Answers About Tobacco

TFN E-News Update / April 2022

For the foreseeable future, E-News will be sent out on a monthly, rather than bi-monthly, schedule. If you have questions, reach out to DHHS.TFN@nebraska.gov and we will get back to you! Thanks!

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.

FDA Can Regulate Synthetic Nicotine

Congress Expands Definition of “Tobacco Product”

On March 15, President Biden signed into law the 2022 omnibus spending bill, which grants the FDA authority to regulate synthetic nicotine products as tobacco products. Under the new law, an FDA-regulated “tobacco product” will now include “any product made or derived from tobacco or containing nicotine from any source that is intended for human consumption, including any component, part, or accessory of a tobacco product.” The law will take effect April 15, 2022.

For more on the health risks of synthetic nicotine and the importance of regulating these products, read the blog post “What’s the Deal with Synthetic Nicotine” and check out a recent webinar on this topic.

FDA Webinar Recording: Prohibiting Menthol as a Characterizing Flavor

FDA’s recent webinar held February 10, 2022, is now available online. The webinar covered the agency’s plans to advance two tobacco product standards—one to prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and another to prohibit characterizing flavors, except tobacco, in cigars,

The webinar addressed multiple topics, including:

  • FDA’s planned tobacco product standards and why they matter to public health
  • FDA’s rulemaking process and how stakeholders can submit comments on proposed rules
  • Available cessation resources and tools
  • Responses to some of the most commonly submitted stakeholder questions

Here is the link to view the webinar: Webinar: FDA’s Rulemaking Process and Planned Tobacco Product Standards to Prohibit Menthol as a Characterizing Flavor in Cigarettes and Flavors in Cigars – 02/10/2022 | FDA

2022 Nebraska Public Health Conference
April 5-6, 2022 | Lincoln, NE.
Hosted by Nebraska Association of Local Health Directors (NALHD), UNMC College of Public Health, and the Public Health Association of Nebraska (PHAN).
Register Here

2022 Eliminate Tobacco National Summit
April 20-21, 2022 | Virtual
The Eliminate Tobacco Use Initiative convenes an annual summit addressing the key areas of policy, prevention/education and cessation.
Register Here

Nebraska Conference on Health Equity
April 26-27, 2022 | Virtual
This event is free and open to the public. For more information visit nehealthequityconference.com

PAVe Clear the Vapor 2022
May 24-25, 2022 | Virtual
Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes Clear the Vapor 2022 will be held virtually. This conference is free.
Register Here

National Conference on Tobacco or Health
June 28-30, 2022 | New Orleans, LA.
The National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH) is one of the largest, long-standing gatherings for top United States tobacco control professionals. The event attracts a diversity of public health professionals committed to policies to reduce tobacco use.
Register Here

Third National Menthol Conference
September 28-30, 2022 | Washington, D.C.
The 3rd National Menthol Conference will bring together tobacco control advocates, community leaders, public health professionals, coalitions, and health departments from across the country to provide a roadmap in the effort to remove flavored tobacco products from the market once and for all.
Register Here

Tobacco Disparities Reframing Project
OPEN NOW | Virtual
The CDC’s 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

Two Tobacco Product Standards to be Proposed This Spring

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently reaffirmed its intent to publish two proposed tobacco product standards this spring: one prohibiting menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and another to prohibit all characterizing flavors, except tobacco, in cigars.

For more information on the FDA’s decision to ban menthol as a flavoring in cigarettes and all flavors in cigars, see the many resources on the Federal Tobacco Action Center webpage, including the 2021 supplement to their menthol citizen petition.

American Lung Association Cohort Call Series on Tobacco Cessation

The American Lung Association is planning their next peer cohort call series which will focus on assessing tobacco cessation coverage in health plans. This call series will allow you to learn from each other while sharing some tools that you all can use in determining what plans offer.

The American Lung Association will host 3 calls which will take place on:

  • Tuesday, March 29 from 3-4pm ET
  • Tuesday, April 12 from 3-4pm ET
  • Tuesday, April 26 from 2-3pm ET (note different time)If you are interested in participating in this group of calls, please email cessationta@lung.org.

April Health Awareness Observances:

  • National Cancer Control Month and other Cancer Awareness Observances:
    – National Minority Cancer Awareness Month
    – Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month
    – National Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, April 3-9, 2022
  • National Minority Health and Health Disparities Month
  • National Stress Awareness Month
  • Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action (formerly Kick Butts Day), April 1, 2022
  • National Public Health Week, April 4-10, 2022 (Theme: Here is where You Are)
  • World Health Day, April 7, 2022
  • National Fertility Awareness Week, April 17-23, 2022

Calling all youth and young adults: 2022 truth® Ambassador applications are now open

If you or someone you know is looking to effect change, join the fight against the forces and impacts of addiction to establish tobacco-and-vape-free communities. The truth Ambassador program is a year-long, paid, leadership program for one of the most successful public health campaigns in history.

For more details click here.

Report on Premium Cigars Health Effects

On March 10, 2022, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) published an independent report on the health effects of “premium” cigars. The report was commissioned by FDA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and provides a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on these products.
Read the report here

2022 Tips From Former Smokers®
Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month

April is Esophageal Cancer awareness month and this edition spotlights Sharon A., from CDC’s Tips From Former Smokers®.

At just 37, Sharon noticed a large growth on her throat and was diagnosed with stage IV throat cancer. The wife and mother of two knew something was wrong when she felt fatigued and nauseous regularly. Sharon also noticed a growth on her throat.

A biopsy would reveal a cancerous tumor in her throat so large it could be seen through the skin on her neck. Sharon underwent radiation and several surgeries, and her larynx was removed. Today, at age 58, Sharon has been smokefree for 14 years and speaks with the aid of an electronic voice box.

According to federal statistics, an estimated 18,440 people living in the United States were diagnosed with esophageal cancer and an estimated 16,170 died of the disease in 2020, making it one of the deadliest forms of cancer.


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.