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September 2011
In This Issue:
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New Study Reveals the Big Problem of Little Cigars
A new study in the American Journal of Public Health
is the first of its kind to measure brand usage trends and the
prevalence of cigar use. The data show a significant rise in cigar use
among young adults and other populations. The study, Seven-Year Patterns in US Cigar Use Epidemiology Among Young Adults Aged 19-25 Years: A Focus on Race/Ethnicity and Brand,
found that the top five brands most frequently smoked were Black &
Mild, Swisher Sweets, Phillies, White Owl, and Garcia y Vega, all of
which are primarily cigarillos or little cigar products. Use of these
top five brands was more prevalent among those who were younger, male,
Black non-Hispanics -- with a propensity for risk behavior -- and those
reporting current cigarette, marijuana, and blunt use.
Tobacco control and
public health researchers and activists are closely following the
increased use of little cigars in recent years, in part because of the
appeal of these cigar products to young people through lower prices and
sweet flavors. Little cigars are similar in size and appearance to
cigarettes. But, unlike cigarettes, which are wrapped in white paper,
little cigars are wrapped in a brown, paper-like substance that contains
some tobacco leaf. Cigarillos are shorter, slimmer versions of a large cigar.
While much effort
over the past decade has been focused on increasing awareness about
cigarettes and the dangers of smoking, cigar products have emerged as a
profitable product for tobacco companies. Unlike cigarettes, cigar
products are currently unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration
and are taxed at a much lower rate. Unfortunately, young adults are
taking the bait and the growth in this market is troubling for public
health, as users may believe that cigarillos and little cigars are less
harmful than cigarettes. However, like cigarettes, cigars and affiliated
products pose significant health risks, contributing to cancers of the
mouth, lung, esophagus, and larynx and possibly contributing to the
development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
To read more on the study, click here.
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New Board Officers Steer the Course of Legacy's Second Decade
Legacy is proud to welcome the Honorable Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General of the State of Idaho,
as the new Chairman of the foundation's Board of Directors. General
Wasden has served on the Legacy Board of Directors since 2004. He was
elected as Board Chair in May 2011 to guide the organization's strategic
goals and objectives at a critical time in public health, as the nation
sees tremendous change around the regulatory landscape around tobacco.
General Wasden was
elected to a third term as Idaho Attorney General on November 2, 2010,
becoming Idaho's 32nd - and longest-serving - Attorney General. He is a
22-year veteran of the Office of the Attorney General, previously
serving as Chief of Staff to the Attorney General, Deputy Chief of Staff
and as a Deputy Attorney General representing the Idaho State Tax
Commission.
General Wasden recently served as Treasurer to Legacy's Board. Now taking up that post will be Dr. Jonathan Fielding.
Dr. Fielding has served on Legacy's Board for more than six years and
is a veteran of public health education and administration. He is
currently the director of public health and the health officer for Los
Angeles County, a position he has held for more than a decade. Los
Angeles is one of the nation's largest cities, with a diverse community
and diverse public health need. Dr. Fielding's experience and expertise
serving the needs of that community lend valuable insight to Legacy's
mission and work.
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Young Smokers are Trying Snus
A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health
found that young smokers, particularly males, are exhibiting a high
level of interest in new smokeless tobacco products called "snus." Snus is finely ground tobacco packed in a small pouch that users place under their lip and doesn't require spitting. In
2006, two major tobacco companies, R.J. Reynolds and Altria, launched
snus in several U.S. test markets. Three markets, Portland, Ore., Kansas
City, Mo., and Columbus, Ohio, are also locations used in evaluating
Legacy's EX campaign. Researchers from the Center for Survey Research at
the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Legacy surveyed smokers
about their awareness and use of snus. during the first two waves of the
EX evaluation.
More than 5,000
smokers between the ages of 18 and 49 years old were interviewed in
early 2008, and then re-interviewed six months later. According to the
study's results:
- Among young adult smokers ages 18-24 that were living in areas
where snus was being test-marketed, 29 percent of the men and 9 percent
of the women reported trying snus.
- Older smokers were less
likely to try snus (about 20 percent of male smokers 25 to 35 years old,
and only 6 percent of those older than 35 years old).
- Trying
snus was significantly more likely among whites than minorities, and
among those with lower education than among those with higher education.
- Those who tried snus were less likely to be planning to quit smoking within 30 days.
