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TFN E-News Update / January 2023

Be Smokefree in ’23 – Keep Your Resolution

A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) feature article provides support to people who want to make quitting smoking their New Year’s resolution, or restart if they’ve had a slip. In addition to providing practical tips, the article also promotes free resources to help them be successful.

New Year’s is the most popular time of the year to hit the proverbial “reset” button—an opportunity to set new goals and resolve to live a happier and healthier life.

Follow @CDCTobaccoFree on Twitter and the CDC Tobacco Free Facebook page for shareable information.


REPORT: Annual Report Released on FY23 State Tobacco Program Funding

On January 13, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, along with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, and Truth Initiative, released their annual report assessing FY23 state tobacco prevention and cessation program funding compared to CDC-recommended funding levels. According to the 2023 Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 Tobacco Settlement, states will collect $26.7 billion from the 1998 Master Tobacco Settlement and tobacco taxes. However, they will spend just 2.7 percent of that – $733.1 million – on tobacco prevention and cessation programs. This is a $14.5 million increase from last year, but still less than a quarter (22.2 percent) of the total funding recommended by the CDC.

View Nebraska’s spending breakdown here.


REPORT: National and State Data Briefs on E-Cigarette Sales

CDC Foundation has posted its most recent National and State Data Briefs highlighting national and state trends in e-cigarette sales from January 2018 through October 30, 2022, on the CDC Foundation website.

These data briefs provide an update on trends in unit sales of e-cigarettes in the U.S. by product and flavor type.

  • This data brief (Issue 22) highlights national trends in e-cigarette sales from January 2018 through October 2022.
  • This data brief (Issue 7) highlights trends in e-cigarette unit sales in selected states. Data are presented from January 2018 through October 2022.

ARTICLE: Disparities in Current Cigarette Smoking Among US Adults With Mental Health Conditions

Prevalence of cigarette smoking for serious mental illness was 27.2%; serious psychological distress and major depressive disorder, 25.0%; serious psychological distress, 24.5%; any mental illness, 22.8%; mild or moderate mental illness, 21.2%; and major depressive disorder, 17.6%. State-level cigarette smoking prevalence among adults with any mental illness ranged from 11.7% in Utah to 42.1% in Louisiana, with a median of 24.7%.

Preventing Chronic Disease (December 22, 2022).

Read More


ARTICLE: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Denies Marketing of Two Vuse Menthol E-Cigarette Products

On January 24, the FDA issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) for two menthol e-cigarette products currently marketed by R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company – the Vuse Vibe Tank Menthol 3.0% and the Vuse Ciro Cartridge Menthol 1.5%. The company must not market or distribute these products in the U.S. or they risk enforcement action by the FDA. The company may resubmit applications or submit new applications to address the deficiencies for the products that are subject to these MDOs.

When reviewing premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs), the agency evaluates, among other things, a tobacco product’s components, ingredients, additives, constituents, design, harmful and potentially harmful constituents, and health risks, as well as how the product is manufactured, packaged, and labeled. After reviewing the company’s PMTAs, the FDA determined that the applications lacked sufficient evidence to demonstrate that permitting the marketing of the products would be appropriate for the protection of the public health, the applicable standard legally required by the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

Read More


In Memory of Brian H. (1954-2022)

Brian grew up in Chicago and started smoking cigarettes at a young age because he thought it was cool. Although Brian’s parents found out he was smoking at age 12, he continued sneaking cigarettes and was smoking a pack of cigarettes per day by the time he reached 8th grade. Brian smoked for most of his life.

Eventually, Brian’s heart became so damaged that he needed a heart transplant, but as long as he continued to smoke, he wasn’t eligible. He finally quit smoking for good at age 55, and three years later, he received a new heart.

Brian passed away on December 14, 2022, at age 68 after suffering from smoking-related health problems for more than 30 years.

Tobacco Free Nebraska (TFN) is grateful to Brian for sharing his story and sends the most heartfelt sympathies to his friends and family during this time.

Learn more about Brian’s story.


Nebraska Tobacco Quitline Training
OPEN NOW | Virtual
TFN is hosting several webinars about Nebraska Tobacco Quitline services and discussing topics like tobacco use in Nebraska, cessation counseling, and cost-free NRT availability. See the event flyer for more details.

  • Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 12 p.m. CST
  • Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 12 p.m. CST
  • Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 12 p.m. CST

Email Kyla.Scott@nebraska.gov to Register

Tobacco Disparities Reframing Project
OPEN NOW | Virtual
The CDC Office on Smoking and Health’s training resource to help the tobacco control community use new evidence-based framing and messaging.

Find it All Here

Tobacco Free Nebraska State Coalition Meeting
February 15, 2023 | Virtual
TFN is hosting a virtual State Coalition Meeting on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. CST/8:30-10:30 a.m. MST.

Register Here

2023 Nebraska Public Health Conference
April 4-5, 2023
Nebraska Association of Local Health Directors (NALHD) is again partnering with UNMC College of Public Health and the Public Health Association of Nebraska (PHAN) to bring you the 2023 Nebraska Public Health Conference.

More Information Here


Monthly Health Awareness Observances

January

  • New Year’s Quit Resolutions
  • Birth Defects Prevention Month
  • Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

February

  • Black History Month
  • American Heart Month
  • National Cancer Prevention Month
  • National Wear Red Day, February 3, 2023
  • World Cancer Day, February 4, 2023
  • Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2023
  • Through with Chew Week, February 19-25, 2023

Applications Open for America’s Healthiest Schools Award

America’s Healthiest Schools is the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s prestigious annual recognition program that honors schools for implementing best practices to support the physical, mental, and social-emotional health needs of the learning community and advancing the health and well-being of students, staff, and families.

Awardees must meet criteria in the Thriving Schools Integrated Assessment, an evidence-informed tool that helps schools identify strengths and opportunities for improving policies and practices to advance health and learning with an integrated approach. School teams may apply for recognition in up to nine topic areas.

For more information, go to the America’s Healthiest Schools. The application process opens on January 10 and closes April 18, 2023.


Nebraska Tobacco Quitline Adds Continuing Education Opportunity for Healthcare Providers

Accredited courses are now available online, through the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline, for providers looking to receive CME, CNE, or CPE credits.

Every year providers in Nebraska support their patients quitting tobacco by referring them to the Quitline. The courses offered help providers discuss how cessation can increase quit success and reduce the risks associated with tobacco use, including vaping.

Several courses are offered and cover a variety of topics, such as Tobacco Use Disparities for People with Behavioral Health Conditions, Myths About Quitting, Vaping and E-Cigarette Devices, and more. Additionally, providers can refer patients using the new online web referral option or the updated fax referral form. Go online to access tools, resources, and education modules, plus the web and fax referrals for providers ready to help patients quit, at QuitNow.ne.gov/providers.


Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit QuitNow.ne.gov to reach a trained quit coach, get access to free quit-smoking medication, and make a plan to quit tobacco for good.

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