Spotlight on Smoking Threat Fading?

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the percentage of adults who smoked in the U.S. was up from 19.8% in 2007 to 21% in 2008. This percentage is up for the first time in 15 years! Experts say that public attention to the problem has slipped as smoking rates generally declined, and that governments have cut funding for smoking-prevention programs.

Other factors for the lack of attention to smoking may include: using spit tobacco as an alternative (tobacco companies are marketing these products as 'smokeless' tobacco, positioning them as a safer alternative to smoking) and tobacco companies are continuing to discount their products to offset rising taxes.

Also, according to the CDC survey West Virginia and Indiana had the highest smoking rates in the country with more than one in four residents as current smokers.

(Article via Join Together)

Stop Smoking Thursday, Gain a Healthier Future

Put out that cigarette, don't flick that Bic because tomorrow is Great American Smokeout! This American Cancer Society campaign is a national platform for smokers to take the first step in becoming nicotine-free by not smoking for one day in hopes that it would lead to a smoke-free life.

Created by Arthur Mullaney in 1971, he asked people in his Massachusetts community to give up smoking for a day and to donate the money they would have spent on tobacco to a local high school. Mullaney’s idea soon gained momentum with one million smokers quitting in its first year under the California chapter of the American Cancer Society. With success in California, the ACS took GASO nationwide!

Here are a couple of tips to quit smoking:

• Get Ready - prepare your mind to quit by listing all the reasons for quitting like your family, health and money.


• Gain Support - surround yourself with a strong support system at home or work that will help you cope with your nicotine habit.


• Combat stress/anxiety - go for a walk, listen to music, practice yoga or meditation


• Never give up - if you slip up and have a cigarette don't beat yourself up and reward yourself when you haven't had a cigarette in a couple of days.
  

A great number to have in your cell phone is the American Cancer Society's Quitline. You can speak with a trained counselor who can give you motivation and resources. You can reach them toll free at 1-877-YES-QUIT (1-877-937-7848).

(Pic via Son of the South)

BADvertising: Exposes Vintage Tobacco Ads

When you usually see tobacco ads, your shown smiling, happy-go-lucky attractive people with sparkling white teeth doing something that only cool attractive people do like (seductively eating watermelon on the back of a pick up) or (become rockstars).

The BADvertising Institute is seeking to change all of these "smoke and mirror" images the tobacco companies want you to believe. According to the organization, BADvertising is the act of "doctoring up"misleading ads to create a more accurate picture.

Here are some of my favorites:

Check out BADvertising to see other "doctored-up" tobacco ads.

Rally Against Tobacco 2009

We are pleased to announce the return of R.A.T (Rally Against Tobacco) as we celebrate Great American Smokeout this month. If you are a Region 10 school, you may send up to 50 students to this event. R.A.T is designed for 6th - 11th grade students. This event is FREE admission and LUNCH is provided. All you have to do is arrange transportation.

WHEN: November 19, 10am - 2pm

WHERE: City Place, 2711 N. Haskell Ave., Dallas 75204

FEATURING: Keith Davis, Former NFL Player and Two-time Rose Bowl Champ
Devin Wyman, Two-time NFL Super Bowl Champ
Michael Brown, Nationally recognized team-building guru
Will Richey, Spoken word artist and founder of Journeyman Ink, LLC
Sock Puppet Theater

Also each student will walk away with a Rally t-shirt and bag.

Space is limited!!! Hurry and register!!!
RSVP to tmay@enviromedia.com by November 10. Include your school's name, number of students (up to 50) you would like to send and number of accompanying teachers. Schools successfully securing available spots will be notified by November 13.

For more information, email to victor.cheatham@region10.org. Limited transportation assistance available.

Breathe Easier in November, Celebrate Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.? Every two minutes a person is diagnosed with lung cancer. Lung Cancer Awareness Month (LCAM) was created to spotlight and bring attention to lung cancer issues. Unfortunately, only 17 states in the United States have officially proclaimed November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

In Texas, there are over 14,000 lung cancer cases and during this past year over 100,000 people have died from lung cancer. That is way too many deaths, for the state to not recognize the need for this campaign. Visit the Lung Cancer Alliance website to get information about how you can write Gov. Perry asking for an official proclamation of LCAM.

Below are a couple of links for you to check out more information about lung cancer and those impacted.
Lung Cancer Alliance
Rexanna's Foundation
American Lung Association

(picture via Getty Images)

Ganguets vs. Sloanes over Secondhand Smoke

Meet Richard and Donna Ganguet, residents of a gated retirement community in El Dorado Hills, Calif. The Ganguets enjoyed sitting out on their patio and swimming in their pool. Now, all their outside activities are ruined they say by their next door neighbor's cigarette and cigar smoke wafting onto their property.

They say residents and visitors at Solone's
home smoke in the backyard at all hours of the day and night. Several people
puffing away at once has resulted in smoke settling in their backyard like a low
fog, Richard
Ganguet said.
When he or his wife open windows or operate the
whole-house fan, he said, smoke is drawn into the house.
They've tried
dispersing the smoke, first with a small fan set near the fence. When that
didn't work, they rented an industrial fan to blow the smoke up and out of the
yard. But the fan is noisy and potentially disturbing to other neighbors.

Now, the Ganguets have filed a lawsuit against their 'smoking' mad neighbors, the Sloanes. In response to the lawsuit filed by the Ganguets, Steve Sloane (a pack and a half a day smoker himself)the homeowner's son, said he wasn't aware that the smoke traveled over to their yard. The battling neighbors hope to resolve this case before it goes to trial.

Each side of the case has the right to live how they want and at peace on their personal property. Which side of the fence are you on?

To read more of the story click below.

(The Sacramento Bee)

Happy Halloween: Tobacco's Scary Side.

This Saturday night on Halloween, ghouls, goblins and other scary sights will be roaming the streets. Tobacco use can also cause a couple of scary sights full of fright. Yellow teeth, wrinkled skin, sores in the mouth and tongue. Besides outward appearance lungs can turn black and the heart could be clogged. Play the video below if you dare to get an idea of things that tobacco can do to you. Have a happy and safe Halloween!