Tobacco’s most recent episode, they talk about the largest monetary settlements in the tobacco prevention and control field since the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement, which was 25 years ago. Starting in 2021, Juul began settling with states’ Attorneys General, cities, counties, tribes, school districts, and individuals who brought personal injury claims after using Juul products for intentionally and inaccurately marketing their highly addictive products to minors. In this episode, they walk through these settlements involving Juul and Altria that totaled well over 1 billion dollars and the settlements’ impact at the point of sale.  Click here to access the podcast episode.
- Eighty national public health groups, including ASTHO, the American Heart Association, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Preventative Medicine, placed a full-page ad in a recent edition of the Washington Post in support of a federal ban on menthol in cigarettes and all flavored cigars.
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EVMS is looking for your input on vaping. There are three short surveys relating to youth in Virginia: one for teens; another for parents, guardians, or any adult caregiver of teens; and the third is for teachers, medical professionals, or any adults working with teens. There is a gift card incentive. If you would like the flyers to share or have any questions, please email youthvape@evms.edu
Please share with your partners!
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Free help to quit tobacco.Â
Quit Coaches available for support.
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Online education for parents.Â
A texting program for teens.
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- Becoming a Tobacco Free Worksite,
- Referring your patients and clients proactively to the Quit Now Virginia,
- Finding your local tobacco and nicotine coalition, or
- Scheduling a tobacco and nicotine related training for your staff or community.
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