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Tobacco Control Program Newsletter |
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February is American Heart Month. Smoking causes immediate damage to your body. For Roosevelt, it caused his heart attack. Your heart attack risk drops as soon as you quit smoking. For free help, call 1-800-Quit Now or visit QuitNowVirginia.org
February 4th was “crossover” day at the General Assembly. This is the last day for any bill approved in one chamber to be sent to another chamber for a vote. Four of the tobacco bills are proposed “PUP” laws that penalize youth for purchasing, using, or possessing tobacco products.
SB1060 and HB1946 allows law enforcement to seize tobacco products from youth. SB1146 and SB1395 provide for civil fines in addition to forfeiture of tobacco.
Health advocate organizations, like the Public Health Law Center, argue that research shows PUP laws are ineffective in reducing youth tobacco use and that fear of punishment may cause youth to conceal their tobacco use and be less likely to seek help to quit tobacco use.
Two other tobacco bills being considered are SB1147 that increases the current fine on retail clerks or establishments that sell tobacco to youth from $500 to $1,000 and HB1639 that removes the sunset provision in the current law that eliminates the authority of health insurance carriers based on tobacco use.
February 20th is the scheduled last day for committee action on bills.
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Meet Our TCP Partner: Christopher Nye
For American Heart Month in February, the Virginia Tobacco Control Program features a heart health champion - Christopher Nye. Christopher has over 40 years of public health experience and currently serves as the Community Health Specialist on the Cardiovascular Health Team at VDH. Over the course of his 40-year public health career, he has worked to increase access to healthcare services for underserved populations who are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease due to tobacco use, unhealthy diet, and lack of physical activity.
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Eliminate Tobacco Use Summit
 We invite you to attend the upcoming virtual Eliminate Tobacco Use Summit on March 6th and 7th. We have another amazing line up of speakers this year! Join us on March 6th for the National Summit with keynotes including Natasha Phelps, J.D., FDA, Center for Tobacco Products and Yolonda Richardson, J.D., M.P.H., President and CEO, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
On March 7th, the Virginia Summit will focus on the latest in tobacco and nicotine control in Virginia, including a keynote from Melissa Little, PhD. The primary aim of the initiative is to address tobacco use across colleges and universities and more effectively contribute to actions that create a tobacco-free culture. You will have the opportunity to learn about the latest products and resources, discuss your own plans for tobacco policy, and learn from your peers. All are welcome to join us from institutes of higher education, health systems, community colleges, state and local health departments, community coalitions, state, and national advocacy organizations.
Registration is free with the code ETUVA2025. You can register for the Summit at ETU | Homepage.
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Data Highlight
 **NOTE: Data are sourced from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2023 Data Release, Division of Population Health Data, Virginia Department of Health. These data are estimates sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Definitions: Please see our ‘About the Data’ page for key terms and definitions related to the data included here. Also note that for “Current E-cigarette Use” the question for which these data were obtained changed from 2021("Do you now use e-cigarettes or other electronic vaping products every day, some days, or not at all?") to 2023 ("Would you say you have never used e-cigarettes or other electronic vaping products in your entire life or now use them every day, use them some days, or used them in the past but do not currently use them at all?").
Tobacco use among adults in Virginia has decreased between 2021 and 2023 for two of the core use types monitored by the Tobacco Control Program. Cigarette and smokeless tobacco use have shown consistent reductions over the three-year period highlighted in the graph above. In 2023, smokeless tobacco use dropped below three percent for the first time while cigarette smoking descended closer to 10 percent!
E-cigarette use, on the other hand, rose nearly a full percentage point from 2021 to 2022 before dropping in 2023. Overall, the prevalence of tobacco use in Virginia shows promising trends, especially among the more traditional tobacco use types like cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Help keep these trends moving in a positive direction by recommending Quit Now Virginia’s FREE services to your friends and family who want to quit. Learn more at QuitNowVirginia.org!
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News and Resources
The 23rd annual American Lung Association "State of Tobacco Control" report evaluates states and the federal government on the proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies necessary to save lives. The report serves as a blueprint for what state and federal leaders need to do to eliminate the death and disease caused by tobacco use. Read Virginia's report.
The George Washington University (GW) Cancer Center, a CDC Technical Assistance and Training provider for comprehensive cancer control programs published an UPDATED Lung Cancer Awareness toolkit in partnership with LUNGevity and SelfMade Health Network. There are 14 Cancer Awareness Toolkits ready for your program and network to use.
As we celebrate 35 years of breathing freely on airplanes, we remember the flight attendants and other airplane crew members who were regularly subjected to toxic secondhand smoke. Patty Young, one of the early voices in the fight, describes what it was like: “Our flight attendant fight was a long and difficult road that resulted in many sicknesses, diseases, deaths, and disabilities for our flight attendants.”
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Free help to quit tobacco.
Quit Coaches available for support.
- www.QuitNowVirginia.org
- 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or text READY to 34191
- A free 24/7 service for all Virginians, 13 and older for all types of tobacco/nicotine.
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Free Vaping Resources for Teens, Young Adults, & their Support Circles.
- VapeFreeVA.org
- Find vaping prevention and cessation facts & tips
- Support Circle tips are for any adult concerned about vaping -- parents, guardians, educators, physicians, etc.
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Click the "Order Now" button below to request
brochures and other free resource materials!
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- Becoming a Tobacco Free Worksite,
- Referring your patients and clients proactively to 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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