Pentagon Targets Tobacco Use

The Pentagon is considering a ban on tobacco in the military. According to USA Today, 32% of soldiers smoke, which affects their physical performance. This is one of the highest use rates in America. In addition, it costs the military "$846 million a year" to treat tobacco-related illness.

Sacramento's Money Goes Up in Smoke

This is a real shocker and concern - the Sacramento News and Review recently reported that in May the City of Sacramento bought 10,000 shares of Altria, the company formally known as Phillip Morris. Altria ranks near the bottom of 541 companies rated by Covalence for their ethical behavior. Covalence ranks each company through "a reputation index based on quantifying qualitative data, which is classified according to 45 criteria such as Labour standards, Waste management, Product social utility or Human rights policy. It is a barometer of how multinationals are perceived in the ethical field".

FDA to Regulate Tobacco

On June 22nd, President Obama signed a bill into law that will allow the FDA to regulate the content, flavor and advertisement of cigarettes. Passing with overwhelming bipartisan support, the tobacco regulation bill is a huge victory for health advocates looking to decrease the use of cigarettes, which is still the number one cause of preventable disease and death in the United States.

Less Scene Smoking

Does tobacco-use in popular media have a negative impact on youth? CNN Health recently posted a well-researched article about the relationship between smoking among youth and smoking on screen.

World No Tobacco Day - May 31

Sunday was World no Tobacco Day. In the world-wide effort, The World Health Organization is recommending stronger labeling and placing graphic images on the packaging of cigarettes. The WHO claim that graphic images and clear labels educate consumers and decrease smoking rates.

India recently joined 20 other countries such as Australia by implementing a policy to place graphic images and warnings on their cigarette packages. Realizing the cost in human lives and health care expenditures, India has been making strong advances in tobacco control in the last couple of years. They currently have a policy for smoke-free public places, bars and restaurants.

Anti-Tobacco Public Service Announcement Winners - Sacramento

Thank you to all who came, participated, volunteered and sponsored Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center's first Youth Premiere and Anti-Tobacco Film Contest.  The evening was a success.

3rd Place - Two Way Tie

Asian Pacific Community Counseling - Tobacco in the Movies

George Washington Carver High School - No Butts!

2nd Place - Two Way Tie

Asian Pacific Community Counseling - Where U At?

Hiram Johnson High School - Tobacco and Hollywood

First Place

Natomas Charter School - Second Chance

FDA Commisioner Supports Tobacco Regulation

In a recent article in AMNews, the new Food and Drug commissioner picked by President Obama is in favor of the agency regulating tobacco.  Dr. Hamburg is quoted as saying "This is a critical moment, I think, to take a more aggressive look at how we regulate tobacco products...I think the FDA is the appropriate agency to regulate tobacco."  Dr. Hamburg is the former New York City health inspector, a state with strong history of tobacco control.

Extra! Extra! Youth Film Premiere Makes Headlines.

The hard work is paying off. The Sacramento Press featured us in their culture section. This year's Youth Film Premiere is going to be fantastic. We'd like to thank all the participants, volunteers, support and sponsors. Positive press will help strengthen our message.

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Thank You to Our Sponsors!  The Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center will hold its first Youth Film Premiere in collaboration with California Voices this May 14, 2009 from 5-8:30 at the Crest Theatre, Sacramento.  Hundreds of youth from more than 14 schools will be featuring their youth-produced videos about issues in their lives and communities.  The event will also include an anti-tobacco public service announcement contest.  The event is FREE and will include free beverages and snacks.  For more info, visit www.sccsc.org.

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

Ad Wars!

Have tobacco control adds gone too far?  Are the tobacco control folks trying to deceive and manipulate the public with anti-tobacco ads?  Check out these two gems put out by the tobacco industry in the past.  Who is showing tobacco for what it really is?

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.

A New Partner and Sponsorship of the Youth Film Premiere

Thank You SSCFL! With their commitment to building healthy communities by increasing citizen participation and grass-roots collaboration in mind, the South Sacramento Coalition for Future Leaders (SSCFL) is partnering with ACT-UP and California Voices to help Roll Out the Red Carpet. So who is SSCFL? The SSCFL is oversee and staffed by the Sacramento Mutual Housing Association (SMHA). In their words:

The Community

The area of South Sacramento served by this coalition is bounded by Highway 50 to the north, Elder Creek Road to the south, Highway 99 to the west and Power Inn Road to the east. With a population of approximately 73,000, this is one of the most ethnically diverse and economically challenged areas in Sacramento County.

