Snus News & Other Tobacco Products

Paper: Increased cigarette taxes may reduce smoking by over 18% in people with alcohol, drug or mental disorders..

June 3, 2010 - Over 40% of all US smokers have comorbid alcohol, drug, or mental disorders. A new study suggests that increasing cigarette taxes could be an effective way to reduce smoking among individuals with alcohol, drug or mental disorders.

PAPER: Sensitivity to Cigarette Prices Among Individuals With Alcohol, Drug, or Mental Disorders, Michael K. Ong, Qiong Zhou, Hai-Yen Sung, American Journal of Public Health, 10.2105/AJPH.2009.159962, ABSTRACT..

The study found that a 10 percent increase in cigarette pricing resulted in an 18.2 percent decline in smoking among people in these groups. The findings demonstrate that increasing cigarette taxes could be a way to curb smoking, which is still the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, according to the study's lead author, Dr. Michael Ong, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine and health services research at the Geffen School of Medicine.

Though the researchers found that people with alcohol dependence did not cut down on cigarettes when prices rose, people with binge-drinking problems, substance-use disorders and mental disorders were significantly more likely to quit smoking if prices rose, as would occur with a cigarette tax increase.

National data show that every 10% increase in cigarette excise tax reduces cigarette consumption among the general population by 4% (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guide to Community Preventive Services - Tobacco). Evidence suggests that youth are up to three times more sensitive to price than adults and that because 90% of smokers start as teens, higher taxes can sharply reduce smoking rates in the long run (Chaloupka, F. J. (2001, November). Tobacco Taxation. Presentation conducted at the National Conference of State Legislatures 5th National Health Policy Conference, Seattle, WA.).

A joint study from the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research matched price hikes with teen smoking rates over six years. They found that a 10% price increase would decrease the number of children who started to smoke between 3% and 10%, depending on their stage of smoking, such as experimentation, beginning daily smoking, or relatively heavy daily smoking. (How to Fight Teen Smoking, American Cancer Society (ACS))

Prior research on the effect of cigarette pricing on smoking, which had been conducted using information from 1991, suggested that individuals with mental illness were less likely than other individuals to quit due to price increases. Unlike that research, however, the current study expanded the research to include people with alcohol and drug disorders.

The researchers based their work on data from 7,530 individuals from the 2000–01 Healthcare for Communities Household Survey. Of those, 2,106 people, or 23 percent, had alcohol, drug or mental disorders during the previous year. Of that group, 43.8 percent were smokers — a much higher proportion than among rest of the population.

While the study does suggest that increasing cigarette prices through taxation could reduce smoking among individuals with alcohol, drug or mental disorders, the authors note that further study is needed to determine if recent cigarette price increases have reduced smoking among individuals with such disorders, and whether the identified association is causal.

Reference: Tobacco tax hike could curb smoking among those with alcohol, drug or mental disorders by Enrique Rivero, UCLA Newsroom, 6/2/2010.
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Ireland - smoking on the increase with young women in lower-income groups..

June 2, 2010 - Ireland is in danger of slipping back to pre-smoking ban levels because of the Government’s failure to implement a comprehensive anti-smoking strategy, warns the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF).
The Republic of Ireland became the first country in the world to institute an outright ban on smoking in workplaces on 29 March 2004. (Ireland, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights)

"The number of smokers in Ireland is frightening at 29% and each one faces a double risk of stroke and a triple risk of heart attack," said IHF chief executive Michael O’Shea. "Where once we led the way on this serious health issue, we are now in danger of reverting to pre-smoking ban levels in our population because of the Government’s failure to implement an anti-smoking strategy," he declared yesterday – World No Tobacco Day.

Ireland has a major problem with cigarette smuggling (illicit, illegal, contraband). Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said he did not increase excise on cigarettes in the December 2009 budget fearing the already high price - around 8.45 euro for a pack of 20 - could contribute further to the smuggling problem. (Ireland - no increase in excise duty on tobacco products worry about smuggling..) Ireland - modest penalty for cigarette smuggling..

We all await the World Health Organization's (WHO) solution to the problem of tobacco product smuggling faced by countries throughout the world..

The IHF is particularly worried about the 56% of young women smokers aged between 18 and 29 in the lower-income groups.

While there was a decline in smoking prevalence after the Smoke Free at Work legislation in March 2004, the decline has reversed, especially among young people. TheSurvey of lifestyle, attitudes and nutrition (SLAN) in Ireland survey 2007 published last October 2009, showed the rate of smoking here decreased from 33% in 1998 to 27% in 2002 and then began to rise in 2007 to 29%.

Mr O’Shea said the good news was that seven out of 10 smokers wanted to stop.

The IHF wants the Government to help smokers to quit using significant increases in tobacco tax,anti-smuggling measures and smoking cessation programmes.

