Encourage Smokeless Tobacco Use Though Banned in Australia Since 1991..

January 5, 2008 - Dr. Wayne Hall, a professor of public health policy at the University of Queensland, and his colleagues argue that SNUS may be effective in helping some of Australia's 2.9 million smokers give up smoking. Hall feels that with legislative changes smokeless tobacco could be sold under the counter in pharmacies and doctors and quit lines could encourage inveterate (hard-nosed, long-established, deep-rooted) smokers to make the switch "as a way of reducing the harm caused by their tobacco use." How does the good doctor know that inveterate smokers will learn the art of snusing?? Unites States Smokeless Tobacco Company has been trying to market a SNUS product, Revel, since 2001 with little success. The Chief Operating Officer of this company, Murray Kessler has stated that "Nine out of 10 smokers that try smokeless still reject the product." Some tobacco companies are test marketing SNUS products (e.g., Camel SNUS, Marlboro SNUS, Skoal Dry) in the U.S. have had very little success. Dr. Lars E. Rutqvist, the Vice President for Scientific Affairs at Swedish Match (the world's second largest maker of snuff and chewing tobacco and market leader in Sweden - volume share of 90% at the end of 2006) tells us the drive in snus sales in Sweden has been in response to the smoking ban rather than the perceived advantage to user’s health. Compared to tobacco smoking very little is known about smokeless tobacco. Dr. John Britton, probably the foremost proponent in the British Commonwealth for the use of SNUS agrees that more research into the long-term health effects of SNUS would be helpful. (TobaccoWatch.org) Professor John Britton has also stated, "It's their (tobacco companies) job to sell as much tobacco as possible, so they will be targeting non-smokers rather than current ones, that's the worry." Here in the states we have entire grocery store chains getting rid of all tobacco products but down under(it must be the summer heat) they want to lift the ban and add another tobacco product. Let's not forget the American Cancer Society study of more than 116,000 men found that cigarette smokers who switched to spit tobacco products had a higher risk of dying prematurely from tobacco-related diseases than former smokers who stopped using all forms of tobacco. Click on image to enlarge..

Philip Morris USA Snuff Products: Marlboro SNUS and Marlboro Moist Smokeless Tobacco (MST)..

January 4, 2008 - Marlboro SNUS was introduced in August 2007 and is being test marketed in the Dallas, TX area (a simliar product Taboka was introduced into the test market of Indianapolis in July 2006) and Marlboro MST was introduced into test market in the the Atlanta area in October 2007. What's the difference in these snuff tobacco products?? With MST instead of chewing on tobacco, a small clump (also called dip) is ‘pinched ‘ out of the tin and placed between the lower or upper lip and gums. The tobacco clump rests on the inside of the mouth for approximately 20-30 minutes. The presence of the clump inside the mouth produces excess saliva. This is typically spit out on the ground or in a bottle because the swallowing can cause irritation of the esophagus, nausea and vomiting. Taboka and Marlboro Snus pouches are similar to those SNUS products sold in Sweden; meaning among other things that they are smoke-free, pasteurized and also typically spit-free. These products usually contains less water and salt then MST products. There is a technique to master in placing the SNUS in a particular location at the front of the mouth between the upper lip and gums. Any movement will result in an increased flow of saliva increasing the urge to spit or swallow more of the toxic tobacco juice. Users of these tobacco products besides being nicotine addicts are at a greater risk of chronic diseases such as pancreatic and stomach cancer and cardiovascular disease. In September 2007 Swedish Match North America started testing an MST named after the the most popular chewing tobacco Red Man called Red Man Premium Moist Snuff. Testing is being carried out in 11 states: IN, OH, WV, KY, LA, MS, AR, NC, VA, western PA and southwest TN--representing 36% of the moist snuff category volume. MST category is dominated by UST's Copenhagen and Skoal and Conwood's (now owned by Reynolds American) premium brand Kodiak. Click on image to enlarge..(TobaccoWatch.org)

County Refuses to Employee People that Use Tobacco Products..

January 4, 2008 - The only people who will be considered for employment as of January 1, 2008 in Marion County, FL must sign a sworn statement affirming that they have not used tobacco within 12 months, and further, that they will not use such products while they work for the county. Violators of the policy can be fired. Current tobacco users are exempted, although they will be offered programs to help them quit. So as it stands, any smoker hired last Monday or earlier is in the clear, but a tobacco consumer who wants a job now should just steer clear. County officials say they trying to cut down on health insurance costs by not hiring people who use tobacco. The county is not alone. The city of Ocala, FL instituted a similar policy effective Oct. 1, 2007 and local governments in Florida have been able to legally turn aside smokers as prospective employees since 1995. Related news brief: August 13, 2007. From SNUS.biz: Companies concerned about paying high health insurance premiums are hesitant to employ people that smoke or use other tobacco products. A healthcare benefits company fired four of its employees for refusing to take a test that determines whether they smoke cigarettes. Weyco Inc., a health benefits administrator based in Okemos, MI adopted this policy January 1, 2005 that allows employees to be fired if they smoke even if the smoking happens after business hours or at home. The company cites concerns over rising healthcare costs for those that smoke. "Wyco Inc. is a non-smoking company that strongly supports its employees in living healthy lifestyles."(TheBostonChannel.com, 1/25/2005). Effective January 1, 2002, as a part of our public health policy, and because of the known effects tobacco use has on our community, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department does not hire applicants who use tobacco. Smokers at Scott's Miracle-Gro Co. won't even be able to do that much longer. In October 2006, the Marysville, OH based company will begin randomly testing employees and giving pink slips to those who test positive for nicotine. The company announced the ultimatum in November, saying it was giving employees a year to quit, and offered to help with smoking-cessation programs. Scott's officials say it's part of a larger effort to help their employees become healthier (Clock ticking down for smokers at Scott's Miracle-Grow, Susan Deutschle, Business First of Columbus, April 14, 2006). More and more tobacco use is being looked upon as anti-social and unacceptable behavior. Schools are considering making the use of smokeless tobacco a suspendable offense. (TobaccoWatch.org)

