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December 29th, 2015:

Plain packaging effective in reducing misperceptions of tobacco products among Australian Indigenous

Dec 29th, 2015
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http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-12/smh-ppe122115.php

Following the introduction of plain packaging on tobacco products in 2012, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were 12 per cent less likely to think certain tobacco brands were less harmful than others, a new study found.

Plain packaging means tobacco company colours, logos and design elements are not allowed on tobacco products, but government health warnings still appear. Australia was the first country to implement plain packaging in December 2012 in an effort to curb national smoking rates. Canada plans to implement plain packaging as part of Prime Minister Trudeau’s Safer Kids Initiative.

The research, published today in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, studied the effects of plain packaging on Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s perceptions of different brands being less harmful or more prestigious than others.

“We know that brand imagery and design elements influence perceptions of consumer risk and status,” said Dr. Raglan Maddox, a postdoctoral fellow at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital, specializing in Aboriginal tobacco use, public health and evaluation. “Colours, shapes and symbols on packaging contribute to beliefs that certain brands are more high-status, while using words like mild, light or slim can give consumers the impression that some tobacco products are less harmful than others.”

The study found plain packaging not only reduced overall misperceptions that there are healthier tobacco brands, but also found that participants under the age of 35 were 16.5 per cent less likely to view some brands as more prestigious than others. Research also indicates that smokers, especially those ages 18 to 29, found the new plain packs less appealing.

“These age-specific findings provide important insight for changing perceptions of status or prestige associated with tobacco brands in the younger indigenous population,” said Dr. Maddox. “Preventing uptake and eliminating tobacco use in this demographic is central to addressing the disproportionate burden of smoking-related death and disease, while also improving overall health and life expectancy.”

In 2013, approximately 42 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were smokers – a substantially higher rate than the general population. Tobacco-related illness is the most preventable cause of disease and death in both Australian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, contributing to heart disease, chronic respiratory disease and various forms of cancer.

Dr. Maddox said the study adds to growing literature indicating the world’s first plain packaging initiative is associated with increased thoughts of smoking cessation, attempts to stop smoking and calls to cessation helplines.

“The findings are consistent with recent, broader research that smokers were more likely to correctly identify that cigarette brands are equally harmful and similar in prestige after plain packaging was implemented,” said Dr. Maddox. “The findings on Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people further support plain packaging and health warnings as an effective strategy in reducing global tobacco use.”

As Canada and Australia are both Commonwealth countries with similar health and social systems, Dr. Maddox said he believes Australia’s documented success combined with this study’s findings could haves huge potential for Canadians – especially vulnerable populations, which include First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.

Both countries observe much higher rates of smoking among Indigenous people than non-Indigenous citizens. According to Statistics Canada, First Nations, Inuit and Métis people are twice as likely to smoke or use tobacco products as non- Indigenous people. Among those who smoke, the majority started between the ages of 13 and 16 years of age.

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This study was conducted in conjunction with Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service and received funding from the ACT Health Directorate and the University of Canberra.

About St. Michael’s Hospital

St. Michael’s Hospital provides compassionate care to all who enter its doors. The hospital also provides outstanding medical education to future health care professionals in 27 academic disciplines. Critical care and trauma, heart disease, neurosurgery, diabetes, cancer care, care of the homeless and global health are among the hospital’s recognized areas of expertise. Through the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre, which make up the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, research and education at St. Michael’s Hospital are recognized and make an impact around the world. Founded in 1892, the hospital is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.

Anti-Tobacco Campaigners Celebrate Australia’s Plain Packaging Win

Dec 29th, 2015
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http://www.justmeans.com/blogs/anti-tobacco-campaigners-celebrate-australias-plain-packaging-win

(3BL Media/Just Means) – ​The Australian government ha​s​ scored a win against smoking: plain packaging will remain. Philip Morris had been fighting a lawsuit against a legislation introduced in 2011, but ​a​ Singapore tribunal​ agreed that ​the Australia’s position ​is right: the tribunal ​has no jurisdiction to hear ​the tobacco company​’s claim.

The law was introduced to protect young people who are more vulnerable to advertising and being lured into smoking. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Philip Morris Asia brought the case against Australia using a legal mechanism called Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS)​, and it was the first time Australia had to fight this type of litigation.​

As a rich country, Australia is in advantageous position to fight such legal cases. But it is not the same for developing countries, where smoking rates remain higher and governments don’t have robust financial resources​ to fight the problem and attacks from stakeholders.