On 1 July 2009, Ireland banned in-store tobacco advertising and displays of tobacco products at retail outlets and new controls on tobacco vending machines (limiting them to being token-operated in registered bars and clubs only) were also introduced. At the same time a ban on the sale of packets of 10 cigarettes was introduced. Tobacco advertising had already been banned from radio, television and on billboards beforehand. (Ireland - people responding well to the ban on cigarette displays..)

The incidence of smokers among the unemployed, at 49%, is nearly double that of the general population. In the workforce, craft and trade workers showed the highest incidence of smoking, with 45% of female and 39% of male workers smoking.
It also revealed that the lowest levels of smoking were reported by professional workers, with 20% of men and 18% of women smoking. (Almost half of unemployed people smoke, 4/15/2009.)

On 18 July 2008, Irish Fine Gael MEP Avril Doyle proposed in a committee in the European Parliament, that she would like to see an EU-wide (European Union) ban on cigarettes and cigars by 2025.

Reference: Ireland risks slipping back to pre-smoking ban levels by Evelyn Ring, Irish Examiner, 6/1/2010.

Some Ireland related news briefs:
Ireland - Illicit tobacco trade booms..;
Ireland - no increase in excise duty on tobacco products worry about smuggling..;
reland - ASH will never give up - get smoking out of cars (and homes) when kids are present..;
Ireland - harder to quit when switching to low tar cigarettes..;
Ireland - after 2004 smoking ban decline in maternal smoking rates as well as lower risk for preterm births..;
Ireland - cancer society urges government to increase cigarette tax..;
Ireland - increase fine for cigarettes imported illegally..;
Ireland - roll your own cigarettes making a comeback..;
Ireland - lots of smokers - lots of sickness - resulting in premature death - THIS HAS TO STOP..;
Ireland - people responding well to the ban on cigarette displays..;
Ireland - Prof Clancy not enough spent on prevention..;
Ireland - tobacco vendors must register by October 1, 2009..;
Children - exposed to cigarette smoke in cars have greater chance of respiratory distress..;
Ireland - tobacco companies not helping small retailers - display ban..;
Tobacco control initiatives starting Wednesday, July 1, 2009..;
Ireland - Office of Tobacco Control 2008 annual report - Positive..;
Ireland - modest penalty for cigarette smuggling..;
Ireland - to amend tobacco legislation to to include pictoral warnings..;
Ireland - as of July 1, 2009 no advertising or display of tobacco products will be permitted in retail outlets..;
Ireland - cigarette tax abandoned over smuggling fears..;
Ireland - may raise tax on cigarettes as part of emergency budget..;
Ireland - ban smoking in cars when kids are present..;
Ireland - further provisions of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004 are to be commenced on 1 July 2009.;
Ireland - 80% of smokers want a ban on tobacco advertising in shops to stop youngsters starting the habit..;
Ireland to ban tobacco displays..;
Ireland - reduction in admissions for acute coronary syndrome...
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Smokers' kisses can be fatal, a leading child health expert has warned..

June 2, 2010 - People who smoke are also prime candidates for carrying the potentially deadly meningococcus bacteria in the back of their throats, says Professor Robert Booy (who is director of research at the National Centre for Immunisation and Research at Sydney's The Children's Hospital at Westmead).

The bug can be passed to children through "normal family cuddles and kisses", he says, and one in 10 children who go on to develop the rare meningococcal disease will die from it.

Prof Booy: "Passive smoking isn't the only smoking risk to children."

"Smokers carry more germs like meningococcus, so normal family cuddles and kisses can pass on dangerous germs, even if smokers only smoke outside."

Prof Booy pointed to recent University of Sydney research, which showed almost 92 percent of New South Wales (NSW) residents aged over 16 report they live in a house that is smoke-free. He said this showed how many parents who smoked went outside to indulge their habit and this would reduce a child's risk of passive smoking-related middle ear infection and asthma, or even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

But smoking outside did not reduce the increased threat posed by meningococcus, Prof Booy said, adding that cases of its resulting disease usually spiked during winter.
"This is another good reason for smokers to quit, not just smoke outside," he said.
"Although its rare, meningococcal disease can be serious and up to 10 percent of patients can die.

"With the beginning of winter now here, we are now entering the peak season for meningococcal disease."

The symptoms of meningococcal disease may include a sudden onset of fever, severe headache, weakness, drowsiness, confusion or coma, sore legs or sore joints, nausea and vomiting, a dislike of bright lights, a stiff neck and a rash of red-purple spots.

Prof Booy said with early detection and treatment, the majority of children with meningococcal disease would make a full recovery.

Related information: Meningitis cited as a risk of passive smoking to children in Royal College of Physicians report, Meningitis Research Foundation, 3/25/2010;
Correspondence Prevention of Meningococcal Disease, The New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 356:524-526, February 1, 2007, Number 5:

Reference: Smokers' kisses can be fatal by Danny Rose, Medical Writer, AAP, 7News, 6/2/2010.

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