A new CDC feature article highlights how quitting smoking can improve your health. Many people feel like they have a “second chance to live” after they quit and start living a smokefree life. Over time, people who quit smoking see many health benefits. These include reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses. This article highlights the many tools and resources available to help people on their quit-smoking journey, including counseling, medications, quitlines, texting, and the quitSTART app.
On Jan. 10, 2024, 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, A State-by-State Look at the 1998 Tobacco Settlement 25 Years Later, assessing FY24 state tobacco prevention and cessation program funding compared to CDC recommended funding levels. While a few states saw increases in funding including Nebraska, the large majority of states still fall well below CDC’s recommended level of spending.
View Nebraska’s State Report page here.
VIEW THE REPORT AND ALL RELEATED MATERIALS
Tobacco Free Nebraska has developed a new Nebraska Tobacco Quitline resource: “How to Get Connected to a Translator – Quitline Multi-Language Resource,” a comprehensive guide to accessing Nebraska Tobacco Quitline services in multiple languages. Language should not be a barrier to seeking assistance, especially when it comes to quitting tobacco.
This two-page guide offers step-by-step instructions for getting connected to free help quitting in six languages: English, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Arabic, Burmese and Nepali. This resource is designed to help individuals using tobacco connect with Quitline services in their preferred language by walking individuals through the process of connecting with a translator via the main Quitline phone number, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, by connecting with a specific language line, or by talking to their healthcare provider.
Mini-Grant Winners
Congratulations to the 2023-2024 No Limits Nebraska Tobacco Prevention Mini-Grant Award winners! The following schools were awarded grants for tobacco prevention events and public service announcements:
No Limits Nebraska will share the PSAs developed by the mini-grant winners on the No Limits Nebraska website and in upcoming newsletters.
No Limits Youth Leadership Team
No Limits will be building a youth leadership team made up of teens from across the state who are dedicated to fighting Big Tobacco. They will be the guiding force that pushes the movement forward by empowering other Nebraska youth. Would you or someone you know be a good fit? Look for the application and more information on the No Limits website, newsletters, or email Ranae Aspen at ranae.aspen@nebraska.gov.
Newsletter
View the January 2024 newsletter. Want to subscribe to No Limits Nebraska’s quarterly newsletters? Email Ranae Aspen at ranae.aspen@nebraska.gov.
Website
Check No Limits Nebraska’s website for updates and all things youth tobacco prevention in Nebraska! nolimitsnebraska.com
GO TO NO LIMITS NEBRASKA’S WEBSITE
This month, the CDC Office on Smoking and Health commemorates the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Surgeon General’s Report: Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service. This landmark report is considered by historians as one of the most significant public health achievements of the 20th century.
In honor of this anniversary, a retrospective has been developed. This reflective piece provides insights from just a few of the many individuals who have been instrumental in the creation of the Surgeon General’s reports. Their reflections and thoughts convey a sense of pride and accomplishment, serving as a testament to the immense effort required to produce such influential documents.
Over the decades, the Surgeon General’s Reports have served as a beacon, shedding light on the science behind commercial tobacco prevention and control. As we look to the future, these reports will continue to be a cornerstone of our efforts.
Young adult smokers overwhelmingly felt that ads and packaging for new cigarettes like Camel Crisp, Newport Non-Menthol, and Kool Blue primed smokers to expect minty- or menthol-flavored cigarettes, according to qualitative research by Truth Initiative®. Participants in the focus group discussions perceived that the ads would appeal to young people and new smokers, raising concerns that the products may help recruit new users to a life-long nicotine addiction.
CDC’s Population Level Analysis and Community EStimates (PLACES) now includes nine new measures. The newly added Social Determinants of Health measures enable public health and community planners to examine the underlying social factors along with health data at the local level—to better address their community needs. The new measures can help public health and community planners better identify overlapping health and social factors to allocate limited resources and plan public health promotion, prevention, treatment, and management strategies.
TOBACCO CESSATION ACTION GUIDE
This virtual training will use the Million Hearts Tobacco Change Package to discuss practical changes that healthcare systems and clinical teams can make to increase the reach and effectiveness of tobacco cessation interventions and how to incorporate changes into workflows.
Sessions:
TOBACCO CESSATION AND NEBRASKA
This virtual training hosted by Tobacco Free Nebraska is a resource for healthcare providers to learn about Nebraska’s Quitline services and other resources.
Sessions:
EMAIL KYLA.SCOTT@NEBRASKA.GOV TO REGISTER
Beatrice, age 40, lives in New York. She is the mother of two boys and formerly served in the U.S. Navy. Beatrice tried her first cigarette at age 7, her second at 11, and then began smoking menthol cigarettes regularly when she was 13. She had friends who smoked, and she wanted to be “cool” like them.
More than 25 years later, Beatrice still smoked menthol cigarettes. She was not a person who smoked heavily, nor had she been diagnosed with any smoking-related health problems, but she still wanted to quit. Her family also wanted her to quit. Although she had tried many times before, in 2010, Beatrice quit for good. She encourages anyone who wants to quit smoking to do it—but to get help if they need it.
READ MORE ABOUT BEATRICE’S STORY
Tobacco Cessation and Behavioral Health Workgroup
Jan. 29, 2024 | 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. CT
During these quarterly virtual meetings, individuals will focus on the workgroup’s mission to collaborate, establish projects for the workgroup, share resources and align goals across the state of Nebraska, with the aim of increasing tobacco cessation programming in behavioral health services.
EMAIL KYLA.SCOTT@NEBRASKA.GOV TO REGISTER
SAVE THE DATE: Nebraska Tobacco Control Strategic Plan Review
Mar. 20, 2024 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. CT
Tobacco Free Nebraska and Partners for Insightful Evaluation are hosting an annual stakeholder meeting to review and update the current State Tobacco Control Strategic Plan. The meeting will be virtual and a registration link will be available soon.
SAVE THE DATE: State Tobacco Control Conference
May 15, 2024 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tobacco Free Nebraska is hosting an in-person state tobacco control conference. Location TBD.
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.
Nebraska Tobacco Disparities Partnership Meeting
March 13, 2024 | 2:30-3:30 p.m. CT
The Nebraska Tobacco Disparities Partnership is a vibrant network of people and organizations from across the state that focuses on reducing tobacco-related disparities among Nebraska’s diverse populations. The Nebraska Tobacco Disparities Partnership works to provide the information, resources and support that these populations need to prevent youth from using tobacco, and to help current tobacco users quit.
Michael Scott, Program Manager of The Center for Black Health and Equity, will present on communicating health disparities effectively.
EMAIL RENEE.WADEMAN@NEBRASKA.GOV TO REGISTER
SAVE THE DATE: National Conference on Tobacco or Health
Aug. 26-28, 2025 | Chicago, Illinois
The National Conference on Tobacco or Health is one of the largest, long-standing gatherings for top United States tobacco control professionals.
This convening attracts a diversity of attendees committed to best practices and policies to reduce tobacco use, which is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TOBACCO OR HEALTH
This online order form provides the option to preview, order, download and print free and updated promotional resources such as brochures, window clings, magnets, information sheets and more with information about the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline. Most materials are available in both Spanish and English. Please order or use these free materials as needed.
February
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 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.
Comments