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"E-Cigarette or Drug Delivery Device?"
Devices marketed as "electronic cigarettes" are in reality crude drug delivery systems for refined nicotine, posing unknown risks with little new benefits to smokers according to an article released today in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers from Legacy's Steven A. Schroeder National Institute for Tobacco Research and Policy Studies explore the current regulatory climate around electronic cigarettes ("e-cigarettes") and their safety and question future implications for physicians, policy makers and e-cigarette users.
E-cigarettes are constructed to mimic real cigarettes in size and appearance but contain no tobacco and are not cigarettes at all. In reality, they are delivery devices for refined nicotine, having more in common with inhalers used to treat asthma or other delivery devices for both approved and illicit drugs. Though individual brands vary in construction, the products generally produce a propylene glycol mist containing nicotine along with flavorings and other chemicals.
The researchers discuss how the devices are manufactured with poor quality control, vary in nicotine content among brands and contain label claims that deviate from cartridge content. Manufacturers sell cartridges with a range of up to 20 milligrams of nicotine, while refill kits allow consumers to fill used cartridges with replacement solutions at much higher doses. Additionally, e-cigarettes may serve as a "bridge product" that smokers use in places where traditional tobacco smoking is prohibited, thus perpetuating their addiction and use of real cigarettes. They also may be used as a 'starter' product for young people considering smoking, especially since the cartridges can be purchased over the Internet with tempting flavoring like grape and chocolate.
Read the full release here or download Legacy's e-cigarettes fact sheet.
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Critical Review: Movie Studios and Smoking in the Movies
With the summer blockbuster season in full swing, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new study in the July 15, 2011, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report addressing the continuing public health problem of smoking depictions in youth-rated films. The report shows that half of Hollywood's major studios have practically eliminated smoking in youth-rated movies while the other big-name studios and independent studios lag behind. Previous research shows that an estimated 180,000 young people take up smoking each year because of their exposure to smoking in films. That data combined with the latest CDC report underscores the need for the film industry to adopt an R rating for smoking to eliminate smoking in films rated for kids - an action Legacy champions. The CDC MMWR report also found:
- By 2010, the three major studios with published policies on smoking in youth-rated films (Comcast/Universal, Disney, and Time Warner/Warner Bros.) reduced depictions by 96 percent since 2005;
- Companies with no published policy (News Corporation/Twentieth Century Fox, Sony/Columbia/Screen Gems and Viacom/Paramount, plus a handful of independent companies) reduced depictions by 42 percent.
While the CDC report shows that substantial progress is being made to reduce tobacco incidents in youth-rated films, it is estimated that youth are still exposed to billions of tobacco impressions every year. Estimates find youth-rated films (mostly PG-13) still account for an astonishing 54 percent of top-grossing movies with onscreen smoking from 2005-2010. The report highlights the need for an industry-wide policy aimed at eliminating smoking completely in youth-rated films. Such a policy has the potential to reduce the youth smoking initiation and save lives.
Visit www.cdc.gov/mmwr for more information or read Legacy's Smoking in Movies Fact Sheet.
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Smokeless Tobacco Ads: In Search of a few Good Smokers
A new study published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research finds that print advertisements for smokeless tobacco products in mainstream magazines have increased. The study focused on 17 nationally circulated magazines, analyzing the publication of smokeless tobacco advertisements from the time periods 1998-1999 and 2005-2006. The greatest number of ads appeared in two sports-themed magazines: Field and Stream and Outdoor Life, both of which have male readership levels of more than 75 percent. About three quarters of new smokeless tobacco users are male, so it is not surprising that these ads are found in magazines that target men. The ads commonly portray themes such as masculinity and sociability. Lead author and Legacy researcher, Laurel Curry, MPH, says that link is not surprising, as previous research found youth perceive smokeless tobacco as athletic and masculine.
Researchers found that flavored products were featured in 86 percent of smokeless tobacco ads in general adult publications, including mainstream magazines such as Entertainment Weekly and Newsweek. Many ads positioned smokeless tobacco as an alternative product for cigarette smokers, suggesting the targeting of current smokers as potential smokeless customers. While flavored cigarettes were recently banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, flavored smokeless products were not.
