Welcome to the summer 2010 issue of The TAPE Project News! This e-newsletter will be published four times a year, offering information and resources focused on tobacco issues in substance use treatment programs.
You can subscribe to the TAPE Project Newsletter by sending an e-mail to subscribetape@healthrecovery.org
Massachusetts tobacco NEWS
Smoking Rates Decrease in Youth as Use of Smokeless Tobacco Products Rise
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts released its March 2010 report showing that the percentage of youth who smoke cigarettes reached an all time low in 2009 of just 16%, as compared to 35.7% in 1995. However, the report also concludes that for the first time, high school students are using more smokeless tobacco products and cigars than regular cigarettes. The use of these products has risen to 17.6%, according to the report which was conducted by the state health and education departments and funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
To read more about the report, go to:
www.makesmokinghistory.org and click on Patrick-Murray Administration Announces Drop in Youth Smoking Rate at "Kick Butts" Day Event under News and Events on the right
Massachusetts Health Officials’ Proposed Campaign Could Depend on NYC Lawsuit
This past May, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced their proposal to emulate a ground-breaking campaign introduced in New York City late last year that requires retailers to prominently display posters with graphic warnings about the dangers of smoking. The posters also have information about where smokers can get help to quit. A lawsuit recently filed in New York federal court by tobacco companies and retailers claims that the city regulators do not have jurisdiction over cigarette health warnings and that they have also infringed on the First Amendment free speech rights of tobacco makers and retailers. Massachusetts health officials said they will be closely watching the NY lawsuit but they remain committed to moving forward and are planning public hearings regarding the proposal.
For more on this story, go to:
www.boston.com
Smoke Alarm!
Study Shows U.S. Cigarettes Contain More Cancer-causing Chemicals
In one of the first studies of its kind, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared the levels of a potent cancer-causing agent—tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs)—in smokers and cigarette butts from around the world. The study found that all of the cigarettes contained harmful levels of carcinogens. However, due to differences among ingredients and the way the tobacco is produced, cigarettes manufactured in the United States contained about three times as much TSNAs as those made in Canada, Britain and Australia.
For more on the study, go to:
www.nlm.nih.gov
Special Feature
Tobacco Tax Hike May Reduce Smoking among Those with Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders
Could raising cigarette taxes be an effective way to reduce smoking among those with substance use and mental health disorders? According to a new study from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, “people with alcohol dependence did not cut down on cigarettes when prices rose, [but] people with binge-drinking problems, substance use disorders and mental disorders were significantly more likely to quit smoking if prices rose, as would occur with a in cigarette tax increase.” The study found that a 10% increase in the price of cigarettes resulted in an 18.2% decrease in smoking among people in these groups. Researchers note that further study is needed to determine whether this connection is causal. People with substance use and mental health disorders comprise 40% of smokers and more work needs to be done to figure out ways to help these individuals quit smoking.
For more on the study, go to:
www.eurekalert.org
In This Issue
Treatment News
Health News
Teens and Tobacco
Special Topic
Resources and Annoucements
Treatment News
Treatments for Nicotine Dependence are Safe and Effective for People with Severe Mental Health Disorders
Researchers have determined that medications and behavioral treatments for nicotine dependence are as effective among those with severe mental health disorders as they are for the general public. The study, published this past May in the journal Addiction, also determined that quit smoking treatments do not seem to cause deterioration in mental health, as is often feared by the medical community. Smoking has largely been ignored as a health concern in this population. Yet, people with severe mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, are more likely to smoke, which contributes significantly to their high sickness and death rates. The researchers hope their findings will lead to better treatment services for this population.
For more on the study, go to:
www.eurekalert.org
Effective Quit Smoking Treatment Strategies Lacking for Those Living with HIV/AIDS
A new study, from the Saint Louis University School of Public Health, has examined the types of research conducted on smoking and HIV/AIDS from 1980 to 2008. The study reveals that the vast majority of this research has only examined the relationship between smoking and HIV/AIDS and not the effectiveness of interventions aimed at preventing or reducing smoking among those living with HIV/AIDS. One research article examined found that standard smoking cessation programs would not help 86% of smokers living with HIV. The study suggests that researchers have done a good job identifying health problems associated with smoking and HIV/AIDS but emphasizes that it is time to focus on how to help those living with HIV/AIDS to quit smoking. It is estimated that 40–60% of the 1.1 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS are smokers.
For more on the study, go to:
www.sciencedaily.com
For more on treatment strategies, go to:
www.lgbttobacco.org and type “HIV SOL FINAL” in the search box.
Nicotine Vaccine Shows Promise in Early Tests
Researchers announced that an experimental nicotine vaccine, NicVAX, aimed at helping people quit smoking, is showing promise in early clinical trials. Smokers who were given the vaccine had a 10% higher success rate in quitting than those given a placebo. These are considered “statistically significant results” and superior or comparable to the testing results of Zyban and Chantix without the side effects reported with those medications. NicVAX is in Phase III trials which are intended to prove the effectiveness of a drug. In this case, one of the primary goals is also to determine what the smoking abstinence rate is a year later or, in other words, to determine how many people are actually quitting for good. Full results from the study are expected in late 2011.
To read more on the study, go to:
www.cnn.com
New Research Shows that Online Social Networks Help Smokers Quit
Researchers from the Schroeder Institute for Tobacco Research and Policy Studies conducted the first formal analysis of a stable, therapeutic online social network designed to help people quit smoking. The study found that members of the online quit smoking site QuitNet.com who made the most connections with other members of the mutual support community were less likely to smoke. Women made up 72% of all active QuitNet members. The researchers found that QuitNet members were evenly split between recent quitters and those trying to maintain long-term abstinence from tobacco use. The study suggests that this type of online social network not only helps smokers quit, it can help them stay quit over time.