​“Tobacco companies will do whatever it takes to undermine efforts to reduce smoking, especially in low-income countries that don’t have the resources to fight expensive lawsuits,” said Mike Bloomberg said in a blog post published by Bloomberg’s charitable arm, Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Bloomberg ​celebrated the Australian victory as an indication that the anti-tobacco campaign has gained momentum with ​the outcome in Singapore. The organization is focused on helping vulnerable countries fight back through the litigation fund it has launched with the Gates Foundation and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

​The purpose of the new fund, which was launched in March, is to assist governments in low- and middle-income countries by defending their tobacco control laws from suits brought by the tobacco industry through international trade agreements. CTFK will direct financial, legal, and other technical assistance t​o those countries when they need to defend themselves from tobacco multinationals, who will fight tooth and nail to keep​ and, if possible, increase​ their market share.

According to the World Health Organization, tobacco kills around six million people every year​, mostly from direct tobaccl use but also from second-hand smoke. Most smokers (nearly 80% of ​one billion across the globe)​​ live in low- and middle-income countries.

– See more at: http://www.justmeans.com/blogs/anti-tobacco-campaigners-celebrate-australias-plain-packaging-win#sthash.nHN0fsgh.dpuf

Activists: Jokowi, Kalla bowing to tobacco interests

Dec 29th, 2015
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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/12/29/activists-jokowi-kalla-bowing-tobacco-interests.html

(From left to right) Muhammadiyah deputy chairman Sudibyo Markus, Human Rights Working Group executive director Rafendi Djamin, Indonesia Institute for Social Development program manager Deni Wahyudi Kurniawan, Ifdhal Kasim from the National Coalition of Civil Society for Tobacco Control and Raya Indonesia director Hery Chariansyah speak at a press conference on tobacco control in Jakarta on Tuesday. (thejakartapost.com/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)

(From left to right) Muhammadiyah deputy chairman Sudibyo Markus, Human Rights Working Group executive director Rafendi Djamin, Indonesia Institute for Social Development program manager Deni Wahyudi Kurniawan, Ifdhal Kasim from the National Coalition of Civil Society for Tobacco Control and Raya Indonesia director Hery Chariansyah speak at a press conference on tobacco control in Jakarta on Tuesday. (thejakartapost.com/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)

Anti-tobacco campaigners have expressed their disappointment with the performance of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla in stemming cigarette consumption, claiming the government had caved in to the interests of the powerful cigarette industry.

Ifdhal Kasim from the National Coalition of Civil Society for Tobacco Control said the government’s subordination to the industry reflected in the revision of the Industry Ministry’s roadmap for the tobacco industry, which targeted an increase of cigarette production by 5 – 7.4 percent per year.

“This roadmap will trigger an increase in consumption to 524 billion cigarettes by 2020, which is not in line with long-term plans announced by the government,” he said on Tuesday.

According to Ifdhal, the long-term development plan (RPJP) stipulated that government policy should always consider the social health impacts; therefore the revision of the roadmap contradicted the long-term development plan.

He said the government’s failure to control cigarette consumption was also seen in investment by global cigarette company Philip Morris, which had been welcomed by the government.

Such investment, he said, had triggered the change in policy regarding cigarette control and would also increase tobacco imports from supplying countries like China, India and Thailand. “Indonesia is a sexy market for tobacco-producing countries and the heaven of the cigarette industry, because it is so easy to market cigarettes in Indonesia,” Ifdhal said.

Meanwhile, Hery Chariansyah, director of NGO Raya Indonesia, slammed the government for failing to curb the progress of the tobacco industry in Indonesia in 2015.

“The government appears not to be protecting the public’s health against the negative impact of cigarettes. The Jokowi-Kalla administration also seemed to have deviated far from the development principles promised in their election campaign,” said Hery.

The tobacco bill, scheduled to be deliberated at the House of Representatives next year according to the national legislation program, also indicated the government’s powerlessness in keeping tobacco industry interests out of the bill, according to Hery.

Ifdhal, however, still expressed hope that the government may carry out significant steps next year to reduce cigarette consumption.

“One of the ways to control tobacco consumption is by ratifying the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). FCTC is the technical instrument which will help Indonesia control cigarette consumption,” he said.

