Cigarette prices in Canada [cartographic material]

(Publié aussi en français sous le titre: Le prix des cigarettes au Canada [matériel cartographique])

This map compares the average price of a carton of 200 cigarettes by province and territory as of April 17, 2009. Northwest Territories has the highest price with $104.83, and Quebec has the lowest with $70.18.


http://www.nsra-adnf.ca/cms/file/pdf/cigarette_prices_Canada_17_April_2009.pdf

Comment: Interesting that Ontario and Quebec have the lowest prices, yet smuggling is an issue. Perhaps there are factors involved other than price?

Smoke-free hospitals in Greece : personnel perceptions, compliance and smoking habit

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

The authors examine a random sample of hospital personnel in Greece to determine their smoking behaviour and attitudes towards the hospital smoking regulations. They found a high smoking prevalence among nursing and medical/research staff. While the majority of staff did not oppose the total hospital smoking ban, they would prefer a partial ban.

http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.com/content/5/1/8

Comment: I find the high prevalence of smoking among health care workers baffling.

Home-based sourcing of tobacco among adolescents

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This survey examines the number of youth who smoke (daily, occasionally and experimentally) who use home-based sources (parents, siblings, taking from home) to obtain tobacco. While social and commercial sources were used more often, home-based sources were used by almost half of those who smoke daily. Family factors that influence tobacco availability are discussed.


http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2009.01.016

Comment: While commercial and social sources are usually cited for youth access to tobacco products, home sources should not be forgotten.

A 51-year-old woman with bipolar disorder who wants to quit smoking

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

People with chronic mental illness and/or substance abuse make up about 22% of the population in the United States, yet they consume approximately 44% of cigarettes. This clinician's corner discusses a 51-year-old woman with bipolar disorder who wants to quit smoking. Doctors should address cessation amongst patients with mental illness, and provide interventions and pharmacotherapy as necessary.

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/301/5/522

Comment: More people addressing tobacco use and cessation amongst people with mental illness sounds like a good thing.

Tobacco smoking and the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Findings from this case-control study reveal the odds ratio (OR) for non-melanoma skin cancer was significantly higher among people who currently smoked compared to people who had never smoked. There was also a significant dose-response relationship with previous smoking history.

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/4/2/175

Comment: This reason to quit/never start smoking is brought to you from 1995.

Moral disengagement in the corporate world

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Addresses corporate transgressions in ethical behaviour in four different industries – tobacco, silica, lead, and vinyl chloride. Documents how scientists, executives, lawyers and public relations experts in all four industries use moral disengagement mechanisms to justify their unethical behaviour and actions regarding harmful production practices. Presents possible safeguards designed to protect the integrity of research.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08989620802689847

Comment: The tobacco industry appears reasonable, responsible and contrite, while continuing to aggressively promote and sell deadly tobacco products.

Deadly in pink : Big Tobacco steps up its targeting of women and girls

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Table Of Contents:
Summary - Deadly in pink: big tobacco steps up its targeting of women and girls - The story in pictures: big tobacco's current and past marketing to women and girls - Appendix 1: tobacco industry's history of targeting women and girls - Appendix 2: women's health and smoking.

http://tobaccofreekids.org/reports/women_new/report/deadlyinpink_02182009_FINAL.pdf

Comment: It's business as usual for Big Tobacco.

Public knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of the association between skin aging and smoking

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Smoking is a proven cause of premature skin aging. This survey of people who do or do not smoke examines public perceptions of the influence of smoking on skin aging. People who smoke were less likely to know that smoking causes aging, and almost one quarter thought that this knowledge could influence the decision to quit smoking.

http://www.eblue.org/article/PIIS0190962299704019/abstract?showOmimLinks=true

Comment: This article is almost ten years old. I'm surprised more emphasis isn't currently put on the premature aging of skin when trying to encourage people (especially young people) to quit smoking.

Potentially reduced exposure tobacco products : a public health information guide

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This catalogue identifies 40 potentially reduced exposure products (PREPs), features information about the product's manufacturer, availability and potential for harm reduction. Because new products are continually being released, further updates will be provided on the online (pdf) version of this catalogue.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/research/tobacco-control-research/files/PREPs_web_monograph_optimized.pdf

Comment: PREPs pose an interesting public health challenge in light of the fact that advertisements for these products convey safety claims.

Dependence on the nicotine gum in former smokers

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Using modified versions of nicotine dependence tests, the authors conducted an internet survey of those who use nicotine gum daily to determine nicotine gum dependence. Individuals with longer gum use indicated a higher rate of dependence, and they were less likely to stop using the gum. If it prevents relapse, longer gum use may be beneficial.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.10.018

Comment: While this article mentions that there are no known serious adverse effects from extended gum use, perhaps further examination into prolonged use is warranted?

Beneficence or maleficence - Big Tobacco and smokeless products

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

Editorial highlights recent developments among tobacco transnationals and how the tobacco control community should respond. Industry mergers and takeovers by Philip Morris USA and Reynolds American and revitalized marketing of smokeless tobacco products, underscores the urgent need for a regulatory framework for all tobacco and nicotine products which would also set limits for contents and extend controls on packaging and marketing.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02483.x

Comment: The tobacco problem is NOT going away anytime soon...

Smoking behavior and interest in quitting among homeless smokers

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This cross-sectional survey reveals people who are homeless that smoke are interested in quitting smoking and getting help to quit smoking. Also having a smoking-related disease, more self-confidence in their ability to quit smoking, and more social support for quitting smoking were related with a greater willingness to quit smoking and more interest in cessation counselling.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2004.03.010

Comment: More research into cessation amongst special populations.