For more on the study, go to:
www.meyouhealth.com
For more on the Schroeder Institute, go to:
www.legacyforhealth.org
For more about Quitnet, go to:
www.quitnet.com
Health News
Smoking Increases Risk of Second Breast Cancer
A new study shows that breast cancer survivors who smoke are at greater risk than nonsmokers for developing a second cancer. Researchers followed women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer which was treated with lumpectomy and radiation. Fifteen years after treatment, the overall risk of developing a new, second cancer was 25% for smokers and 19% for nonsmokers. The risk of developing cancer in the previously unaffected breast was 13% for smokers and 8% for nonsmokers.
For more on the study, go to:
www.consumer.healthday.com
Smoking Ages Arteries
Researchers have discovered that smokers’ arteries stiffen with age at about twice the rate of non-smokers. This is significant because stiffer arteries are prone to blockages that result in heart attacks, strokes and other problems. The study sheds more light on the role smoking plays as a cause of cardiovascular disease. The stiffening of arteries is one of the earliest changes that occur in a smokers’ body, and the most subtle, according to one physician. The study emphasizes how the damage to arteries is cumulative over time but there is the possibility that the damage will heal if a smoker quits.
For more on the study, go to:
www.medicinenet.com
Arterial Damage Reversed When Smokers Quit
In the first big study of its kind, researchers from the University of Wisconsin at Madison have discovered that one year after people quit smoking, their arteries showed signs of improvement, lowering their risk of developing heart disease by 14%. Despite gaining on average of 9 pounds, people demonstrated improved arterial health and improved levels of good cholesterol. The study will continue an additional year to see if these improvements are cumulative.
For more on the study, go to.
www.jointogether.org
Teens and Tobacco
Cigarette Ads Capture Teen Girls’ Attention
Cigarette advertisements that allegedly target teenage girls are succeeding. A recent study shows that one ad campaign in particular stands out in the minds of teenage girls and has increased their awareness of cigarette advertising. The product is “Camel No. 9” cigarettes. The very feminine ads, placed in magazines such as Glamour and Vogue, feature a pink camel and a sub-brand of cigarettes called “Stiletto.” They also feature promotional giveaways such as flavored lip balms, purses and cell phone jewelry. The study found that teenagers who could name a favorite cigarette ad were 50% more like to have smoked during the 5-year study period.
For more on the study, go to:
www.healthday.com
Non-daily Tobacco Use Among Teens Can Trigger Nicotine Dependency
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School who tracked smoking behaviors of over 1,200 middle-school children for four years conclude that non-daily smoking among adolescents leads to early signs of nicotine dependence. The study also found that teens who have just started smoking, but not on a daily basis, do not seem to recognize early symptoms of growing dependence. Previous studies have shown a strong correlation between symptoms of nicotine dependence and nicotine addiction. This study shows that even non-daily use of tobacco among adolescents can trigger early symptoms of dependence which, in turn, promote more cigarette use, and eventually lead to addiction.
For more on the study, go to:
www.news-medical.net
Special Topic
Adults More Likely to Smoke and Less Likely to Quit if Depressed
People aged 20 and older with depression are two times as likely to smoke cigarettes, according to researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This includes even those with mild depression—whose symptoms wouldn’t qualify for a diagnosis of clinical depression. The study also found that smokers with depression will smoke more cigarettes than those smokers who are not depressed. Furthermore, adults who are depressed and smoke are less likely to quit than smokers who are not depressed. Researchers said that the link between depression and smoking has long been observed by healthcare professionals and their study shows that the link is real and strong.
For more on the study, go to:
www.health.msn.com
Resources
Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) Awards 33 Programs with Free Patches and Gum!
After reviewing over 60 applications, BSAS has awarded 33 programs access to free nicotine replacement patches and gum for clients and staff who are motivated to quit tobacco use. In conjunction with the distribution of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), each program has or will develop a tobacco treatment support program. BSAS programs participating in the NRT project will attend a day-long training, participate in bi-monthly technical assistance meetings, and submit monthly reports. Congratulations to all recipients!
Fact Sheets Available for Download—Free!
Find a wide assortment of informational fact sheets regarding tobacco use, quitting, etc. at www.tobaccofreekids.org. Not just for or about kids!
Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) Core Certification Training
The University of Massachusetts Medical School‘s Center for Tobacco Treatment Research and Training is pleased to announce its Fall 2010 Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) Core Certification Training. This is an intensive four-day training designed to help tobacco treatment providers master the necessary core competencies for providing evidence-based treatment for nicotine dependence. Completion of the Basic Skills online course is required prior to attending the Core Certification training.
FALL DATES: September 20–September 23, 2010
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: August 30, 2010
To register or for more information about either the Basic Skills online course or the four-day TTS Core Certification training, please go to www.umassmed.edu and click on Training. You may also call Denise Jolicoeur at (508) 856-5886 for additional information.
FOR SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Sarah Ruiz, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, by email at
Sarah.Ruiz@state.ma.us or by phone at (617) 624-5136.
Join the Council to End Nicotine Addiction in Recovery (CENAR)
CENAR is a diverse, voluntary group of providers, including Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) representation, committed to supporting the integration of nicotine education, assessment and treatment into the statewide substance abuse prevention and treatment system. CENAR also provides feedback to DPH and the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services by communicating information and input from substance abuse providers on relevant tobacco-free policy and treatment issues. Meetings include short presentations based on member interest and are designed to assist providers as they integrate tobacco education and treatment into substance abuse programs.
CENAR meets on the second Friday every other month in Worcester from 10am–12pm. Next meeting: September 10, 2010
For more information, contact Janet Smeltz, TAPE Project Director:
janetsmeltz@healthrecovery.org
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