Hospital Best Place to Survive A Cardiac Arrest??? -

January 3, 2008 - This news brief is a little off topic but it's important for people to realize they are in charge of their own health. As you get older you'll realize Your Health Is Your Wealth. Just because you're in the hospital doesn't mean you'll get treated quickly if your heart stops beating. About one-third of patients don't get a potentially live-saving shock within the recommended two minutes, a new study published today (1/3/2008)in the New England Journal of Medicine found. Those who don't get prompt defibrillation are more likely to die or end up brain-damaged or disabled, the study showed. For every minute of delay, the chances of survival worsen. "It is probably fair to say that most patients assume -- unfortunately, incorrectly -- that a hospital would be the best place to survive a cardiac arrest," Dr. Leslie A. Saxon, a cardiologist at the University of Southern California, wrote in an editorial in the journal. (" Hospitals often miss deadline to restart stopped heart" by Stephanie Nano, The Associated Press, The News & Observer, 1/3/2008)

SMOKERS, heavy drinkers and obese people will be banned from NHS treatment under a new plan..

January 2, 2008 - The National Health Service (NHS)is a publicly funded health care system of England. It provides the majority of health care free of charge - the founding principle of the NHS. Ministers believe that withholding treatment from people with unhealthy lives could potentially save the NHS billions of pounds a year. Mr Gordon Brown, Prime Minister, outlines his plans in a New Year message to health staff today (01/01/2008), heralding the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the NHS this year. He will announce plans to draw up a Health Service constitution clearly outlining “rights and responsibilities” for patients. ( "NHS BAN IF YOU SMOKE, DRINK OR EAT TOO MUCH" by Macer Hall, Daily Express, 01/01/2008)

The Vasoconstrictor Nicotine Causes Impotence in Men that Smoke..

December 31, 2007 - The Vasoconstrictor Nicotine Causes Impotence in Men that Smoke.. Emerging research shows that men who smoke a pack-a-day are almost 40% more likely to struggle with erectile (ED, impotence) dysfunction than men who don't smoke. In a study (published in Tobacco Control) of more than 8,000 Australian men between the ages of 16 and 59 found that those that smoked less than a pack a day had a 24% increase risk of erectile problems. And as the number of cigarettes smoked went up, so too, did the chances of erectile dysfunction. A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology, found that male smokers in their 40s were more likely to experience erectile difficulties than older nonsmoking males. ( "Men Who Smoke Prone to Impotence" by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter, Medical College of South Carolina, 12/30/2007) It is also known that middle-age men who are heavily exposed to secondhand smoke have nearly twice the risk of impotence as those who breathe clean air. ( "Want Better Sex? Steer Clear of Smoke" (of Nicotine) By John Reinan, HealthScout Reporter, 10/29/2000) A number of studies have shown that nicotine levels resulting from the use of smokeless tobacco are either the same or even higher than with tobacco smoking. (Maximum levels of nicotine were similar but, because of prolonged absorption, overall nicotine exposure was twice as large after single exposures to smokeless tobacco compared with cigarette smoking (Benowitz et al., Clin Pharmacol Ther. Jul;44(1):23-8, 1988)

France Introduces Nationwide Smoking Ban January 1, 2008..

December 30, 2007 - France will introduce a nationwide ban on smoking in most public places from January 1, 2008, the French health minister said Friday. Eleven months after smoking became illegal in offices, schools, hospitals, airports and train stations, Europe’s heaviest smokers, the French will now be banned from smoking in cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, clubs and casinos. “The ban has been ready for a year and everyone knows that it is coming into effect. No one can say they were taken by surprise,” said Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot. However, the minister said the ban will be enforced gradually and police will be in no hurry to impose fines for those caught smoking on the first few days after New Year. Meanwhile, French cafe owners fear that they will lose clients and their profits could plunge. Owners of France’s 800 shisha bars are particularly concerned by the new law fearing it will lead to mass closures. Psychologists also warned that the country with 15-million smokers could face a shock. France is the latest of the EU member states to ban smoking in public places. In 2004, Ireland became the first European country to introduce a comprehensive ban, prohibiting smoking in pubs, restaurants and other enclosed workplaces. Ireland’s anti-smoking measures were followed by Italy, Norway, Sweden, the U.K, Denmark and Portugal. Other EU member states, including Belgium, Cyprus, Lithuania, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands have anti-smoking legislation, but there are some exceptions.(" France Introduces Nationwide Smoking Ban January 1" source: RIA Novosti (Russian News and Information Agency), 12/28/2007) It is calculated that more than half of 15- to 25-year-olds smoke, the highest proportion in the European Union. Efforts to dissuade them have persistently backfired. Click on image to enlarge..