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| Issue 108 | 4 February 2009 |
Having trouble viewing this newsletter? Try the online version. FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK
In this issue you will find quite a lot of cajoling about making sure we can contact you and/or that you are available to your peers and the community. It is a truism that knowledge is power and most knowledge can only be obtained through open and frank communication. Recently NZTAN (The New Zealand Tobacco Control Action Network) has been debating e-cigarettes and it occurred to me that this matter has been covered in the Update in the past. We may not have had the level of debate that is being exhibited in the current online conversation but some of the discussion had been well covered here. This got me to thinking. Are there some people on NZTAN who are not receiving this free Tobacco Control Update newsletter? So I tested the water and within fifteen minutes of posting on NZTAN – six new subscriptions. So, if you are in any doubt, there are three databases administered by the Smokefree Coalition which you should ideally be subscribed to. The first is this newsletter. If you were sent this directly, then you are on. However, is everyone in your line of work in the database to receive the Update? Why not check with your colleagues? The second is the Tobaccofree/Tupeka Kore Directory. You can check whether you are in this online. However, and thirdly, this will very soon be completely replaced by the Smokefree Contacts Database administered by the Smokefree Coalition and Quit. In an article below there is a link you can click to sign up. One of the features of our workforce is regular turnover. In order for our contact facilities to be up-to-date it would be a good idea for new staff to be added to these databases as part of their induction process. Have a good fortnight. Mark Peck Director IN THIS ISSUE:
Become part of the Tupeka kore/Tobacco free 'Vision' process!By now you will all be aware of the Tupeka kore/Tobacco free 'Vision' document. This document is an inspirational statement of aspirational goals looking to a tobacco-free future for Aotearoa/New Zealand. Expert panels are currently being established to develop the document to underpin the 'Vision'. Four groups have been identified and it is now your turn to let us know if you would like to serve. The groups are:
Each group is developing its terms of reference and has a tight timeline to complete its work. Participation in the groups is pro-bono but travel may be able to be supported on a case-by-case basis. If you want to be involved please contact me. Let me know where you would like to make a contribution and I will pass your details on to the relevant expert panel. Mark Peck Good feedback from smokefree retailers
During the past few months the Foundation has presented four Smokefree Retailers Awards to shop owners around the country to acknowledge their smokefree stances. Dairies and similar businesses in Dunedin, Kaitaia, Rotorua and Dargaville were nominated via a special dedicated website at www.smokefreeshops.co.nz. Anyone can use the site (with certain conditions) to nominate a dairy or other small business that has stopped selling cigarettes or at least removed tobacco displays. Kaitaia VIP Sheryl Stankovich summed it up marvellously when she said, "Who wants to be part of making people sick?" Dunedin proprietor, Moreen Hall, said, "I just think we need to do things to help kids make something of themselves in society. I would never sell cigarettes or tobacco to younger people and I think we really need to think about the messages we give them." The awards are supported by ASH and the Foundation's other partners in the Smokefree Coalition, and fronted publicly and branded by the Foundation. Cigarette power walls are an important marketing tool for the tobacco companies, into which they invest considerable sums of money. News media interest has been variable, but a local television channel ran an item for the inaugural award in Dunedin in September, and a number of local body politicians and health sector professionals have attended the presentations. The Foundation and ASH are about to launch into a 2009 award season that will have a focus on encouraging local schools to write to shop owners to encourage them to stop displaying or stocking cigarettes. SMOKEFREE CONTACTS DATABASEIf you are not signed up to the Smokefree Contacts Database and you are receiving the Tobacco Control Update, then you are strongly encouraged do something about it. The Update has a subscription of more than three times the size of the Smokefree Contacts Database. Most of you will be familiar with the hard copy Tobaccofree/Tupeka Kore Directory published annually by the Smokefree Coalition and Te Reo Marama. It is intended that the Smokefree Contacts Database will replace this directory, so if you do not have your details registered you will miss out. To sign up now go to www.smokefreecontacts.org.nz and complete the form. Please be careful to accurately describe the geographic area in which you provide your service. It only takes a few moments of your time so do it today! Guest lecture: Prime Theory and the implications for smoking cessation
