Tobacco News and Research

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Decline in reducing youth smoking and increase in smokeless tobacco use

The 2009 Monitoring the Future Survey released today by the National Institute of Drug Abuse shows that the nation continues to make gradual progress in reducing youth smoking, but declines have slowed significantly compared to the dramatic gains early in the decade. In especially troubling news, the survey also finds that smokeless tobacco use has increased among 10th and 12th graders in recent years, a period during which tobacco companies have introduced a slew of new smokeless tobacco products and significantly increased marketing for smokeless tobacco.

15 Dec 2009

More support for FDA ban on flavored cigarettes

New research showing that thrill-seeking teenagers are especially susceptible to fruit-flavored cigarettes is in line with the recent ban on the sale of flavored cigarettes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2009. According to the FDA, the ban, authorized by the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, is part of a national effort by the FDA to reduce smoking, which is the leading preventable cause of death in America.

15 Dec 2009

Teen smoking continues to decline, but mild increase in smokeless tobacco

New data announced in today's Monitoring the Future study shows that while teen smoking rates are continuing their slow decline, an old threat has once again emerged - the use of smokeless tobacco.

15 Dec 2009

Michigan Legislature passes new legislation for smoke-free workplaces

The Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) today applauded the wisdom of the Michigan legislature to enact legislation to make workplaces in our state smoke-free.

14 Dec 2009

Drop in U.S. colorectal cancer deaths

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) lauds the recent news of the decline in U.S. colorectal cancer death and incidence rates. The report, released this week, shows that from 1975 to 2000, incidence rates dropped 22 percent and death rates dropped 26 percent.

10 Dec 2009

Michigan goes smoke-free

The Michigan Legislature today delivered a historic victory for health and the public's right to breathe clean air by passing legislation to make almost all workplaces, including all restaurants and bars, smoke-free. Gov. Jennifer Granholm has said she will sign the bill, which will make Michigan the 27th state to pass a strong smoke-free law that includes all restaurants and bars.

10 Dec 2009

Targacept commences TC-5619 Phase 2 study of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia

Targacept, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs known as NNR TherapeuticsTM, today announced that it has initiated a Phase 2 clinical proof of concept trial of TC-5619 in cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia.

10 Dec 2009

Tobacco prevention and cessation programs: States cut funding by more than 15%

The states are collecting record amounts of revenue from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but have cut funding for programs to reduce tobacco use by more than 15 percent in the past year, according to a report released today by a coalition of public health organizations.

10 Dec 2009

Children exposed to tobacco smoke prenatally develop behavioral problems, shows study

The scientists observed that the impact of tobacco smoke was especially detrimental during gestation. The results of the study have been published in the current online issue of the renowned journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

10 Dec 2009

WHO issues report on global tobacco use

"Tobacco use kills at least 5 million people every year, a figure that could rise if countries don't take stronger measures to combat smoking, the World Health Organization said Wednesday," during the release its Global Tobacco Epidemic report, the Associated Press reports (Cheng, 12/9).

9 Dec 2009

New York cuts drug reimbursements, states trim tobacco prevention funding

The Associated Press: "States cut funding for state tobacco prevention programs more than 15 percent this year, pushing it further than ever below federally recommended levels, according to a report that a coalition of public health groups is releasing Wednesday.

9 Dec 2009

Rats exposed to passive smoking become dependent on nicotine, reveals study

Rats passively exposed to tobacco smoke become dependent on nicotine, according to a new study by Dr. Adrie Bruijnzeel and colleagues from the University of Florida in the US. Their findings of how rats' brains respond to exposure to tobacco smoke have implications for the study of the effects of tobacco smoke on the human brain even from passive exposure to other smokers, and for future studies testing new treatments for tobacco addiction. Their work has just been published online in Springer's journal Psychopharmacology.

9 Dec 2009

Depression drug TC-5214 earns USF its most lucrative patent royalties to date

A depression drug created and patented by a team of University of South Florida researchers is at the center of major deal between global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca PLC and Targacept, Inc., earning the university its potentially most lucrative patent royalties to date.

9 Dec 2009

WHO to expand tobacco control efforts in Africa

The WHO announced Friday it was expanding its efforts to control tobacco use in Africa, Reuters/ABC News reports. The agency "said it wanted to stop tobacco from becoming as prevalent in Africa as it is in other parts of the world and would set up a regional hub in 2010 for health experts to work with governments to introduce anti-smoking policies," the news service writes.

8 Dec 2009

Intellectual Property Watch examines WHO working group on drug development financing

Intellectual Property Watch examines the wrap-up of a WHO meeting of experts discussing innovative ways to finance research and development for products to treat diseases in developing countries and reports that recommendations by the group are expected to be released within a few weeks.

7 Dec 2009

New smoke free, electronic cigarettes from Smart Fixx

If you or someone you know wants an alternative to smoking this year, Smart Fixx smokeless electronic cigarettes may be the perfect solution. Also known as electric cigarettes and vapor cigarettes, these smoke free cigs give smokers three big incentives for making this New Year’s resolution stick!

7 Dec 2009

Health experts available to speak about health care reform

Garson helped originate and draft the "Health Partnership Act" (S. 325 and H.R. 5606), which funds grants to states for innovations to improve coverage for the uninsured, quality and efficiency.

5 Dec 2009

Effective prevention of smoking among teenagers narrows racial disparity in lung cancer rates

Effective prevention of smoking among teenagers, particularly black teenagers, is narrowing the disparity in lung cancer rates between blacks and whites, according to a report published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. The December issue has a special focus on tobacco.

4 Dec 2009

MoneyTV features bioengineering and stem cell topics this week

Bioengineering, extracting health products from waste tobacco, stem cells, unemployment, wind energy; this week on MoneyTV, hosted by anchor Donald Baillargeon.

4 Dec 2009

New smokers more likely to use menthol cigarettes

Menthol cigarette use is higher among persons who started smoking in the past year (44.6 percent) than among longer-term smokers (31.8 percent) according to a new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

4 Dec 2009