Get Your Social Media On!

Check out the information below about how you can spread the word about new tobacco regulations that began last week.

CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are working to educate consumers, public health partners, and the general public about new tobacco regulations that took effect July 22, 2010. These regulations prohibit the tobacco industry from distributing or introducing into the U.S. market any tobacco products for which the labeling or advertising contains the descriptors “light,” “low,” “mild,” or any similar descriptor, irrespective of the date of manufacture. However, consumers may continue to see some products with these descriptors for sale in stores after July 22 because retailers are permitted to sell off their inventory.

OSH and FDA are seeking your support to help get the word out about these new, historic FDA tobacco regulations. You can support this effort by

o Posting the new “Light/Low/Mild: No such thing” graphical button on your Web site. When clicked, this button will take visitors to new consumer-focused information entitled “No More “Light,” “Low,” or “Mild” Cigarettes.” This information provides a summary of the July 22 regulations, the public health impact, and links to key resources, including a new, expanded feature article by the same title posted on CDC’s Web site.

o Encouraging others to send Health-e-Cards emphasizing the value of being tobacco-free. See the new animated Health-e-Card that reiterates there’s no such thing as a safe cigarette.

o Informing others of a new widget located on FDA’s Tobacco Products Web site. A widget is an application that enables users to embed content from another Web site onto their Web site. As content gets updated on the source site, it’s automatically updated on the user’s site. This particular widget enables readers to embed regulation information from FDA’s Tobacco Products Web site, health information from OSH’s Smoking & Tobacco Web site, and quit information from NCI’s smokefree.gov Web site.

o Following CDCTobaccoFree on Twitter and retweeting new messages related to the July 22 FDA tobacco regulations.

o Becoming a fan of CDC’s Facebook page and posting new “Light/Low/Mild: No such thing” status updates on your Facebook profiles.

o Telling others about our new posting on CDC’s Everyday Health Widget (coming soon).

o Viewing OSH’s new entry on CDC’s MySpace page.

o Following OSH on GovLoop. GovLoop is a social networking site for the government community. It currently serves about 30,000 members, including local, state, and federal government employees and contractors. Academics and students interested in government are also welcome to join.

o Subscribing to CDC’s Smoking and Tobacco Use main feed to receive updates of new and recently changed content from CDC’s Smoking & Tobacco Use Web site on your browser or desktop.

Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone at anytime. That’s why a public trained in CPR and timely access to AEDs is critical. Urge Congress to support the Rural and Community AED Program today. It's easy, simply click on this link and follow the prompts: http://www.capitolconnect.com/yourethecure/fastaction.aspx?AlertID=17461

NC State Lobby Day a Success!

On June 2nd, 30 You’re the Cure advocates in North Carolina descended upon the General Assembly in Raleigh to share an important message to their legislators- investing in measures to improve the health of our citizens will save the state money and insure a healthier North Carolina.

Advocates came from far across North Carolina to attend You’re the Cure at the Capitol State Lobby Day. The event kicked off on June 1st, with an afternoon training at the American Heart Association headquarters in North Carolina. Advocates heard from state experts on the topics they would be discussing with their legislators the next day. Peg O’Connell, director of the NC Alliance for Health Tobacco Committee, spoke on the importance of investing in an educational campaign to address stroke disparities in Eastern North Carolina. Stroke is currently the 4th leading cause of death in North Carolina and for the first time since 2000, the number of stroke deaths increased in North Carolina between 2007 and 2008. Since 2008, North Carolina has run a media campaign that has shown statistically significant results in raising awareness about how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke and get a patient immediate care. Advocates used this information to ask the state legislature to continue to fund this incredibly important campaign
In addition, advocates spoke out about the need to test children’s fitness in schools, and provide healthy foods in cafeterias.

The day of the event, the Heart Association also sponsored a press conference at the General Assembly that honored “Heartsavers”. Heartsavers are ordinary citizens who performed CPR in a time of need and helped save a life.

Thanks to all our volunteers in NC for all their hard work!

The Celebration Must Go On!

