CalQuits.org

Kick the Addiction

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:19:38 GMT

Leading health groups joined Senator Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) today in calling for increased efforts in health care reform to help California’s smokers quit smoking and stay quit.

“Smoking is a dangerous addiction, not a habit. It requires treatment and support,” said Torlakson. “By guaranteeing smoking cessation services for those who want and need it, we will prevent disease and save lives and precious Californian tax dollars.”

First, Let’s Help Smokers Quit

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 18:03:39 GMT

New laws to ban smoking are important tools to protect against second hand smoke and deter people from starting to smoke and falling into addiction. And these laws are sure fire ways to make headlines as the tobacco industry always loudly fights back. But there is another important component that must be tackled — creating effective ways to help people quit.

Seventy percent of current smokers want to quit, but fewer than seven percent can stay smoke-free for an entire year. Here’s why: nicotine addiction is stronger than logic and reason. Raising taxes on cigarettes and banning smoking in public places are critical steps, but more must be done to help smokers go tobacco-free.

Let’s Help Smokers Quit

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:00:13 GMT

When it comes to smoking we have all seen the disturbing facts and figures. One in three cancers is attributable to tobacco. Tobacco kills one in five Americans and is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in California. In one year alone, smoking caused over 37,000 deaths in California resulting in lost-productivity costs of more than $8 billion. Calling tobacco a unique product is an understatement- tobacco kills more Americans than AIDS, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, homicides, suicides, car accidents and fires combined.

Smoking Cessation at the President's Cancer Council

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:16:54 GMT

One of the most compelling recommendations from the President’s Cancer Council didn’t make headlines, but it should have.

The panel, including Texas’ own Lance Armstrong and Dr. Margaret Kripke of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, recommends that tobacco-cessation services and medications be a standard part of all health insurance.

Health Reform Means Helping Smokers

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:32:46 GMT

With the special session on health care going on in the state Capitol, there has been renewed attention on how to fix our broken health care system. But before we can make a comprehensive change, we need to fix one of our oldest and most persistent public health threats — tobacco addiction. Although many diseases get front page coverage, smoking addiction has always been and remains one of the greatest health threats to the American public, especially our most vulnerable poor and minority citizens. Poorer Americans are more likely to begin smoking, more likely to be current smokers, and less likely to quit smoking. What's more, smoking is more likely to keep poor Americans stuck at the bottom of the economic ladder. Read more …

Health Reform Should Mean Helping Smokers Reform

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:15:49 GMT

In the State Capitol, everyone seems to have a lobbyist these days—except regular people. Take health care reform. The big players are working behind closed doors to put their stamp of approval on new legislation. Meanwhile working folks who need the attention of our lawmakers the most, risk being left behind.

2007 CDC Guidelines for Tobacco Control Programs

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:20:18 GMT

The CDC's Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs is an evidence-based guide to help states plan and establish effective tobacco control programs to prevent and reduce tobacco use.

Employers Rank Smoking as One of Their Greatest Priority Health Issues, But Only 2 Percent Provide Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Benefits

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:06:28 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 25, 2007 – A nationwide survey of employers released today shows that a majority of employers ranked smoking as one of the greatest priority health issues facing their companies, second only to obesity, but only two percent offer the comprehensive benefit recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).1 The results were announced at a plenary session at the National Business Group on Health/Integrated Benefits Institute Joint Forum on Health, Productivity & Absence Management.

“It’s encouraging that companies recognize smoking as a top priority. Nicotine addiction from smoking is a chronic, relapsing medical condition that studies have shown is best treated with a combination of medication and counseling,” said Ron Finch, vice president at the Business Group. “Employers are beginning to recognize that tobacco use is the low hanging fruit relative to employee health status and health care cost, but few have implemented evidence-based tobacco cessation benefits.”

Black Folks Don't Use Quitlines

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 04:21:06 GMT

The National African American Tobacco Education Network (NAATEN) recently released an executive summary of a nearly yearlong assessment of quitlines as an intervention to reach and increase quit rates among African American and Black tobacco users.

Let's Help Smokers Quit

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:03:28 GMT

An editorial by Roxanna Bautista in AsianWeek.