This last finding
raises the question as to whether smokers are using snus in situations
where they cannot smoke, or if trying snus somehow decreases a smoker's
motivation to quit smoking.
To learn more about the issue read the full press release here.
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African American Handbook Sheds Light on Health Disparities
The African
American community suffers from higher mortality rates than any other
racial and ethnic group in the United States for diabetes and all
cancers combined (and for most major cancers). To move the needle on
effectively addressing health issues that affect this group, a new book,
titled The Handbook of African American Health discusses the specific
demographic conditions of the African American population and outlines
social interventions for both physical and mental health.
The 26 article contributions, including one from L egacy
researchers Donna Vallone, Amanda Richardson and Jane Allen, cover
interventions for a diverse range of health problems, including: obesity
and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma and other respiratory
diseases, smoking, alcohol, and recreational drug abuse, risky sexual
behaviors, cancer screening, prevention, and survivorship, infant
mortality, community and interpersonal violence, and mental health. The
book also examines specific interventions for treatment compliance,
health care access, and community collaboration.
Copies may be purchased online on Amazon.com.
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Youth Use Creativity and Talent to Promote Healthy Behavior
Each year, Legacy awards the Alma S. Adams Scholarship for Outreach and Health Communications to Reduce Tobacco Use Among Priority Populations to
undergraduate and graduate students dedicated to improving public
health and raising awareness on the risk of tobacco use. The scholarship
aims to honor the spirit of Dr. Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., an artist and
educator, who is also a founding Legacy Board member. It recognizes
individuals who have a record of commitment to community service on
behalf of an underserved community and to those who use visual arts,
media, or creative writing to convey culturally appropriate health
messages aimed at raising awareness of tobacco's harmful impact.
This year's winners include Augustina Mensa-Kwao, a freshman at the University of Virginia and
Kelley Rhoads, a graduate student from Florida Atlantic University.
Honorable
mentions were given to: Misty Lawson of Eureka, Calif., Adrienne
Gilbert of Grand Rapids, MI., and Jenna Carlsson of Walnut Creek,
Calif., The Cone Health Foundation award
recipient was Lindsay Matthews of Ann Arbor, MI. Legacy applauds these
young and aspiring students for their great work and wishes them all
continued success as they work to fight tobacco in their communities.
Dr. Adams is currently a Professor of Art at Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Read more about the winners.
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Honoring Hispanic Heritage Means Fighting Tobacco
Twenty-five year
old Anna Luzania knows first-hand the effects of tobacco in the Hispanic
community. As a student at California State University (CSU) at Fresno,
she did what many young people enjoying their first years of college do
not: she took action to save the lives of her fellow students and
community. Nearly 5.1 million Hispanic adults in the United States
smoke, and smoking takes a deadly toll.
 This
year, in the spirit of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Legacy
applauds individuals like Anna, a past Fellow in the Legacy Youth
Advocacy Fellowship program, who are working to help educate Latinos
about the dangers of tobacco. As a member of the group Individuals,
Mentors, and Peers Advocating to Control Tobacco (IMPACT), Anna worked
to tackle the prevalence of tobacco use among youth and young adults in
the Fresno area. She took the lead in initiating voluntary tobacco
control policies via the implementation of state legislation on the CSU
Fresno Campus, making it one of the first of 23 CSU campuses to adopt a
smoke-free policy. Since her time at CSU, Anna has assisted in educating
the Hispanic community in Fresno about tobacco addiction and secondhand
smoke. Anna has advocated for new and effective tobacco control
policies, such as smoke-free venues and events and raising cigarette
prices and taxes, which are shown to reduce smoking rates.
Legacy is proud to
work with Anna and countless others in the Hispanic community to build a
world where young people can reject tobacco and anyone can quit.
Read more about Anna for Hispanic Heritage Month here.
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Federal Employees Make a Difference through the Combined Federal Campaign
Now celebrating its 50th year anniversary, the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)
is the largest workplace charity campaign, raising funds for charity
through the generous support of Federal civilian, postal and military
donors. Legacy is a national charity of the CFC. This year's campaign kicks off September 1, 2011 and runs through December 15, 2011.
If
you are a Federal employee, in the military, or work for the U.S.
Postal Service, please support Legacy's work as generously as you can
with your donation. Legacy can be found listed among the
national/international independent agencies under charity #19203
(American Legacy Foundation). Every cent goes towards our mission to
build a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit.
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