In This Issue                       January 2013

• New Study: Should FDA Reduce Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes?
• Graphic Warnings Resonate Across Ethnic Groups, Study Shows
• American Cancer Society Releases New Guidelines for Lung Cancer Screenings
• New Study: Smokers Not Tapping Best Tools to Quit
• Now Accepting Scholarship Applications for Students
• Meet with Young Professionals in DC to Support Legacy
• Thank You For Your Support!

Should the FDA Reduce Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes? New Study Shows Many Americans Say Yes  

The study presents nationally representative data from a June 2010 survey and found:

• Nearly half (46.7 percent) of U.S. adults agreed the FDA should reduce levels of nicotine in cigarettes. Only 16.5 % disagreed and another 37.8% neither agreed nor disagreed or had no opinion. 
• Smokers who were interested in quitting are more likely to support regulation than smokers who are not thinking of quitting.
• African Americans, Hispanics, and those with lower education levels were especially supportive of nicotine reduction.

Public health experts and researchers at Legacy and the SI suggest that decreasing nicotine in cigarettes could not only reduce youth smoking uptake, but also may render cigarettes easier to quit. Both steps could help curb the toll of tobacco-related disease, and ultimately save lives. Read the full release here.  

A Warning That Resonates: Graphic Warnings on Cigarettes Effective Across Demographic Groups

Quitting smoking is a common New Year's resolution each year, but research has repeatedly shown nicotine addiction is very hard to beat.  Some groups, such as racial/ethnic minorities, have an even harder time quitting. New research from

Legacy and Harvard School of Public Health provides further evidence that hard-hitting graphic warnings on tobacco products may help smokers of diverse backgrounds who are struggling to quit.

Sample of proposed FDA Graphic Warning Label

  

The new study, published January 14, 2013, in the journal PLOS ONE, examined reactions to cigarette warning labels from more than 3,300 smokers. Results show that bold, pictorial graphic warnings are more effective than text-only versions, with smokers indicating the pictorial labels are more impactful, credible, and have a greater effect on their intentions to quit. Moreover, the study found that the stronger impact of pictorial warnings was similar across vulnerable subpopulations, with consistent reactions across race/ethnicity, education, and income levels.

The study is one of the first to examine the effectiveness of pictorial warning labels versus text-only labels relating specifically to diverse racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Although a growing body of research has shown that disadvantaged groups may differ in their abilities to access, process and act on health information, little is known about communication inequalities when it comes to cigarette warning labels.

"The implementation of graphic warning labels appears to be one of the few tobacco control policies that have the potential to reduce communication inequalities across groups," said Jennifer Cantrell, DrPH, MPA, and Assistant Director for Research and Evaluation at Legacy.  

New Guidelines for Lung Cancer Screenings: A Lifesaving Step Forward

Earlier this month, the American Cancer Society (ACS) published guidelines in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians that endorse screenings as a way to help patients and doctors navigate the potentially devastating diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. In its guidelines, ACS recommended that clinicians discuss low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening with high-risk patients for lung cancer. The procedure has the potential to save many lives through early detection - similar to how mammograms save lives as a preventive measure for breast cancer. Additionally, the guidelines provide clinicians and patients with a detailed review of both the benefits and harms of screenings, and a discussion of how LDCT scans can be most effective and in what settings. Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer for both men and women, accounting for 28 percent of all cancer deaths in the U.S. In addition, the burden of disease from lung cancer is larger than any other cancer; 83 percent of lung cancer patients die within five years of diagnosis.

Unequipped Quitting: New Poll Finds Smokers Still Not Tapping Best Tools to Quit

As a follow-up to 'Quit Season' this January, Legacy released results from a national online public opinion poll, which showed that among adult smokers, 34 percent planned to quit smoking as a New Year's resolution in 2013.  Nearly twice as many surveyed smokers are planning to quit in 2013 than in 2012 - a positive step. However, the data reveal that many smokers are still overlooking resources and practices that can lead to successful quitting:

• More than half (53 percent) of the smokers surveyed have not talked about quitting smoking with their healthcare providers (HCPs) in the last 12 months.
• Of those surveyed, only 39 percent used a non-prescription product like gums, lozenges or patches, during their last quit attempt; even fewer (13 percent) used a prescription medication. Using over-the-counter and prescription medications - both nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) and non-nicotine prescription medications - can improve a smoker's chance of quitting.
• Among smokers who did speak with their HCPs about quitting in the last 12 months, nearly four in ten believe that the discussion motivated them to quit (38 percent), or helped them to take the next step towards quitting (35 percent).

Investing in Social Change

Applications are now being accepted for the Dr. Alma S. Adams Scholarship for Outreach and Health Communications to reduce tobacco use among what Legacy identifies as 'priority populations.' Priority populations are those populations who are disproportionately targeted by the tobacco industry, or who often lack the tools and resources to combat smoking in their communities.

The scholarship, named for founding Legacy board member, Dr. Alma S. Adams, will award two $5,000 scholarships to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States. The awards will be granted on a competitive basis for the following:

• A record of commitment to community service on behalf of an underserved community, preferably related to tobacco prevention and/or control; and
• The best use of the visual arts, media, creative writing or other creative endeavor to convey culturally appropriate health messages aimed at raising awareness of tobacco's harmful impact.

Download an application here. 

Live in the Nation's Capital? Join the New Legacy DC Young Professionals Chapter!

Potential members can learn more about Legacy at an inaugural meeting on Wednesday, February 20, 2013. The meeting will take place from 6:30 - 8PM at Legacy's office near the Dupont Circle Metro.   

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Gabrielle Markand at gmarkand@legacyforhealth.org or 212-584-5741.   

As a 501 (c) (3) public health charity, Legacy values the support it receives from caring individuals, corporations, and foundations. Your generosity helps support our mission nationally, regionally and locally.

There are many ways you can support Legacy:

• Make a tax-deductible gift to Legacy: Donate Now!You can even make your gift in honor of someone trying to quit smoking or as a memorial to commemorate the loss of a loved one.
• February has been named Matching Gift Month. Talk to your Human Resources or Finance Departments about your company's matching gifts policy - most companies just require a simple form, and some companies even provide triple matching of your donation! 
• Are you over age 70½ and interested in contributing to Legacy through your IRA? Congress has reinstated the popular "IRA Charitable Rollover" and you can take advantage of the rule for 2012 if you make your rollover in January; if not, it will remain in effect through 2013. We encourage you to talk to your financial advisors about what is best for you and then contact Development@legacyforhealth.org.
• Start the year off with a charitable gift of appreciated stock or securities. For more information click here, or call Anthony O'Toole at 202-454-5557.
• Use www.GoodShop.com for access to thousands of retailers. Just select "American Legacy Foundation" as your charity of choice and Legacy receives a percentage of every purchase. You can even use Goodshop for hotels, flights, car rentals, and other travel arrangements. And check out www.GoodDining.comwhere eating at participating restaurants also generates donations.

Thank you, again, for all you do to help Legacy in its life-saving work.

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