HOW to GET INVOLVED

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HOW to GET INVOLVED
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SMOKING CESSATION

• represents the single most important step that
  smokers can take to enhance the length and
  quality of their lives.

Antonio C. Novello, M.D., M.P.H., former U.S.
Surgeon General
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TAKE ACTION PROTECT the HEALTH of YOUR PATIENTS

• Make it a habit ASK your patients whether they
  use tobacco.
• When appropriate, ADVISE tobacco users to quit.
• ASSESS their willingness, or readiness, to quit.
• Always ASSIST your patients with the quitting
  process.
• ARRANGE follow-up counseling. It will be the
  difference between quitting and not quitting for
  many patients.

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REMEMBER

• Comprehensive counseling from a clinician can
  double patients likelihood of quitting
• Follow-up counseling increases the likelihood of
  success
• Between 4 and 7 contacts is best, but
• Even one brief contact can have significant
  impact
• Reassess readiness to quit at every contact

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WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
You can become a tobacco control advocate! But
why should you?
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WHATS BEING DONE, and HOW CAN YOU HELP?

• In recent years, a number of advocacy campaigns
  have resulted in the promotion of tobacco-free
  health around the globe.

The following slides present successful advocacy
examples as well as possible actions to create
change in your own community.
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SMOKE-FREE WORKPLACE LAWS
More and more states and countries are adopting
smoke-free workplace laws. These laws protect
the health of workers, regardless of work setting.
Action steps

• If your state has not enacted a smoke-free
  workplace law, you can work locally to enact city
  or county laws.
• Web sites are available with guidelines on how to
  promote local laws in your community. One such
  site iswww.no-smoke.org/document.php?id273.

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FRAMEWORK CONVENTION on TOBACCO CONTROL (FCTC)

• The FCTC is a global treaty that bans tobacco
  advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, and sets
  international standards to prevent the tobacco
  industry from meddling in health policies.
• The treaty, which was initiated by the World
  Health Organization, has been ratified by more
  than 90 countries

but not the United States.
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RATIFICATION of the FCTC
Despite signing the treaty in May 2004, President
Bush has yet to send it to the U.S. Senate for
ratification, as required by the U.S.
Constitution.
Action steps

• Urge the United States to ratify the FCTC.
• Go to the American Cancer Societys web site and
  send an electronic letter to the president and to
  your senators requesting they pass the Global
  Health Treaty

http//lungaction.org/campaign/RatifyFCTC
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PROTECTING the ENVIRONMENTLITTERING
More than 4.5 trillion cigarettes are littered
worldwide each year.

• Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate,
  not cotton, and can take decades to degrade.

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PROTECTING the ENVIRONMENTLITTERING, contd
Cigarette butts are litter. Littering is illegal.

• Litter harms people, animals, the places where
  animals live, and our economy.

Action steps
Support organizations that are developing
educational efforts on this issue, including The
Ocean Conservancy and Keep America Beautiful. For
more information about cigarette butt litter,
visit www.longwood.edu/cleanva/cigarettelitterhome
.html.
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PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT SMOKE-FREE PARKS and
BEACHES
The toxic residue in cigarette filters is
damaging to the environment.
A number of communities have implemented
smoke-free parks and beaches, including Malibu
and Redondo, CA Eastchester, NY and Sharon, ME.
Action steps

• Empower the public to reduce littering of
  cigarette butts. Host a beach or park cleanup.
  For information about hosting a Hold onto your
  Butt beach or park cleanup in your community,
  visit www.earthresource.org.

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PROTECTING the ENVIRONMENTOUR ROADWAYS
An open car window is not an ashtray.

• Tossing a burning cigarette onto the road is a
  misdemeanor and a citable offense in many states.
  Fines of up to 1,000 can be imposed.
• Recently the California Highway Patrol created a
  new toll-free number to call to report fellow
  commuters who toss cigarette butts out the window.

Action steps
Check with local officials to see if existing
laws in your community prohibit the tossing of
butts onto your roadways and elsewhere.
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QUICK ACTION THAT MAKES a DIFFERENCE

• In patient waiting areas, provide newspapers and
  magazines that do not advertise tobacco products.
  
• Consider socially responsible investing
  (disinvest in tobacco companies)
  www.socialinvest.org.
• Conscientious consuming boycott products
  produced by tobacco companies.

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SAMPLE NONTOBACCO ITEMS
Here are just a few of the Philip Morris
nontobacco companies and brands
Miller Brewing Brands Miller Geniune Draft,
Miller Lite, Lowenbrau,Red Dog, Leinenkugels,
Icehouse, Hamms, Henry Weinharts. Kraft Foods
Brands Miracle Whip, Cool Whip, Jell-O,
Kool-Aid, Seven Seas, Country Time, Taco Bell
Home Originals, Bakers Baking Products, Maxwell
House Coffee, Sanka, Cool Whip, Philadelphia
Cream Cheese, DiGiorno Italian Sauces and Pizzas,
Shake N Bake, Altoids, Stove Top Stuffing,
Breyers, Tombstone Pizza, South Beach Frozen
Dinners and Snacks. Post Cereals Alpha-Bits,
Grape Nuts, Raisin Bran, Pebbles,Toasties, etc.
Oscar Meyer products Louis Rich products
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QUICK ACTION THAT MAKES a DIFFERENCE (contd)

• End support of politicians who receive
  contributions from tobacco companies
  www.opensecrets.org/pubs/tobaccotally.htm.
• Support pharmacies that do not sell tobacco.
• Sign a petition in support of tobacco-free
  pharmacies at http//rxforchange.ucsf.edu.

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OTHER OPPORTUNITIES to GET INVOLVED

• Clinicians have an outstanding opportunity to
  expand their role in wellness education
• Prevention activity
• Get involved in tobacco use education and
  prevention
• Community advocacy
• Join a speakers bureau and give talks at schools
  and to community and youth groups
• Promote smoke-free homes, cars, workplaces, and
  communities

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OTHER TOBACCO CONTROL ADVOCATES

• Visit these national health organization web
  sites for other ideas on getting involved

• American Cancer Society www.cancer.org
• American Lung Association www.lungusa.org
• American Heart Association www.americanheart.org
• American Legacy Foundation www.americanlegacy.org
  
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
  www.tobaccofreekids.org

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GET INVOLVED!YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

• Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful
  citizens can change the world. Indeed, its the
  only thing that ever has.
• Margaret Mead