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Categories
· Health/Science
· Smokefree Policies
· Letter
USA, by State
· Indiana

LETTER: Health news proves need for smoke ban  

Jump to full article: Indianapolis (IN) Star, 2009-01-05
Author: Wendy Cohen

Intro:

Kudos to The Star for such a fine New Year's gift. The Jan. 1 lead article, "Study: Smoking ban saved lives, hearts," was terrific. The paper's decision to run this on Jan. 1 was brilliant, an eye-opener on a day when many of us are seeking to enforce new resolutions and are contemplating how to begin the New Year.

The purpose of this My View is to urge Gov. Mitch Daniels and the General Assembly to make Indiana a smoke-free state. Let's start the year off right, save hearts and lives, model healthy behavior, protect all Hoosiers in all public places and provide a wholesome environment for our children. . . .

For a cleaner environment, a healthier future for our children and a truly safe workplace for all employees, we must make the logical and correct choice of a comprehensive smoking ordinance for Indiana.

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Categories
· Health/Science
· Letter
· Diabetes
· Tribes

LETTER: SMOKING IN AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLE WITH DIABETES REVISITED ($$) 

January 2009, Vol 99, No. 1
Jump to full article: American Journal of Public Health, 2009-01-01
Author: Kelly Acton, MD, MPH, FACP and Ann Bullock, MD

Intro:

Morton et al's article on smoking and diabetes in American Indians and Alaska Natives raises important concerns.1 Because of the longstanding organized emphasis on smoking ascertainment and cessation for individuals with diabetes, the findings likely reflect a serious ascertainment bias.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) Division of Diabetes has measured smoking status in American Indians and Alaska Natives with diabetes since 1986 with the Annual Diabetes Care and Outcomes Audit.2 The IHS Standards of Care for Diabetes emphasize smoking assessment. In 2007, 91.8% of patients with diabetes, systemwide, were assessed for tobacco use. Less than a quarter (23.4%) reported current . . . [Full Text]

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Categories
· Cessation
· Tax
· Letter
· Class/Income Levels

LETTER: TOBACCO TAXES AND CIGARETTE CONSUMPTION IN LOW INCOME POPULATIONS ($$) 

January 2009, Vol 99, No. 1
Jump to full article: American Journal of Public Health, 2009-01-01
Author: David Ahrens, MS

Intro:

In their letter in response to Franks et al.'s analysis of the failure of tobacco taxes to effectively reduce smoking among lower socioeconomic status smokers,1 Farrelly and Engelen assert that concerns about the regressivity of tobacco can "easily be addressed...by earmarking revenue from cigarette excise taxes to evidence based smoking cessation interventions targeted to low income populations with the highest smoking rates."2(p582)

This is a noble sentiment, but optimistic, given political reality. After a decade of more than 100 separate state increases in tobacco taxes and strong efforts by public health advocates, there have been few instances of such an . . . [Full Text]

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Categories
· Tax
· Letter
USA, by State
· Iowa

LETTER: Tax cigarettes, alcohol and gas - but not incomes 

Jump to full article: Des Moines (IA) Register, 2009-01-04
Author: Nathan Benn, Johnston *

Intro:

I would like the citizens of Iowa to strongly oppose any initiatives to seize income at the local level, as cited in the Dec. 28 article, "Plan Would Give Iowa Cities Power to Tax Incomes."

Government's thirst for money has become insatiable, and it could be argued that its greed could rival that of any greedy corporation. In these trying economic, environmental and health-care times, I propose the following: Impose drastic tax increases on gasoline, cigarettes and alcohol. . . .

The cigarette- and alcohol-tax increases would help to reduce tobacco and alcohol abuse and addiction.

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Categories
· Letter
· Sex/Fertility
· Op-Ed
USA, by State
· Michigan

DEAR ABBY: Happy relationship threatens to go up in smoke 

Jump to full article: The Arizona Republic, 2009-01-03

Intro:

  • Dear Abby: My girlfriend, "Jasmine," has been seeing a therapist for serious depression and anxiety issues, and I think she has done well for the most part.

    I am upset she has taken to smoking with co-workers to deal with stress. I don't like smoking. My mother smokes, and I find it disgusting. . . .

    I love Jasmine, and it's devastating to me to say this, but I can't be with a smoker. Our relationship has been great, but I do not choose to spend my life in a haze of tobacco smoke. I am in college, and every day I see kids my age outside freezing their butts off for a smoke because it isn't allowed inside.

  • Dear Anti-Smoker: The fellow students you see freezing their butts off for a smoke aren't doing it because they like it. They are addicted to nicotine, need their fix and are willing to get it in subzero weather.

    People who reach for a cigarette when they are feeling stressed regard the cigarette as a "friend" they can hold onto. What they don't realize is that the cigarette is holding onto them - and occasional smokers become dependent not only on the ritual but the "drug."