The Coalition

The South Sacramento Coalition for Future Leaders (SSCFL) strives to create a community where youth are valued and are given the opportunity to grow, be safe and realize their full potential.

We envision a community where youth are able to not only create a positive vision for their future, but also to be actively engaged as leaders in their community. We believe the entire community, working together, can have a major lasting impact on the youth in our community.

As a broad-based neighborhood coalition, our mission is to affect the lives of young people by creating a network of assets and resources, promoting a positive image of youth, and garnering political power to influence broad, sustainable youth development policies.

The SSCFL is made up of youth, parents, educators, service providers, local government, businesses, churches and community leaders. We have worked together through the years, but in spring 2006 we formally joined forces as a REACH Community Action coalition.

The coalition is overseen and organized by the Sacramento Mutual Housing Association, which operates two affordable housing communities in the Lemon Hill neighborhood of South Sacramento.

FDA Closer to Regulating Tobacco

Legislation granting the regulation of tobacco by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently cleared the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  If the new bill passes the House and Senate, it will allow the FDA to regulate tobacco advertising and monitor the ingredients in tobacco products.  Opponents of the legislation argue that the FDA cannot handle their current responsibilities, citing the recent salmonella outbreaks.  They also argue that the law is unecessary because tobacco companies already self-regulate their advertising techniques.  But let's be clear: the issue is not the inadequacies of the FDA.  The issue is that tobacco products are the number one cause of preventable disease and death.  

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. 

Fleet Feet Goes Smoke Free

We are proud to be partnered with Fleet Feet Sports. In an interest in protecting their patrons' health, all three major running events are smoke-free this year. Woo Who! Come run the half marathon this March 14th at Railey's Field Sacramento.

Sacramento Smoke-Free Outdoor Eats

Eat well - save yourself the side order of carcinogens!  The SOL project and Sacramento County Tobacco Control Coalition have put together a nice list of smoke-free outdoor dinning:

Paesano's

Tower Cafe

Slocum House

The Firehouse

Danielle's Creperie

Paragary's Bar & Oven - Midtown / Goldriver

Chevy's Bar and Grill

Joe's Crab Schack

Dad's Sandwich Shop

The Cliff House of Folsom

Ettore's

Virgin Sturgeon

Napolitos

Express Metro

Mansion Court Café

Pyramid Alehouse

58 Degrees & Holding Co. / Bar 58

Ernesto's Mexican Food

Hangar 17

Mulvaney's B & L

Sac Natural Food Co-op

Zocalo/Tortugas

Table 260 - Downtown

Louisanna Heaven - Elk Grove

Queen Sheba - Broadway

Alaina Creole Cafe - Arden

Romano's Mac Grill - Stockton

Gaines Grill - Stockton

Sacramento Supports Smoke-Free Outdoor Areas

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ACT-UP Public Opinion Survey:  Smoke-Free Policies in Outdoor Public Areas

During the months of October and November 2008, the Asian Coalition for Tobacco Use Prevention (ACT-UP) Project surveyed 338 members of the public about their opinion of smoke-free policies in outdoor public areas.  Members of ACT-UP conducted the survey at three locations: Cal Expo, Prairie Elementary School, and Sacramento State University.

 

The results of the survey are as follows:

 

·        65% of respondents reported they saw at least one person smoking at the site

·        67% believed that smoking is an issue in the Sacramento community

·        79% reported that the Sacramento community would benefit from stronger non-smoking policies in public outdoor areas

·        50% said they would be more likely to go to a public outdoor area if there was a smoke-free policy in place (only 14% said they would be less likely)

 

It is evident from the survey results that a majority of the public who participated in the survey is in favor of smoke-free policies in outdoor public areas in Sacramento.

Youth Across the Globe Target Tobacco

Youth are taking action around the world.  At the 14th World Conference on Health OR Tobacco (WCTOH), youth from more than 27 countries are expressing their disdain with Big Tobacco's influence in the movies.    As reported in the Modern Ghana by Bobby-Ramakant:

"One of the major influences on the uptake of teen tobacco use is the glamourisation of tobacco use in movies and on television. This has been well documented by comprehensive research studies in India and US. On-screen or smoking in public view by bollywood film-stars will influence young minds to smoke."

In a similar force of action in Sacramento, teens will attend Youth Quest 2009 Monday, March 23 to rally at the State Capitol and celebrate California's tobacco-control movement.