PRIME Theory is a first attempt to develop a comprehensive theory of human motivation that explicitly seeks to encompass the full range of observations using a language that is as close as possible to everyday usage. There are many theories and models that have been applied to help understand the process by which a smoker becomes a non-smoker. These range from the pharmacological to the social. The problem is that none encompass the full range of factors that are known to be relevant. In some cases, such as the Stages of Change approach, they assume a degree of stability with regard to intentions about stopping that is not borne out by the evidence. This presentation will describe PRIME theory and make specific predictions about smoking cessation arising from it. This seminar is totally free for anyone with an interest in smoking cessation and nicotine addiction. Professor West's talk will be followed by a light lunch and an opportunity to ask questions. This free presentation is a rare chance for New Zealand to hear one of the world's leading experts on tobacco addiction. Time: 11am, Tuesday 10 February About Professor Robert WestRobert West is Director of Tobacco Studies at the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London. He started researching tobacco and nicotine use in 1982. His early research focused on nicotine withdrawal syndrome. Since then he has also contributed to clinical trials of behavioural and pharmacological aids to cessation, population surveys and cohort studies of smokers looking at patterns of smoking and cessation, and surveys of health professionals' attitudes, knowledge and behaviours relating to smoking cessation. He has contributed to national and international clinical practice guidelines on smoking cessation. He is Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Addiction. More information can be found at www.rjwest.co.uk. Tobacco Control and Smoking Cessation papersAUT University is offering Tobacco Control and Smoking Cessation papers again in 2009. These papers ran successfully in 2008 and are a great opportunity to enhance your knowledge and practice. Associate Professor Paul McDonald, from the University of Waterloo in Canada (tobacco control paper), is internationally renowned for his research and advocacy. Examples include his work with graphic warnings, telephone help lines, websites, self-help materials and the international monitoring of tobacco control outcomes. Paul offers a fresh look and different perspectives in a thorough overview of tobacco control in New Zealand and globally. His paper runs 2, 3, 6, 7 and 9 April 2009. Dr Hayden McRobbie (smoking cessation paper) is well known in NZ and internationally. He aims to enhance your smoking cessation practice skills with in-depth knowledge and understanding in a series of engaging interactive workshops. Hayden played a major role in writing and implementing the New Zealand Smoking Cessation Guidelines. His paper runs 7-11 October 2009. For more information contact the Course Information Centre, 0800 AUT UNI (0800 288 864), Email: courseinfo@aut.ac.nz or the programme coordinator Helen Warren, Phone: (09) 921 9679, Email: helen.warren@aut.ac.nz. HEALTH RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIESSeminar Room, Level 2 Associate Professor Steven T Fleming How to adjust for misclassification bias Tuesday 10 February 2009 This is an occasional series of health research seminars organised by the Wellington campus of the Massey University Research School of Public Health. For more information contact the Centre for Public Health Research (04-3800-602). Job Vacancy: Pacific Island Countries FCTC coordinatorHours: Full-time This is an exciting new opportunity for someone with strong networking and campaigning skills to achieve real change in public health policy and practice in the Pacific Islands region. To apply for this position, please email a cover letter addressed to Laurent Huber, FCA Director (in English and including salary history) and your resume to: recruitment@fctc.org. Please reference the position code "FCA Pacific Islands coordinator" in the subject line of your email. Resumes will be accepted until 15 February 2009. Applicants accepted for initial interview will be notified via email by 19 February 2009 and should be available for a phone interview from 23-25 February 2009. Summary and responsibilities of position offered: The PIC FCTC coordinator will be based in the Pacific Islands region and will assist the FCA regional coordinator for ASEAN and the Western Pacific based in Manila. In conjunction with the FCA regional coordinator, the scope of work for this full-time position is:
Skills, Knowledge, Abilities:
Education:
Experience:
THROUGH THE SMOKEQuit smoking ads on YouTube
To find similar videos, just enter something like "quit smoking" or "quit ads" into the YouTube search box. YouTube videos can easily be embedded into web pages so visitors to your website can play them directly. To the right of any video, you'll see a little box containing embedding code. Simply copy and paste this into the code behind your web page. Your web developer will know how to do this. Visit the YouTube site at http://nz.youtube.com/. SMOKEFREE SHORTSNew ZealandImages credited with helping 170,000 quit
"It's a huge gain. It equates to 170,000 less smokers," the Ministry of Health's National Director of Tobacco Control, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, said. The Press, 21 January 2009 Smokefree compromise Nelson city councillors argued on Thursday over the prospect of the city's parks and reserves becoming smokefree, but compromised in the end with a move to support the idea applying to sports grounds and playgrounds. The Nelson Marlborough District Health Board had sought the council's support for its efforts to deter smoking in public parks, after gaining support from Tasman district councillors late last year. Nelson Mail, 30 January 2009 Tobacco cover-up reaps reward
The dairy does sell cigarettes but they are covered up from public view. Asthma Society Northland spokeswoman, Erica Fife, says no one, including the shop owner, smokes inside or outside the store and the fact that the cigarettes are covered up is fine with the Foundation's standards. Dargaville News, 21 January 2009 Mental health unit may ban smoking Nelson Hospital's Mental Health Unit is considering going smokefree, targeting some of the heaviest smokers in the health system. Nelson Marlborough Mental Health Unit Manager, Rita Van Iddekinge, said smoking was prevalent among mental health patients worldwide and, as a result, the group had a disproportionate burden of tobacco-related illness and early death. Nelson Mail, 31 January 2009 The butt stops here
"It was 1979 when I took my first real puff on a cigarette. Before then, there had been the odd childish attempt to be a smoker, but it was 1979 that I became a fully fledged addict, aged 15. "It was the same year tobacco was defined as a toxic substance under the new Toxic Substances Act, not that I noticed. Waikato Times, 24 January 2009 ID before you sell! Another Christchurch dairy has been caught selling to an underage volunteer this week and is likely to face prosecution. Thirteen others in the same operation refused to sell cigarettes when the volunteer failed to produce identification – some retailers even reprimanded the youth. Medical Officer of Health, Dr Alistair Humphrey, congratulates all those retailers in the monitoring check who asked for ID and then refused to sell cigarettes when ID was not produced. Canterbury District Health Board media release, 26 January 2009 InternationalWoman who let son, three, smoke is sentenced A mother who let her three-year-old son smoke a cigarette butt while she talked on the telephone was given a suspended sentence yesterday. Kelly Marie Pocock, 24, from Merthyr Vale, South Wales, was filmed allowing her son to smoke in December 2007 after the child picked it up from an ashtray. The Guardian (UK), 23 January 2009 Smoking ban fails to persuade as number of successful quitters drops The number of smokers giving up has barely increased since the ban, despite a hike in the amount spent by the NHS on quitting services. Figures show that nearly a quarter fewer smokers gave up between April and September last year compared to 2007 – the year the ban on smoking in public places was brought in. The Mail (UK), 22 January 2009 NHS offers pregnant smokers £100 to quit
Expectant mothers will get £20 from the NHS after a week off cigarettes, followed by £40 after another month, and a further £40 if they manage a whole year. The payments will be given as co-op vouchers to buy anything except tobacco and alcohol. North-East Essex NHS, which covers areas including Harwich and Colchester, will pay for the scheme from its £451,000 annual 'smoking cessation budget'. But Harwich MP Douglas Carswell, whose wife Clementine is expecting their first child, said just being pregnant should provide enough motivation to quit. The Mail (UK), 23 January 2009 I quit, we quit: what works better for smokers? A study from the University of Bath has found that smokers are twice as likely to stop if they use a support group rather than trying to give up alone. Science Daily, 26 January 2009 Ex-smokers have few proven weapons against relapse, weight gain For former smokers staying quit can prove incredibly difficult, and here is a new blow for abstainers: a large review of studies concludes that programmes designed to help former smokers often fail to improve long-term quit rates. Science Daily, 23 January 2009 Nicotine activates more than just the brain's pleasure pathways Duke University Medical System researchers have discovered there are differing taste pathways for nicotine, which could provide a new approach for future smoking-cessation products. Science Daily, 23 January 2009 Coming soon: nicotine-free tobacco