    You have a hard choice to make, and so does Jasmine. Perhaps it will be easier if Jasmine does the choosing. Tell her that if you smell tobacco on her hair, skin, breath or clothing, you won't kiss her. If she hasn't quit smoking within 30 days, you'll have your answer.

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  • Categories
    · Letter
    · Sex/Fertility
    · Op-Ed
    USA, by State
    · Michigan

    DEAR ABBY: Happy relationship threatens to go up in smoke 

    Jump to full article: The Arizona Republic, 2009-01-03

    Intro:

  • Dear Abby: My girlfriend, "Jasmine," has been seeing a therapist for serious depression and anxiety issues, and I think she has done well for the most part.

    I am upset she has taken to smoking with co-workers to deal with stress. I don't like smoking. My mother smokes, and I find it disgusting. . . .

    I love Jasmine, and it's devastating to me to say this, but I can't be with a smoker. Our relationship has been great, but I do not choose to spend my life in a haze of tobacco smoke. I am in college, and every day I see kids my age outside freezing their butts off for a smoke because it isn't allowed inside.

  • Dear Anti-Smoker: The fellow students you see freezing their butts off for a smoke aren't doing it because they like it. They are addicted to nicotine, need their fix and are willing to get it in subzero weather.

    People who reach for a cigarette when they are feeling stressed regard the cigarette as a "friend" they can hold onto. What they don't realize is that the cigarette is holding onto them - and occasional smokers become dependent not only on the ritual but the "drug."

    You have a hard choice to make, and so does Jasmine. Perhaps it will be easier if Jasmine does the choosing. Tell her that if you smell tobacco on her hair, skin, breath or clothing, you won't kiss her. If she hasn't quit smoking within 30 days, you'll have your answer.

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  • Categories
    · Letter
    · Op-Ed
    · Mental Health

    DEAR ABBY: Man disgusted by girlfriend's new habit  

    Jump to full article: Wilmington (DE) News Journal, 2009-01-03

    Intro:

    My girlfriend, "Jasmine," has been seeing a therapist to deal with serious depression and anxiety issues, and I think she has done well for the most part.

    I am just upset that she has taken to smoking with her co-workers to deal with stress. My mother smokes, and I find it disgusting.

    We have discussed this more than once, and she insists that my asking her to stop is "being controlling." . . .

    People who reach for a cigarette when they are feeling stressed regard the cigarette as a "friend" they can hold onto. What they don't realize is the cigarette is holding onto THEM -- and occasional smokers become dependent not only on the ritual but also the "drug."

    You have a hard choice to make, and so does Jasmine. Perhaps it will be easier if Jasmine does the choosing. Tell her that if you smell tobacco on her hair, skin, breath or clothing, you won't kiss her. If she hasn't quit smoking within 30 days, you'll have your answer.

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    Categories
    · Smokefree Policies
    · TV/Radio
    · Letter
    non-USA, by Country
    · UK
    · UK-Scotland

    LETTER: Soft soap on smoking  

    Jump to full article: The Scotsman, 2009-01-01

    Intro:

    Like thousands of other smokers, I now have to stand out in the wind and rain to have a cigarette as we are no longer allowed to smoke in pubs or cafes.

    The government already has a helpline to help people stop smoking. Now it is planning to make shops put cigarettes under the counter and out of sight, to help prevent our young people taking up the habit.

    I can understand all this and I am in full agreement with it, if it prevents people smoking and as a result saves them from dying of cancer.

    What I can't understand is how the government allows young people to be shown smoking in TV soaps.

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    Categories
    · Smokefree Policies
    · Letter
    · Dining/Entertainment
    USA, by State
    · Utah

    LETTER: Smoke-free  

    Jump to full article: Salt Lake Tribune, 2009-01-01
    Author: Jason Medeiros Salt Lake City

    Intro:

    I have some trepidation about how this new statute will be enforced. Will bar management strongly support this new initiative with signage and active monitoring by employees? Or will we have to self-police and ask those who light up indoors to take the smoke outside? In other American cities where this law was enacted, the net effect was that more people came out to these places of business and business actually improved.

    I hope the media highlights this issue early in 2009 so that it's in people's minds when they enter a now smoke-free private club or other building.

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    Categories
    · Tax
    · Letter
    USA, by State
    · Virginia
    Organizations
    · MO

    Letter -- Smokers Are Paying Enough 

    Jump to full article: The Washington Post, 2009-01-02
    Author: BRENDAN J. McCORMICK Vice president, Corporate Communications Altria Client Services (on behalf of Philip Morris USA)

    Intro:

    This past fiscal year, Virginia received more than $170 million in cigarette excise tax revenue, $92 million from cigarette sales taxes and an additional $133 million in payments from the Master Settlement Agreement -- nearly equaling the $400 million in annual Medicaid expenses the editorial attributed to Virginia smokers. Cigarette smokers also paid $64 million in excise taxes to local governments.