Hery agreed with Ifdhal, saying that “one-thirds of males in Indonesia between the age of 15 and 19 are smokers”. This condition will lead to a demographic disaster. People of the productive age are prone to various kinds of sicknesses because of cigarettes. The government has to stop selling its people to the cigarette companies.” (bbn)

– See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/12/29/activists-jokowi-kalla-bowing-tobacco-interests.html#sthash.7mI0c62D.dpuf

E-cigarettes are NO better than regular smoking: Devices can ’cause cancer even when they’re nicotine FREE’

Dec 29th, 2015
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3377730/E-cigarettes-NO-better-regular-smoking-Toxins-devices-cause-cancer-nicotine-FREE.html

  • E-cigarettes were designed to replace conventional cigarettes
  • But, a new study found that e-cigs are ‘just as unhealthy’ as cigarettes
  • E-cigs were found to cause cancer – even when they don’t have nicotine
  • That’s because they contain toxins that can spark tumor growth
  • This study adds to the growing evidence that e-cigs cause health problems

E-cigarettes can cause cancer – even when they are nicotine-free, scientists have warned.

There is little difference to a person’s health between using the devices and smoking regular cigarettes, a study found.

Toxins found in e-cigarettes trigger the same cell damage that causes cancer.

The finding adds to a growing body of evidence that suggests the devices may cause serious health problems.

The scientists said: ‘Our study strongly suggests electronic cigarettes are not as safe as their marketing makes them appear to the public.’

Researchers from Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System tested two popular brands of e-cigarettes.

They found that both brands harmed cells in ways that could spark the development of a tumor even with no nicotine – which is the addictive ingredient in tobacco.

Some countries have banned e-cigarettes. However, their use and sale are legal in both the US and UK.

The US Food and Drug Administration doesn’t regulate e-cigarettes, though it has warned of possible health risks.

Yet, the evidence of these health risks are limited – since the devices have only been readily available for less than a decade.

One of the lead authors of the study, Professor Jessica Wang-Rodriquez, of the University of California San Diego, said: ‘There haven’t been many good lab studies on the effects of these products on actual human cells.’

Dr Wang-Rodriquez and her team of scientists created an extract from the vapor of the products.

They used the vapour to treat human cells in petri dishes.

The scientists found that those cells were more likely to suffer DNA damage and die – compared to untreated cells.

The exposed cells, in particular, showed tell-tale ‘strand breaks’ in the familiar double helix of molecules that intertwine.

When one or both break apart and the cellular repair process does not work properly, it can lead to cancer.

The scientists found that the affected cells were also more likely to launch into programmed cell death or cell injury – known as apoptosis and necrosis respectively.

For the main part of the study, the scientists examined normal epithelial cells, which line organs, glands and cavities throughout the body – including the mouth and lungs.

They found that while nicotine caused worse damage, vapour that didn’t contain the chemical was enough to alter them.

Professor Wang-Rodriguez said: ‘There have been many studies showing nicotine can damage cells.

‘But we found other variables can do damage as well.

‘It is not that the nicotine is completely innocent in the mix, but it looks like the amount of nicotine the cells are exposed to by e-cigarettes is not sufficient by itself to cause these changes.’

Lung cancer (pictured) can be caused by regular cigarettes. However, scientists discovered that e-cigarettes can spark the development of a tumor even with no nicotine – which is the addictive ingredient in tobacco.

Lung cancer (pictured) can be caused by regular cigarettes. However, scientists discovered that e-cigarettes can spark the development of a tumor even with no nicotine – which is the addictive ingredient in tobacco.

There must be other components in e-cigarettes that are doing the damage, she added.

‘So we may be identifying other carcinogenic components that are previously undescribed,’ she said.

The scientists are now trying to sort out those other substances and their specific effects.

It is already known that the products contain some troubling chemicals – such as formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

Using the products at a low voltage setting may minimise the production of formaldehyde.

Another dangerous chemical contained in e-cigarettes is diacetyl, a flavouring that has been linked to lung disease.

A Harvard University study found it in more than three quarters of flavored e-cigarettes and refill liquids, or ‘e-juice’.

Currently, there are nearly 500 brands of e-cigarettes on the market – in more than 7,000 flavors.

Scientists must now start on identifying all of the problems associated with the products.

