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Tobacco News
Researchers Say Nicotine Craving May Be More Mental than Physical Israeli researchers who studied nicotine craving among flight attendants concluded that the desire for a cigarette may have more to do with habit than addiction to nicotine. Smoking Alters Hundreds of Genes, Study Finds Smoking causes dangerous changes in literally hundreds of genes in the body, including those related to tumor growth, inflammatory disease and immune-system suppression, according to researchers from the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research. U.S. Ban on Clove Cigarettes Draws International Scrutiny U.S. lawmakers say they banned clove cigarettes because of their health risks and appeal to young smokers, but the World Trade Organization (WTO) is investigating whether the ban violated international free-trade agreements. Snuff Sales, Price Hikes Bolster Tobacco Profits Higher snuff sales, cost-cutting and price increases led the nation's biggest tobacco company, Altria Group Inc., to a 3.2-percent increase in second-quarter profits. Skepticism Greets Industry Claims on Menthol Safety U.S. tobacco companies have ramped up a campaign to keep menthol cigarettes on the market, but U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials are skeptical of claims that menthols are no more harmful than regular cigarettes and want to see more data from the industry. Tobacco Ads in Stores Lure Teens, Should Be Banned: Researchers Teens who regularly visit stores that display point-of-sale ads for tobacco products were twice as likely to try smoking -- a finding researchers said argues for a complete ban on such advertising. Cigarette Vending Machines, Nearly Extinct, Set to Evolve Old-school cigarette vending machines have nearly disappeared from New York City bars, but a new generation of modern machines may soon take their place. Mass. Delays Antismoking Campaign Pending Outcome of NYC Case The Massachusetts Department of Public Health won’t proceed with requiring retailers to post graphic warning signs about smoking until an industry lawsuit against a similar campaign in New York City is resolved. Addiction, Mental Illness Lead to Millions of ER Visits Patients with addiction or mental-health related problems accounted for 12.5 percent of all hospital emergency-room visits by adults in 2007, according to a report from the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. $21 Million Awarded to Fla. Smoker with COPD Philip Morris USA was ordered by a Florida jury to pay $21 million in damages to a smoker with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Progress Against Teen Smoking Has Slowed, CDC Reports Major declines in adolescent smoking achieved in the late 1990s and early 2000s slowed to a crawl between 2003 and 2009, the U.S. Centers on Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its biennial report on high-school smoking. Studies Find Children of Smokers at Risk for Chronic Conditions Children of parents who smoke are more likely to have a higher body-mass index and greater prevalence of behavioral problems, according to a pair of new studies. Nicotine Replacement Therapy Before Quitting May Help Recent studies suggest that beginning nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT) -– nicotine-infused gums, patches, etc. –- before quitting cigarettes may improve long-term cessation success. Russia Puts 'Smoking Kills' Labels on Cigarette Packs Russia has adopted new policies to regulate and reduce cigarette usage in the country, including 'smoking kills' and other health warnings on cigarette packs. Report Cites Need to Address Smoking in Gay and Lesbian Community Stigma and targeted marketing by the tobacco industry have contributed to a smoking rate among the gay and lesbian population that’s twice as high as for other Americans, according to a new report from the American Lung Association. Full Plate for FDA Tobacco Center The FDA’s new Center for Tobacco Products has had a busy first year -- banning most tobacco flavorings and issuing regulations on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, among other steps -- and the coming year promises to be equally active. Cigarettes Trash Texas Highways Cigarette butts are the single biggest trash item found along highways in Texas, a study found, with hundreds of millions discarded on roadways in the state each year. Supreme Court Rejects Appeals by Both Sides in Tobacco Racketeering Case To use some soccer terminology, this week's Supreme Court decision on a landmark tobacco racketeering case was a draw. The high court's refusal to review the case denied the government's bid to get more money out of the industry but also effectively upheld a lower court's decision that the tobacco industry intentionally deceived the public about the health effects of smoking. Mass. Bill Would Allow Smoking in New Casinos A Massachusetts bill authorizing licenses for three casinos in the state includes a provision to allow smoking in up to 25 percent of gaming areas. Vt. Gubernatorial Candidates Debate Drug Policy at Recovery Forum Seven candidates for governor in Vermont clashed over a proposal to decriminalize drugs at a recent forum sponsored by Friends of Recovery Vermont.

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