    About half of the price of a pack of cigarettes sold in the state goes to the government. Increasing this burden with a higher cigarette excise tax would be unfair to adult smokers and would harm Virginia's manufacturers, tobacco growers, wholesalers, retailers and the jobs they provide.

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    Categories
    · Tax
    · Letter
    USA, by State
    · Virginia

    Letters -- Raising Virginia's Cigarette Tax?  

    Jump to full article: The Washington Post, 2008-12-31

    Intro:

  • Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine badly missed the mark in proposing another cigarette tax increase, which will be paid by a relatively small number of the state's residents ["Kaine Offers Major Shifts in Proposal to Cut Budget," front page, Dec. 17].

    Instead, let any tax increase be spread over a broader base, so more of us share the burden. A small tax on cable and satellite television and cellphone service would more than provide the needed revenue.

  • Pete Earley was right on the money in his Dec. 19 op-ed "Tobacco's Money Trail in Virginia." Mr. Earley's column offered another disturbing illustration of the corrosive effect on democracy of corporate financial contributions to our elected representatives.

    As Mr. Earley stated, raising the cigarette tax is a "no-brainer" for parents . . .

    Perhaps we should insist that any lawmaker who has taken tobacco money should recuse him or herself from voting on cigarette taxes because of a conflict of interest.

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  • Categories
    · Teen Smoking/Youth
    · Letter
    non-USA, by Country
    · Bahrain

    LETTER: Smoking and drugs are dangerously fashionable  

    Jump to full article: Gulf Daily News (bh), 2008-12-31
    Author: Ensa, Nicole and Hardeep

    Intro:

    The destructive path: Drugs and smoking, the fashion of the modern era.

    Who would think that a habit from the past would ever become the world's greatest killer? . . .

    Even though we live in a country with conservative ideals, it is surprising to see smoking and drug addiction on the rise. The youth of our country is indulging in such unhealthy activities. Young boys and girls are seen smoking and taking drugs. Even more worrisome is the fact most of these activities take place in school campuses.

    Sheesha is made available to children below 18 years in some coffee shops. Some stores sell cigarettes to children below the age of 18.

    What's the use of having 'Cigarettes are the main cause for lung and heart disease' printed on every packet when no one cares about it?

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    Categories
    · Secondhand Smoke
    · Letter
    · Asthma
    · Op-Ed

    Smoking harms health, friendship 

    Jump to full article: (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Sun-Sentinel, 2008-12-26
    Author: Amy Dickinson * Ask Amy

    Intro:

    Dear Wheezing: You have already explained your health problems to your friends, and they either don't completely believe you or are letting their addiction make their choice for them.

    Either way, their choice is unfortunate.

    If you want to try to revive this friendship, you could tell them, once again, that your health situation is chronic.

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    Categories
    · Smokefree Policies
    · Letter
    · Elections/Politics
    USA, by State
    · Ohio

    LETTERS: Voters clear when voting smoke-free 

    Jump to full article: Toledo (OH) Blade, 2008-12-23

    Intro:

  • It is a mistake to view the workplace smoking ban as a debate over personal choice and individual liberty. This is, first and foremost, an issue about public health.

    State lawmakers should heed the wishes of the 2.2 million Ohioans who spoke loud and clear in 2006 by passing a comprehensive workplace smoking ban without exemptions.

  • Americans have fought for and fully deserve free choice in their lives as long as they are not using such choice to imminently and grossly harm others. Simply allowing some bars, restaurants, and other businesses the choice to allow smoking clearly does not constitute such harm. Antismoking extremists always like to say that ventilation solutions do not "eliminate" tobacco smoke, but they ignore the fact that modern standards of ventilation are perfectly adequate to provide comfortable and reasonably safe environments for any who wish to be in them.

    --Michael J. McFadden Author of "Dissecting Antismokers' Brains"Philadelphia

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  • Categories
    · Business (Tobacco)
    · Cross-Border/Crime
    · Tax
    · Letter
    · Tribes
    USA, by State
    · New York

    New York should respect Senecas’ treaty-based rights 

    Jump to full article: Buffalo (NY) News, 2008-12-26
    Author: Barry E. Snyder Sr. President, Seneca Nation of Indians

    Intro:

    I object to a News editorial about New York's efforts to impose taxes on commerce within Seneca Nation territory. It had no basis for labeling a sovereign nation unethical for exercising our inherent right to sustain an economy selling lawful products. For the Seneca Nation -- which more than two-thirds of Western New Yorkers polled consistently support on this issue -- this is not about tobacco, or gasoline, or prices, or taxes; it's about our sovereign, treaty-based rights. . . .

    The question is: Will state officials comply with their oaths of office to respect our 1794 treaty with the United States that protects the Seneca Nation's "free use and enjoyment" of our land?

    Our Nation already paid dramatically for the free use of our lands and immunity from state taxes through the loss to this state of nearly all of our aboriginal territory. We refuse to be used as some kind of tribal ATM machine for state leaders to tap every time New York's economic condition deteriorates.

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