World Health Organization Recomends R Rating for Movies Containing Tobacco Use

CYAN Reports - This morning the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report recommending that all future movies with smoking scenes be given an adult rating. The report also recommends that movie studios should:

• certify that they received no payoffs from tobacco companies to display tobacco products or their use
• stop displaying tobacco brands onscreen
• require strong anti-tobacco advertisements before all movies that have tobacco imagery

This report is another great resource for you and your Smoke Free Movies campaign. To download the full copy of the WHO’s report, please visit: http://www.who.int/tobacco/smoke_free_movies/en/index.html

Doggies Love Fresh Air Too!

Did you know that secondhand smoke is bad for pets too? Outdoor or indoor secondhand smoke is toxic for all your companions. The truth is that the litter from tobacco products is toxic too: butts contain toxic chemicals and the packaging can harm your pet's digestive systems. Be mindful to protect your curious pet from the dangers of tobacco.

Extinguish the Silence

In a recent article by the American Legacy Foundation, national surveys suggest that doctors are not communicating about the dangers of tobacco use and the availability of cessation services with their patients who smoke. As a result, doctors are missing opportunities to support patients and prevent chronic illness. If you want to quit, California offers cessation services: 1-800-NO-BUTTS

Federal Tobacco Tax Increase

This Wednesday a federal tobacco tax increase went into effect, upping the tax to $1.01 per pack of cigarettes.  Experts point out that increases in tobacco taxes usually result in a decrease in tobacco use.  With the economy in a recession, many states, such as Nevada, are looking at increasing state taxes on tobacco products to back fill the void left from the loss of revenue.  There are many reasons to impose a tobacco tax.  California's Congress is currently moving on bill SB 600, a state increase on tobacco taxes that not only generates revenue for the state but also revamps one of the most effective tobacco control efforts in the world.  AB 600 earmarks a percentage of the tobacco tax revenue for California's comprehensive tobacco control programs.  We know that every $1 spent on prevention and control saves $3 dollars in health care costs.

E-Smokes = Dangerous?

Check out this article in the San Jose Mercury News! Some questions to consider: Do you think E-Cigarettes are deadly? Should they be regulated? Do they cause chronic disease?

Tobacco-Use Amplifies Chronic Disease Rate in Asia

According to an article in the Daily Times of Pakistan, tobacco-use is increasing the epidemic of diseases such as tuberculosis and lung cancer in Asia.  More than 1.25 billion people smoke worldwide.  Unless progressive health policy and stricter regulations are enacted, the epidemic will continue to impact world health as well as add increasing costs to health care programs.