Tag Archives: tobacco

Mentally ill, addicted and tobacco: Public views change slowly as clinicians start taking responsibility for smoking cessation

The new frontier in the war against tobacco is special populations, particularly people with mental disorders, including addiction. Unfortunately, an uninformed, paternalistic public view prevails about smokers with schizophrenia or alcoholism, and it goes like this: “Oh, those poor people. … Continue reading

Posted in Big Tobacco, Smoking, Tobacco, Tobacco cessation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Some bad news from California: We’re not a smoke-free state

Not too long ago, I was bragging on California in this blog because we have one of the lowest smoking rates in the country, lower than some other states by half. I said that was because California had gone smoke-free … Continue reading

Posted in Addiction, Big Tobacco, Cigarette warning labels, Recovery, Second-hand smoke, Smoke-free, Smoking, Substance abuse, Tobacco, Tobacco and kids | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Some good news from California: Smoking is waaaay down!

These days, Californians don’t hear a lot of  good news about our state, not with budget cuts decimating our once vaunted education system, our parks and other public services. But one thing we’ve done right is quit smoking. My state … Continue reading

Posted in Big Tobacco, Recovery, Second-hand smoke, Smoke-free, Tobacco, Tobacco and kids, Tobacco marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Local governments ignore laws against hookah lounges in California (not to mention their public health threat)

Hookah bars are proliferating in California, and around the country. Though they claim to be about a multicultural experience, they are really about attracting young people to smoke tobacco. People believe that because you smoke fruit-flavored tobacco through a waterpipe, … Continue reading

Posted in Big Tobacco, Recovery, Second-hand smoke, Substance abuse, Tobacco, Tobacco and kids, Tobacco marketing | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

How smokefree laws for adults protect children

A funny thing happened with Scotlands’ smokefree law, which banned smoking in public places such as restaurants, bars, shops, cinemas, offices, hospitals, work vehicles and sports centers. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that this law … Continue reading

Posted in Big Tobacco, Prevention, Second-hand smoke, Smoke-free, Substance abuse, Tobacco, Tobacco and kids, Tobacco marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The war Down Under: Big Tobacco’s assault on Australia

    You’d think it would be tough marketing a product that kills half the people who use it as directed. The fact that it’s the most addictive substance on the planet helps. Still, you have to get new customers … Continue reading

Posted in Big Tobacco, Prevention, Smoke-free, Smokeless tobacco, Substance abuse, Tobacco, Tobacco and kids, Tobacco marketing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Is painkiller abuse really the most important recovery story? (Hint: no, it’s not)

    It’s National Recovery Month, or will be in a few days, and health reporters and bloggers are looking for something “new” to write about recovery. The prevailing belief is that if it’s not “new,” it’s not news. I … Continue reading

Posted in Addiction, Alcohol, Alcohol abuse, Drug abuse, Painkiller abuse, Recovery, Substance abuse, Substance use disorder treatment, Tobacco, Treatment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Menthol cigarettes: Is this racist?

    I’ve got a good one for the “Is it Racist?” segment on the popular Tosh.0 show on Comedy Central. How about the tobacco industry’s marketing of menthol cigarettes to African Americans, and the industry’s bulldog lobbying to protect … Continue reading

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Big Tobacco’s unrelenting campaign against our children

    Yes, Big Tobacco is still trying to get your children to smoke cigarettes, even though laws enjoin them to stop. How can they help it? They’ve got to replace all those smokers who quit or die. When you … Continue reading

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Green buildings full of smoke

    If it’s a “green” building, shouldn’t it – by definition – be smoke-free? Green buildings are not just about reducing the carbon footprint. Green standards for building are promulgated by the International Code Council, which states as its … Continue reading

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