Professor Wang-Rodriguez said: ‘For now, we were able to at least identify that e-cigarettes on the whole have something to do with increased cell death.

‘We hope to identify the individual components that are contributing to the effect.’

The accepting lab cells from the study aren’t completely comparable to those within a living person.

Furthermore, the dose did not mimic what an e-cigarette user would get.

Yet, scientists are trying to answer the overarching question of whether e-cigarettes are really any safer than the conventional cigarettes they are designed to replace.

Professor Wang-Rodriquez said: ‘Based on the evidence to date, I believe they are no better than smoking regular cigarettes.’

Instead of burning tobacco, e-cigs generally contain cartridges filled with nicotine and other chemicals.

When it is used, the liquid chemicals in the cartridge are turned into a vapour or steam that is inhaled by the smoker.

It is estimated there are currently 2.6 million adults in Great Britain using electronic cigarettes, while regular users in the US number roughly 12.5 million.

The study was published in the journal Oral Oncology.

Legally Selling and Importing eCigarettes in Hong Kong

Dec 29th, 2015
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European watchdog is failing to hold tobacco industry to account over smuggling

Dec 29th, 2015
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Views sought to raise minimum smoking age to 21

Dec 29th, 2015
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http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/views-sought-raise-minimum-legal-age-tobacco-purchase-18-21

SINGAPORE – To delay smoking initiation among youths, the Health Promotion Board (HPB), together with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA), is seeking the public’s views on whether it should prevent people from buying tobacco until they are 21 years old.

If the measure is passed, this will raise the minimum legal age for the purchase, possession and use of tobacco in Singapore from 18 to 21.

The HPB first said last May that it was studying raising the legal age for smoking. It followed an earlier proposal by non-profit organisation Sata CommHealth, which said increasing it to 21 would deter young men from picking up smoking during National Service.

This is part of the strategies the Board is considering to achieve its aim of reducing Singapore’s smoking prevalence rate to 12 per cent by 2020.

The nation’s smoking rate has been steadily decreasing, from 18.3 per cent in 1992 to 13.3 per cent in 2013. Singapore has one of the lowest smoking rates in the world, HPB said today (Dec 29), citing a report by World Health Organisation (WHO).

As a rationale for raising the minimum legal age for purchase of tobacco, the HPB quoted a 2008 WHO report on how persons who do not start smoking before the age of 21 are unlikely to ever begin. HPB added that other studies have shown that young persons who start smoking early are likely to continue smoking into adulthood.

Other tobacco control measures it is looking to implement include reducing the appeal of tobacco products through standardised packaging without any promotional information like trademarks, logos, colour schemes and imagery.

The HPB also recommends increasing the size of graphic health warnings to occupy more than 50 per cent of the tobacco packaging and replacing images on such warnings every two to three years to increase its effectiveness.

The HPB would also like to seek views on the restriction of the sale of tobacco products that have a flavour. Flavours can include menthol as well as fruit and candy flavours.

The public consultation will be held for a period of 12 weeks from today to March 29 next year.

Singapore currently adopts a multi-pronged approach to drive down its smoking prevalence, HPB said.

This includes a wide range of strategies such as legislation, which includes restrictions on tobacco advertising and smoking prohibitions in public places, public education, the provision of smoking cessation services and taxation.

Santa Clara County raises legal age on tobacco and electronic cigarette purchase

Dec 29th, 2015
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http://www.examiner.com/article/santa-clara-county-raises-legal-age-on-tobacco-and-electronic-cigarette-purchase

Santa Clara County has raised the legal age to purchase cigarettes and electronic cigarettes from 18 to 21, becoming the first such county to do so in the country. The new ordinance will take effect on Jan. 1—stores will be required to post signage and a more rigorous campaign of identification verification will begin.

According to a board study, national data has shown that 95 percent of smokers take up the habit before the age of 21—a telling statistic, considering the County Board of Supervisors said the new ordinance sends a message of putting the health of the youth before the representation of any other special interest. The same study showed that 80 percent of all adult smokers first try smoking before the age of 18.

“Our county continues to be a national leader in protecting the health of our residents, particularly our children and youth, from the harms of tobacco,” said Supervisor Ken Yeager in a press release. Yeager was the curator of the new ordinance. “The new tobacco purchase age of 21 clearly puts the health of our youth before any special interests.”

In California, 64 percent of smokers start smoking by age 18, and 96 percent start smoking by age 26.

