ARTICLE: Adult Smoking Cessation – United States, 2022
On July 25, 2024, the CDC released a tobacco-related article in the journal, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): Adult Smoking Cessation — United States, 2022.
In the article:
- In 2022, most of the 28.8 million U.S. adults who reported cigarette smoking wanted to quit; half tried to quit, but fewer than one in 10 were successful. Many adults who smoked lacked advice, assistance, and treatments to quit. Fewer than four in 10 adults who smoked used proven treatment — counseling or medication — when trying to quit. Only half of adults who smoked who saw a health professional in the past year received clinician advice or assistance to quit smoking.
- Tobacco dependence is a chronic, relapsing condition driven by nicotine addiction.
- Counseling, medication, and help from a health care provider can increase a person’s chance of successfully quitting.
- The CDC is at the forefront of the nation’s efforts to reduce deaths and prevent chronic diseases that result from tobacco use. CDC works to prevent people from using tobacco products, help people quit using tobacco products, reduce secondhand smoke exposure, and advance health equity by identifying and eliminating tobacco-related disparities.
No Limits Nebraska Updates
MINI GRANTS
Mini Grant applications are now available for Nebraska youth! The grants are for planning and hosting a tobacco prevention event and creating a public service announcement. Applications for the first round are open through Oct. 16, 2024, and for the second round, applications will close on Jan. 20, 2025. Awardees will need to turn in receipts for reimbursement by April 1, 2025. View the flyer for more information.
Watch videos from last year’s mini grants.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP TEAM
No Limits Nebraska is looking for 10-15 youth across Nebraska to join the movement to take down tobacco in Nebraska. The youth leaders will be given the opportunity to go through Clifton Strengths, StrengthFinder, and awarded $50 incentives to complete a year with No Limits Nebraska. The big charge will be to plan and have a statewide Take Down Tobacco Day, a nationwide initiative for youth advocates to stand up and speak out against the tobacco industry. If you have a youth in your area interested in this opportunity, please encourage them to sign up! View the flyer for more information.
ARTICLE: The Long-Term Impact of the Tips From Former Smokers® Campaign on Calls to 1-800-QUIT-NOW, 2012-2023
On July 24, 2024, the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, in collaboration with RTI International, released the following tobacco-related article in the journal, Nicotine and Tobacco Research: The Long-Term Impact of the Tips From Former Smokers® Campaign on Calls to 1-800-QUIT-NOW, 2012-2023.
This study found that from 2012 through 2023, exposure to CDC’s Tips From Former Smokers® campaign generated more than 2 million additional calls to 1-800-QUIT-NOW. This study shows that exposure to the Tips® campaign has consistently and significantly increased calls to the national tobacco quitline portal, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, and supports continued use of mass media to promote quitlines.
Interactive State Tobacco Policy Map
The Tobacco Control Network has updated its Interactive State Tobacco Policy Map to reflect the policy landscape relating to:
- tobacco and e-cigarette tax,
- smoke-free environments,
- tobacco purchase age of 21,
- preemption,
- JUUL settlements,
- Medicaid coverage,
- and more.
Nebraska Tobacco Quitline Webinar Series
FDA Updates
- On July 25, the FDA announced the issuance of warning letters to 80 brick-and-mortar retailers in 15 different states for selling unauthorized e-cigarette products popular with youth, including Elf Bar and Lost Mary.
- On July 31, the FDA issued warning letters to five online retailers for selling unauthorized disposable e-cigarette products marketed under the brand names Geek Bar, Lost Mary, and Bang.
- On Aug. 5, the FDA posted the following two regulatory science policy memos related to the agency’s review of premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) for new e-cigarette products
- On Aug. 15, the FDA and the Department of the Treasury are announcing a proposed rule that would require an importer to submit the FDA-issued Submission Tracking Number (STN) of Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) products into the electronic imports system operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This new requirement will help streamline the process of reviewing the admissibility of ENDS products into the United States.
Public Health Law Center: Legislation 101
Public health policy can come from any branch of government, and often advocates and policy makers look to legislation to advance or protect public health laws related to commercial tobacco control.
The Public Health Law Center has developed a new fact sheet designed to help those interested in state commercial tobacco control policy better understand how legislatures typically operate, what to look for in bills, and the most effective ways to publicly engage with the legislature. Its purpose is to provide the public health community with the tools needed to effectively track and shape commercial tobacco control policy.
A webinar is available for viewing with the Public Health Law Center’s three legislative members describing how an idea becomes a bill and then law. This webinar covers more about the legislative process, what goes on behind the scenes, and how the public can advocate for positions.
Ethan B.
Ethan, age 59, smoked his first cigarette at age 10. He started smoking menthol cigarettes regularly when he joined the Army at age 18. Everyone around him was smoking, including his friends, and he wanted to fit in. “I wanted to look cool and be cool,” he said, remembering the cigarette ads he used to see as a child. “All the billboards said it was cool.”
Ethan had a smoking-related stroke at age 56, and then a second stroke a year later. The strokes damaged his memory and communication skills. On good days, he might occasionally lose his train of thought. On bad days, he feels confused and can barely finish a sentence.
In 2020, Ethan finally quit smoking for good. He says he feels better and has more energy. He knows now that the advertisements he saw growing up, making him think that smoking was cool, were a lie. Ethan wants to share his story to help other people quit smoking and protect their health.
Nebraska Tobacco Disparities Partnership
September 18, 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.
American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation Clearing the Air Institute
Oct. 14-17, 2024 | Philadelphia, PA
Clearing the Air® Institute focuses on smoke-free air and gaps in protections, and features specific information on smoke-free workplaces, secondhand smoke and e-cigarette aerosol, multi-unit housing, marijuana, casinos, menthol and flavors, colleges, and more.
Nebraska DHHS Division of Public Health, Office of Health Disparities: Eliminating Health Disparities Conference
Oct. 16-17, 2024 | York, NE
The Eliminating Health Disparities in Nebraska conference will share successful programming and services which address and reduce health disparities in Nebraska in the areas of physical/mental health, social/spiritual well-being, community conditions, root causes, and organization transformation skills.
Learn more here.
Tobacco Cessation and Behavioral Health Workgroup
October 28, 2024 | 2:30 – 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.
Nebraska Asthma Conference
November 1, 2024 | Omaha, NE
This conference, presented by the Children’s Nebraska Asthma Center of Excellence and Sponsored by the Nebraska Asthma Coalition will be held at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center at Omaha, and will examine current asthma topics, treatments, and the effects of social determinants of health on asthma.
View more information here.
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.
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.
FREE Resources Available through the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline Order Form
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 Spanish and English. Please order or use these free materials as needed.
Upcoming Monthly Health Observances and Awareness Days
October
- American Pharmacists Month
- Breast Cancer Month
- Healthy Lung Month
- National Dental Hygiene Month
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month
- National Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 1-7, 2024 and World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2024
- World Smile Day, October 4, 2024
- National Fire Prevention Week, October 6-12, 2024
- Child Health Day, October 7, 2024
- Bone and Joint Action Week, October 12-20, 2024
- World Arthritis Day, October 12, 2024
- Indigenous Peoples Day, October 14, 2024
- National Health Education Week, October 14-20, 2024
- Respiratory Care Week, October 20-26, 2024
- Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31, 2024
- World Stroke Day, October 29, 2024
- Halloween, October 31, 2024
Nebraska Tobacco Quitline Offers Resources for Healthcare Providers
Accredited courses are 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.