Congratulations and Hooray! Today is the day! North Carolina has finally enacted one of the strongest regulations on tobacco in the history of the state! Amidst all of the celebration, however, it is important to recognize that our hard work must continue. Many restaurant owners and patrons are still skeptical of the bill. Please let restaurant owners know how much you appreciate the change, even if it means just leaving a small note on your bill. All too often, positive voices are overwhelmed by negative ones after a victory like this. Please continue to celebrate this wonderful change. Write a letter to the editor to your local paper, thank a restaurant owner, go to a restaurant you wouldn't have gone to before.
Thank you for all you have done. Keep up the good work!

Smoke-free Is Here

Today North Carolina ushers in a new era and we write a new history - one that focuses on health! So - where are you going to celebrate? At 3:00 pm this afternoon I will be at the Lexington BBQ #1 in Lexington with Representative Hugh Holliman and Dr. David Goff talking about smoke-free.

Let us know where and how you celebrate and remember to take pictures.

HB2 in the Wall Street Journal

Here's a great article about HB2 in the Wall Street Journal, with a quote from AHA State Policy Director Betsy Vetter!

North Carolina Sets Curbs on Smoking
By CHRIS HERRING

North Carolina turns a new page at the start of 2010 in its long history as a tobacco-growing state as it implements a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants.

"We are keenly aware of the history in our state, but now it's just that -- history," said Betsy Vetter, chair of the North Carolina Alliance for Health, an independent state coalition that, among other things, works to reduce tobacco use.

The law exempts cigar bars and country clubs from the ban. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn't include North Carolina on its list of 21 states plus the District of Columbia with 100% smoke-free laws -- meaning smoking is prohibited in all workplaces, restaurants and bars.

Still, the law is a big step for the nation's largest tobacco-producing state, which has long derived a hefty portion of tax revenues from that industry. The state has 255,000 tobacco-related jobs, nearly 40% of the nation's total, according to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

"For North Carolina we feel like it's a huge victory," said Amy Barkley, a regional director for the Washington-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, an advocacy organization.

Tobacco firms opposed the law, arguing that businesses should be allowed to decide whether to go smoke-free. "If they're doing this on their own -- and many of them have -- do we really need a far-reaching, broad rule like this? It should be the business owner's right to decide," said David Howard, a spokesman at Winston-Salem-based R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, a subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc.

Secondhand smoke causes 46,000 heart attacks and 3,400 lung-cancer deaths a year, according to the CDC. The U.S. surgeon general declared in 2006 that no level of secondhand smoke is without risk, and smoking should be eliminated from all indoor areas.

Two recent scientific studies estimated that heart-attack hospitalizations on average dropped 8% to 17% the first year after implementation of a smoke-free law, according to the CDC.

Later this year, Michigan and Wisconsin will also implement laws banning smoking in workplaces, restaurants and bars.

Among states with new laws on the books for 2010, Illinois, New Hampshire and Oregon have banned the practice of texting while driving. California is the first state to partially prohibit the use of artificial trans fats in restaurants, following a move by several major cities. In Montana, insurance companies are now required to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders. Same-sex couples are allowed to legally marry in New Hampshire.

North Carolina's no-smoking law was passed and signed by Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue in May after two previous attempts at legislation failed. Sponsors of the bill initially sought a 100% smoke-free ban that would include all workplaces, but scaled it back. Smokers can be fined up to $50 for infractions, while bars and restaurants must pay up to $200.

Several North Carolina restaurants and bars said they welcomed the ban. "At least now this way, my customers won't get mad at me about it," said Terry Harvey, owner of Jimmy's Barbecue in Lexington, who contemplated going smoke-free a few years ago, but worried he would lose customers. Earlier this week he put up no-smoking signs and removed ashtrays in his restaurant.

Others said they expect the adjustment to be difficult. "I think it's gonna hurt us a lot, because people here like to drink and smoke," says John Bennett Jones, owner of JB's High Country Lounge, a bar in Fayetteville.

Mr. Jones estimated that 75% of his patrons smoke. "They're mad as hell about this, and with the economy how it is, I'm not happy about it either."

—Betsy McKay contributed to this article.