A group of Japanese researchers led by Professor Kazufumi Yazaki from the Kyoto University Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere have identified a gene that is responsible for transporting nicotine within the tobacco plant. It is already common knowledge in botany that nicotine is produced by the tobacco plant in its roots, and it is eventually carried to the leaves. Tobacco leaves are what find their way into commercial cigarettes. Test Country, 28 January 2009 Why do LGBT people smoke up to 200 percent more than straight people? So we're a little more than three weeks into the New Year, and we imagine that a number of folks have "quit smoking" as one of their top resolutions for 2009 (including, perhaps, our 44th President?). And though more and more locations are placing a ban on public smoking, cigarettes remain quite popular in LGBT circles. Gay Rights, 21 January 2009 Young smokers think smoking is 'cool' but fear the future Young smokers say concern about the effects of smoking on their appearance is a good reason to quit smoking, but not until they see visible changes to their appearance. This is the finding of a study by Professor Sarah Grogan of the University of Staffordshire and colleagues. Medical News Today, 26 January 2009 Mom and dad's tobacco use influences teens' smoking Adolescents whose parents smoke are more likely to start themselves, new research confirms. The effect was particularly strong if young people were exposed to a parent's tobacco use before their teen years. Reuters, 28 January 2009 Discovery hints at pill to curb smoking damage
Researchers have identified 28 molecules that are produced in abnormal amounts in cells lining the airways of smokers. If the levels of these molecules could be restored to that of non-smokers it might allow chronic smokers who have been unable to quit to improve their health prospects. It might also enable people to smoke without significant damage to their health. New Scientist, 12 January 2009 Toddlers told to stop parents smoking in 'sinister' move by health service Anti-smoking advisors are going into nurseries for the first time to give children as young as three lectures on the evils of cigarettes. They are showing them dolls that demonstrate how the lungs of smokers and non-smokers differ, then handing them NHS leaflets and questionnaires to take home for their parents. The Telegraph (UK), 24 January 2009 E-cigarettes fad lets smokers indoors again
For $50, a person can purchase an e-cigarette kit that includes one electronic cigarette, two battery chargers, and 10 cartridges that can either be filled with flavour or a type of nicotine. Additional containers of liquid can be bought for $10 per container. Daily Illini, 30 January 2009 MILESTONESLook who has had a birthday recently... Rose Trappitt, Grace Wong, Veng Ian Uu, Kaaren Beverly, Kristen Foley! QUOTABLE QUOTESIt's an incredibly satisfying job and the walls of the office are plastered with letters, cards and e-mails from people thanking them for their help. Quitline Service Quality Team Leader, Reon Veale,
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The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation is getting some profoundly positive feedback from shop owners who are encouraging smokefree behaviour by removing tobacco displays or not selling cigarettes altogether.
Professor Robert West
Two years ago, when the introduction of photographic health warnings on cigarette packets were announced, a quarter of New Zealanders smoked. Now, almost a year after the graphic reminders of the health risks of smoking appeared on every tobacco product sold in this country, that has dropped to one in five Kiwis.
Dargaville shop, BJ's Dairy, is the fifth recipient of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation's national awards for discouraging customers from smoking.
Thirty years ago Tracey Cooper took up smoking as an impressionable teenager. He describes the battle that he and other nicotine addicts have with cigarettes and talks to those that support the quitters. And starting today, he too will try to kick the habit.
Pregnant women will be paid up to £100 to quit smoking.
For those who simply cannot stop smoking, there may be a way to light up a stick without having to breathe in nicotine.
A pill that could mitigate some of the negative health effects of smoking is a step closer to reality.
Inside The Blind Pig Company in downtown Champaign, a group of University graduate students sit smoking cigarettes. Seemingly contradictory to the Illinois indoor smoking ban, these smokers are once again able to take a puff indoors.