“Tobacco use is still the number one cause of preventable death in the United States, killing more than 480,000 people and costing about $170 billion in health care expenses each year,” said Sara Cody, M.D., County Health Officer and Director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. “Tobacco and e-cigarette use among teens and young adults remains a critical public health concern.”

Retailers in the county will be subject to a much more rigorous ID campaign than is already in place. The schedule of fines for violation are as follows:

A fine not to exceed $100.00 for a first violation within one year

A fine not to exceed $200.00 for a second violation within one year; and

A fine not to exceed $500.00 for each additional violation within one year

Besides the fines, retailers will also be subject to permit suspensions if found violating the new sales policy:

For a first violation within any 24-month period, the retailer permit shall be suspended for up to 30 calendar days

For a second violation within any 24-month period, the retailer permit shall be suspended for up to 90 calendar days

For each additional violation within any 24-month period, the retailer permit shall be suspended for up to one year

E-cig users warned they are as well smoking normal fags as vaporizers can cause cancer too

Dec 29th, 2015
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NEW study shows that e-cigarettes can lead to cancer even when they are nicotine-free because of the other toxins that many of them contain.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/health/e-cig-users-warned-well-7086704

A new study says vapers pose health risks similar to normal cigarettes

E-CIGS can cause cancer – even when they are nicotine-free, according to new research.

And a professor carrying out research says that based on the evidence so far there might be little difference health-wise between using e-cigarettes and smoking regular cigarettes .

Lab experiments on the battery-operated devices found they lead to the same kind of cell damage that triggers the disease.

The finding adds to growing evidence electronic cigarettes may cause serious health problems because of the toxins they contain.

In the study scientists tested two popular brands and showed they harmed cells in ways that could spark the development of a tumour even with no nicotine, the addictive ingredient in tobacco.

Writing in the journal Oral Oncology, they said: “Our study strongly suggests electronic cigarettes are not as safe as their marketing makes them appear to the public.”

Although some countries have banned e-cigs their use and sale in the UK, like the US, is legal .

But the US Food and Drug Administration does not regulate e-cigarettes and has warned of possible health risks, although evidence is limited as they have just been readily available for less than a decade.

Professor Jessica Wang-Rodriquez, of the University of California, San Diego, said: “There haven’t been many good lab studies on the effects of these products on actual human cells.”

The head and neck cancer specialist and colleagues at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System created an extract from the vapour of the products and used it to treat human cells in petri dishes.

These were more likely to suffer DNA damage and die, compared with untreated cells.

Prof Wang-Rodriguez said: “There have been many studies showing nicotine can damage cells. But we found other variables can do damage as well.

“It is not that the nicotine is completely innocent in the mix, but it looks like the amount of nicotine the cells are exposed to by e-cigarettes is not sufficient by itself to cause these changes.

“There must be other components in the e-cigarettes that are doing this damage. So we may be identifying other carcinogenic components that are previously undescribed.”

Her researchers are now trying to sort out those other substances and their specific effects.

Scientists already know of some troubling chemicals in the products. One is formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

Using the products at a low voltage setting may minimise the production of formaldehyde, research suggests.

Another possible culprit is diacetyl, a flavouring that has been linked to lung disease.

A Harvard study found it in more than three quarters of flavoured e-cigarettes and refill liquids, or ‘e-juice’.

There are nearly 500 brands of e-cigarettes on the market, in more than 7,000 flavours, so scientists have their work cut out for them identifying all the potential problems.

Prof Wang-Rodriguez said: “For now, we were able to at least identify that e-cigarettes on the whole have something to do with increased cell death. We hope to identify the individual components that are contributing to the effect.”

While accepting lab cells are not completely comparable to those within a living person and the dose did not mimic what an e-cigarette user would get, she said the overarching question is whether e-cigs are really any safer than the conventional cigarettes they are designed to replace.

Added Prof Wang-Rodriquez: “Based on the evidence to date, I believe they are no better than smoking regular cigarettes.”

Instead of burning tobacco, e-cigs generally contain cartridges filled with nicotine and other chemicals .

When it is used, the liquid chemicals in the cartridge are turned into a vapour or steam that is inhaled by the smoker.

It is estimated there are currently 2.6 million adults in Great Britain using electronic cigarettes , while regular users in the US number roughly 12.5 million.