ATHENS, AL - It's a measure no public universities or colleges in Alabama have taken. Starting this fall, no tobacco products will be allowed on the campus of Calhoun Community College.
Calhoun administrators say they have the students' best interest in mind, but some students say their perspective is clouded.
"We're willing to take a stand that's not necessarily popular because we know it's the right thing to do," said Calhoun Community College Health Sciences Dean Bret McGill.
Thursday, college officials announced on campus, no one may use tobacco products starting August 16, the first day of the fall semester.
"It sends a major and clear message that smoking is bad for your health, and I think it protects the community and everyone from second hand smoke," said Dr. Grace Thomas, Medical Director for Women's Health with the Alabama Department of Health.
"Also for younger generations who are coming to college and do not smoke, there will be less chance of them being exposed to it and being interested in smoking just because of seeing other people smoking," said Calhoun Nursing Student Oliviere Nkiere.
But, some oppose the new rule.
"I feel like they shouldn't ban us from smoking on campus because for one, you know we do choose to come to school here, and it should be our privilege," said Kim Shelton, a Calhoun student and a smoker.
She says if the intent really is to make students healthier, they should change out the food sold in the snack machines.
If students are caught using tobacco products on campus in the fall, they could face a fine of $25 or more.
Calhoun officials say smoking or dipping in your car on campus is okay, but doing it outside of your car, in the parking lot, is not.
понедельник, 21 июня 2010 г.
понедельник, 14 июня 2010 г.
Oregon requires insurers to offer tobacco cessation
Oregon smokers who want to quit may find it a little easier due to some recent developments.
For one, state legislators recently passed a new law that requires health insurance companies that do business in Oregon to provide a tobacco cessation benefit.
“This is a great benefit,” said Dr. Charles Bentz, a Portland-based physician who advocated for passage of the new legislation. “It's great news for (smokers) that want to quit.”
The Legislature passed the new law in June 2009. It took effect Jan. 1 of this year. But at the time, health insurance companies had already designed their benefit packages for 2010. Bentz recently visited The News-Review to raise awareness of the new law, particularly as health insurers are designing benefit packages for 2011.
He was accompanied by Dianne Danowski Smith, who works for a Portland-based public relations firm that's helping Bentz spread the word about the new law.
The legislation, known as Senate Bill 734, requires health insurers to include a tobacco cessation benefit of at least $500 in every benefit program they offer in Oregon. The minimum $500 benefit is per member per lifetime.
The benefit includes coverage of over-the-counter therapies, oral medicines and counseling. It may be used by users of any tobacco product, from cigarettes to chewing tobacco to cigars.
Bentz, who has been working as an internist in Oregon for 20 years, is enthusiastic about the requirement to offer health care coverage of cessation programs.
“If you want to get smokers to quit smoking, you've got to cover it,” he said.
He bases his opinion partly on his own experience helping develop a tobacco cessation program while he worked for Providence Health System's five Portland-based hospitals for 15 years. During that period, the hospitals helped 10,000 people to stop smoking, he said.
Bentz said it's also important for the public to understand how hard it is for smokers to quit. He said smoking actually changes a smoker's brain by increasing the number of receptors that crave nicotine.
He also stressed the benefits of quitting, noting that smoking has been tied to a higher risk for illnesses ranging from heart attacks to strokes to cervical cancer.
Both Bentz and Smith said they were pleasantly surprised health insurance companies did not object to Senate Bill 734 when it was introduced. Bentz said he believes that's because they realize how it will save them money in the long run.
Bentz said employers pay an extra $3,300 to $5,500 a year for employees who smoke compared to employees who don't. He said that includes the costs of added medical expenses, lost productivity and having to replace the employees due to early death.
Although employers will pay more upfront to provide the required tobacco cessation benefit to employees, Bentz estimated they will recoup those costs within two years.
The new state law is just one of many recent changes making it easier for smokers to kick the nicotine habit, Bentz and Smith said.
As of Jan. 1, Oregon Health Plan beneficiaries no longer have to pay a co-pay to take advantage of OHP's tobacco cessation benefit. Recently, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded the Oregon Quit Line $661,000 to expand its services.
Callers who call the Quit Line, at 800-Quit-Now, can receive information about tobacco cessation programs and even talk to a counselor.
And an increasing number of places are going smoke-free, partly due to legislation that banned smoking in most restaurants and bars on Jan. 1, 2009.
Bentz said he applauds the efforts to make more locations smoke-free, as it “generates heat” on the topic of smoking.
But he also praised the Legislature for passing the new law that requires health insurers to offer a tobacco cessation benefit.
For one, state legislators recently passed a new law that requires health insurance companies that do business in Oregon to provide a tobacco cessation benefit.
“This is a great benefit,” said Dr. Charles Bentz, a Portland-based physician who advocated for passage of the new legislation. “It's great news for (smokers) that want to quit.”
The Legislature passed the new law in June 2009. It took effect Jan. 1 of this year. But at the time, health insurance companies had already designed their benefit packages for 2010. Bentz recently visited The News-Review to raise awareness of the new law, particularly as health insurers are designing benefit packages for 2011.
He was accompanied by Dianne Danowski Smith, who works for a Portland-based public relations firm that's helping Bentz spread the word about the new law.
The legislation, known as Senate Bill 734, requires health insurers to include a tobacco cessation benefit of at least $500 in every benefit program they offer in Oregon. The minimum $500 benefit is per member per lifetime.
The benefit includes coverage of over-the-counter therapies, oral medicines and counseling. It may be used by users of any tobacco product, from cigarettes to chewing tobacco to cigars.