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Exploring a Hidden Epidemic: New Report Details Tobacco Use by the Mentally Ill
 Efforts to help Americans live longer, healthier lives mean reaching out to diverse populations who suffer disproportionately from tobacco addiction. This month, Legacy published a new report in its dissemination series addressing the issue of the high prevalence of tobacco use and nicotine dependence among people with mental illnesses. "A Hidden Epidemic: Tobacco Use and Mental Illness," highlights five projects that illustrate how organizations across America are addressing tobacco-related disparities faced by people with mental illnesses. The projects describe some of the tobacco prevention and cessation approaches implemented by past Legacy grantees. Limited hard copies of this report can be requested by sending an e-mail to: dissemination@legacyforhealth.org.
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Young Professionals Kick Off the Summer with Legacy
Legacy believes young people can play a key role in keeping the tobacco epidemic high on the public health agenda. Beginning in 2010, Legacy has spearheaded a committee of dedicated young professionals in New York City to help increase awareness about Legacy's life-saving work.
On June 27, 2011, Legacy's Young Professionals Committee hosted a networking reception on the Lower East Side to help kick off the summer and celebrate the summer truth tour. A Committee member as well as a former truth tour rider shared personal stories of their connection to tobacco, connecting the work Legacy does to the lives of other young professionals. Proceeds raised at the event will support Legacy's efforts in tobacco prevention and smoking cessation.
To join the Young Professionals Committee, to be alerted of future events or for more information, please e-mail sdodds@legacyforhealth.org.
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Call for Nominations: 2011 Community Activist Award
Each year, Legacy presents the Community Activist Award to honor an exceptional individual who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to creating a tobacco-free world in his or her community. The award is presented to a proven community leader with experience spearheading innovative and influential tobacco control projects, especially those that reflect Legacy's mission to build a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit.
The winner will receive an honorarium of $2,500 which recognizes an individual's outstanding contribution to tobacco prevention and cessation at the community level. To submit a nomination, visit http://www.legacyforhealth.org/caa. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, September 16, 2011.
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BecomeAnEX.org Gets Published
An article featured in the Summer 2011 issue of Cases in Public Health Communication & Marketing published by the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services is the first published study on the BecomeAnEX.org quit smoking site. The article follows on the heels of the Become an EX pilot and outcome evaluation studies on the television media campaign by introducing the web component of the campaign to the public health community. Titled "Promoting a Web-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention: Implications for Practice," the article describes the development, promotion and utilization of the website. The results indicate that 1.5 million unique visitors came to the site in its first year online and more than 15 percent of them signed up for a quit smoking plan. Web-based tobacco cessation interventions offer many advantages to smokers seeking assistance in quitting smoking and early evidence has shown that Internet-based smoking cessation interventions can be effective, especially if the website components are tailored to the individual, and if user engagement is maximized. The article highlights that BecomeAnEX.org has achieved its initial objectives in terms of reach and audience engagement. An outcome evaluation effort assessing cessation is underway.
To read this study click here.
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Macy's Helps Save Lives and Money
This August through "SHOP for a Cause," Legacy is teaming up with Macy's to save lives by helping shoppers save money. By purchasing a $5 shopping pass from Legacy, consumers can receive discounts up to 25 percent off regular and sale merchandise all day on August 27, 2011. Macy's store purchases can be made in store or online at www.macys.com. Proceeds from shopping pass sales will benefit Legacy's life-saving work. 
To purchase a special Macy's Shopping Pass, contact JoAnn Hoggard at jhoggard@legacyforhealth.org.
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Inspiring Youth to Lead the Tobacco Control Movement
Last month, 15 outstanding young activists graduated from the 2010-2011 Legacy Youth Activism Fellowship program. Selected from a national pool of applicants, the dedicated young activists spent the past 18 months receiving intense leadership development training. Since its start, Legacy has maintained a commitment to youth engagement in the fight to combat commercial tobacco use in communities throughout the country. This year, the Youth Activism Fellows addressed local tobacco control issues in their communities while collectively working on a national tobacco control project.
On the national level, the Fellows conducted a needs assessment of tobacco cessation and prevention efforts in faith-based institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities on behalf of the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network. In addition, during their June meeting in Washington, D.C., the fellows had the opportunity to meet and discuss their tobacco control efforts with representatives on Capitol Hill.
The Youth Activism Fellowship serves as Legacy's flagship youth engagement program that creates a pipeline for activists ages 18-24 to continue their tobacco control activism beyond the high school level. Applications for the 2011-2012 fellowship program will be available in early September. Please visit: http://www.legacyforhealth.org/65.aspx for more information about the program.
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Federal Employees Make a Difference through the Combined Federal Campaign
Now celebrating its 50th year anniversary, the 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 in this year's Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), which kicks off September 1, 2011 and runs through December 15, 2011.
If you are a Federal employee, in the military, or work for the US 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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