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TFN E-News Update / June 2022

 

Comment Period Extended FDA Tobacco Product Standards

In April the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing two tobacco product standards:
FDA is extending the comment period for these two proposed rules from 60 days to 90 days. The public may now submit comments on these proposed rules through Aug. 2, 2022.
 
FDA is extending the comment period to a total of 90 days following requests from the public. FDA also received requests to not extend the comment period from public health organizations. However, FDA believes that a 90-day comment period is appropriate as it allows adequate additional time for people to fully consider the proposed rules, including specific requests for comments, and develop and submit comments without significantly lengthening the rulemaking proceedings.
 
FDA Links:
 
Federal Register Notices:
 

Want a Quick Overview of the Proposed Product Standards? Grab the Fact Sheet

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has created a short fact sheet with an overview of the proposed products standards, including their impact on society. Download the fact sheet here for a quick, handy reference.

Tobacco Product Harm Perceptions Among U.S. Middle and High School Students

Journal of Adolescent Health (May 19, 2022). In 2020, the prevalence of middle and high school students reporting “no” or “little” harm (vs. “some” or “a lot”) was 20.1% for e-cigarettes, 17.4% for hookahs, 14.6% for cigars, 13.5% for smokeless tobacco, and 11.0% for cigarettes.
 
 

Tobacco-free Toolkit for Behavioral Health Agencies

This toolkit, from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), serves as a resource and guide for behavioral health agencies adopting a tobacco-free wellness policy for their facilities and campuses. It provides information on tobacco use among the behavioral health population, as well as a step-by-step guide to becoming a tobacco-free facility and treating tobacco use in clients and staff.

Smoking prevalence is highest among those with behavioral health conditions, and behavioral health conditions – both mental illness and illicit drug use – are highest among American Indian and Alaskan Native populations, individuals reporting as multiracial and individuals responding as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual.

Download the Toolkit [PDF]

The Impact of Recent Tobacco Regulations and COVID-19 Restrictions for Future E-Cigarette Retail: Perspectives from Vape and Vape-and-Smoke Shop Merchants

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (March 24, 2022). Vape shops are expanding their product lines to include cannabidiol products and building up their online marketing in response to tightening restrictions on e-cigarettes. 
 
 

U.S. State Laws Requiring Tobacco-free Grounds for Mental Health and Substance Use Facilities

Public Health Law Center (May 2022). This updated resource summarizes the results of a 50-state scan of state laws requiring that mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities have tobacco-free grounds. Although many facilities have voluntarily adopted tobacco-free policies, this resource focuses on state mandates.
 
 

FDA Launches Youth Vaping Prevention Campaign

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is launching the “Next Legends” Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Campaign as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect youth from the harms of tobacco use. The campaign will educate American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth, ages 12-17, about the harms of vaping through unique branding and tailored messaging created to inspire a new generation to live Native strong and vape-free.
 
There are approximately 400,000 Native teens in the U.S., and more than half of them are at-risk of using tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Studies show that Native youth are more susceptible to e-cigarette use than their non-Native peers, and they demonstrate disproportionately high experimentation with and current use of e-cigarettes.
 

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

National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media
August 16-18, 2022 | Atlanta, GA.
National Public Health Information Coalition. The conference will offer limited onsite attendance on a first-come, first-served basis.
Register Here

 

New Director named at Center for Tobacco Products

FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) announced the selection of a new CTP director, Brian A. King, Ph.D., M.P.H. Dr. King previously worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health. CTP looks forward to working with Dr. King to ensure tobacco-related disease and death is a part of America’s past, not America’s future.

Updated Free Resource Available

Patient brochure, ‘What to Expect’, has been updated to reflect recent changes in Medicaid coverage. This brochure walks the participant through the process and lets them just what to expect from the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline services.
 
 

June Health Awareness Observances: 

  • Father’s Day, June 19, 2022
  • Juneteenth, June 19, 2022
  • Cataract Awareness Month
  • National Healthy Homes Month
  • LGBT Pride Month
  • Men’s Health Month
  • Pow Wow Season (generally runs June through August)
  • Graduation Season

Pride Month

Ellie N. is a member of the LGBTQ community and loves being around people. She worked in bars that serve LGBTQ communities and noticed lots of people smoking there. Soon, she noticed the toll cigarette smoke was taking on her own health.
 
In her mid-thirties, Ellie was diagnosed with asthma. She never smoked but worked as a bartender in a bar that allowed smoking. After several hospital visits and on the advice of her doctor, Ellie felt she had no choice but to quit her job and find one where she wouldn’t be exposed to secondhand smoke.
 
Today, Ellie lives with her partner and works in a smoke-free environment. She is very comfortable asking people not to smoke around her, whether they are friends, family members, or strangers. However, she is also sad she had to leave a job she loved. Ellie is emphatic in saying, “Everyone deserves to work in a smoke-free workplace.” In this video, she talks about smoking and how people define their personal identity.
 

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.