Bentz, who has been working as an internist in Oregon for 20 years, is enthusiastic about the requirement to offer health care coverage of cessation programs.
“If you want to get smokers to quit smoking, you've got to cover it,” he said.
He bases his opinion partly on his own experience helping develop a tobacco cessation program while he worked for Providence Health System's five Portland-based hospitals for 15 years. During that period, the hospitals helped 10,000 people to stop smoking, he said.
Bentz said it's also important for the public to understand how hard it is for smokers to quit. He said smoking actually changes a smoker's brain by increasing the number of receptors that crave nicotine.
He also stressed the benefits of quitting, noting that smoking has been tied to a higher risk for illnesses ranging from heart attacks to strokes to cervical cancer.
Both Bentz and Smith said they were pleasantly surprised health insurance companies did not object to Senate Bill 734 when it was introduced. Bentz said he believes that's because they realize how it will save them money in the long run.
Bentz said employers pay an extra $3,300 to $5,500 a year for employees who smoke compared to employees who don't. He said that includes the costs of added medical expenses, lost productivity and having to replace the employees due to early death.
Although employers will pay more upfront to provide the required tobacco cessation benefit to employees, Bentz estimated they will recoup those costs within two years.
The new state law is just one of many recent changes making it easier for smokers to kick the nicotine habit, Bentz and Smith said.
As of Jan. 1, Oregon Health Plan beneficiaries no longer have to pay a co-pay to take advantage of OHP's tobacco cessation benefit. Recently, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded the Oregon Quit Line $661,000 to expand its services.
Callers who call the Quit Line, at 800-Quit-Now, can receive information about tobacco cessation programs and even talk to a counselor.
And an increasing number of places are going smoke-free, partly due to legislation that banned smoking in most restaurants and bars on Jan. 1, 2009.
Bentz said he applauds the efforts to make more locations smoke-free, as it “generates heat” on the topic of smoking.
But he also praised the Legislature for passing the new law that requires health insurers to offer a tobacco cessation benefit.
понедельник, 7 июня 2010 г.
Man accused of stealing $50,000 in cigarettes
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- South Carolina authorities are searching for a man who has stolen more than $50,000 in cigarettes from six convenience stores.
Authorities say the man has broken into Murphy USA stores in Spartanburg, Simpsonville, Union, Columbia, North Augusta and Belmont, N.C.
Police said that the man enters the stores and uses large trash cans to carry out the cigarettes.
Anyone who recognizes the man should call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
Authorities say the man has broken into Murphy USA stores in Spartanburg, Simpsonville, Union, Columbia, North Augusta and Belmont, N.C.
Police said that the man enters the stores and uses large trash cans to carry out the cigarettes.
Anyone who recognizes the man should call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
вторник, 1 июня 2010 г.
World No Tobacco Day Receives Mild Response In KL
KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Bernama) -- The World No Tobacco Day observed worldwide every May 31 has received minimal response, with survey around the capital showing that the public was unaware of the day and its theme.
Visits by Bernama to Bukit Bintang and its surrounding areas revealed people were still engaging in their usual smoking habits, contrary to the 24-hour abstinence period the celebration propagated.
A worker at a chicken rice restaurant, Hanafi Yaakob, 25, said he was a heavy smoker and only knew of the celebration after being asked by reporters to give an opinion on the matter.
"Even after knowing about it, I cannot imagine living without cigarettes for a day to support the campaign," he said.
A 30-year-old sales promoter, Wong Chee Hiong, attributed the lack of response to insufficient publicity.
"This campaign is not carried out seriously. There are no promotions in the papers or electronic media which is why people ignore it," he said, adding that he was unaware of the celebrations and would continue to smoke.
Meanwhile, the survey also found that the ban on 14-stick cigarette packs was unable to overcome addiction among Malaysians.
Private college student, Joseph Wee Tong Hang, 20, said heavy smokers would continue to buy regardless of the rise in the price of cigarettes.
"It is no wonder they are willing to spend so much money for a puff," he said.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai had stated that the number of smokers in the country, including women, had reached a critical level.
World No Tobacco Day was celebrated for the first time in 1987 and has been recognised by the World Health Organisation. It is observed annually and aims to inform the global community of the danger and effects cigarettes have on health.
Visits by Bernama to Bukit Bintang and its surrounding areas revealed people were still engaging in their usual smoking habits, contrary to the 24-hour abstinence period the celebration propagated.
A worker at a chicken rice restaurant, Hanafi Yaakob, 25, said he was a heavy smoker and only knew of the celebration after being asked by reporters to give an opinion on the matter.
"Even after knowing about it, I cannot imagine living without cigarettes for a day to support the campaign," he said.
A 30-year-old sales promoter, Wong Chee Hiong, attributed the lack of response to insufficient publicity.
"This campaign is not carried out seriously. There are no promotions in the papers or electronic media which is why people ignore it," he said, adding that he was unaware of the celebrations and would continue to smoke.
Meanwhile, the survey also found that the ban on 14-stick cigarette packs was unable to overcome addiction among Malaysians.
Private college student, Joseph Wee Tong Hang, 20, said heavy smokers would continue to buy regardless of the rise in the price of cigarettes.
"It is no wonder they are willing to spend so much money for a puff," he said.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai had stated that the number of smokers in the country, including women, had reached a critical level.
World No Tobacco Day was celebrated for the first time in 1987 and has been recognised by the World Health Organisation. It is observed annually and aims to inform the global community of the danger and effects cigarettes have on health.
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