Missouri's Tobacco Control Exchange

Why Social Media Isn't Adopted by Businesses

Many nonprofits share corporate reluctance to embrace social media, including blogs, podcasts, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

It is incredibly frustrating, because these networks offer dynamic potential for donations and the opportunity to build a volunteer base that champions your cause.

Caroline Dangson, IDC, offers a terrific guest blog at the ZDNet Social Business blog, titled, "Organizational Social Anxiety." Though it has a business focus, you can easily translate these lessons to your nonprofit. Understanding why social media is a necessity is the first step in creating an online presence that makes you stand out from other nonprofits, as well as from the pro-tobacco lobby.

Study: Sports Keeps Tobacco Out of Kids' Hands

A new study from the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a publication of the Journal of the American Medical Association, says that kids who play sports are less likely to smoke.

However, even if they play sports, kids who learn about smoking through films are more likely to pick up the habit. From the study abstract :

Conclusions  Team sports participation clearly plays a protective role against established smoking, even in the face of exposure to movie smoking. However, movie smoking exposure increases the risk of established smoking among both team sports participants and nonparticipants. Parents, teachers, coaches, and clinicians should be aware that encouraging team sports participation in tandem with minimizing early exposure to movie smoking may offer the greatest likelihood of preventing youth smoking.

Read more about "Influence of Movie Smoking Exposure and Team Sports Participation on Established Smoking".

Women Just Can't Quit

Women have a harder time kicking the habit than men, according to a new Yale study.

The study's results highlight a need for gender-specific programs to help people quit the deadly smoking habit.

The Baltimore Sun reporter Kathleen Megan sat down with one of the researchers for an enlightening Q&A about the study's results. Read "Smoking Cessation Harder for Women than Men."

Kirkwood Considers Clean Air Act

Kirkwood residents collected enough signatures to force the City Council to consider a clean air act. According to Phil Sutin of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

The city council has until Sept. 5 to deal with the initiative. If the council rejects or takes no action on the proposal, it would go to voters. The election must be no earlier than 30 days after the last council step and no more than 120 days after that step.

Read the full story for details: "Smoking Ban Initiative Gets to Kirkwood City Council."

Smokers Light Up Everywhere with eCigarettes

eCigarettes are becoming more popular as clean air acts become more prominent across the U.S.

The Detroit News has a great article about eCigarettes, which were banned for import by the FDA. A court will decide if that ban is legal.

Check out, "eCigarettes Offer Smoke-free Nicotine, but Experts Skeptical."

Wanted: Tobacco Czar

The FDA has already launched a division to monitor Big Tobacco, and now it seeks a leader for that department.

The Help Wanted ad listed at USAJobs.com says the head of the Center for Tobacco Products must have knowledge of administration, toxicology and public health initiatives.

The Wall Street Journal has the details about the position - and its salary - in "FDA Tries to Smoke Out New Tobacco Czar."

Tobacco Ad Gallery

Searching for vintage tobacco ads to use in speeches, publications or during outreach?

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids offers an excellent database of global ads. It is really amazing to see just how much smoking was cherished among the rich and famous, and how it was embraced not that long ago in our culture.

When using these in publications, be sure to give proper credit.

On the Web:

USA Tobacco Ads

Tobacco Ad Gallery

KC Editorial Takes on Barnes for Lack of Tobacco Leadership

The Kansas City Star blog, Midwest Voices, has a fantastic post about the lack of leadership for smoke-free efforts among Kansas City politicians - particularly those in the Barnes administration.

Check out "Barnes' disappointing record on smoking still stings" by Yael T. Abouhalkah.

Smoke Smoking - With Help

The Chicago Tribune has a terrific article on smoking, which also profiles the Freedom From Smoking program at Washington University in St. Louis.

The article, How to Quit Smoking, highlights President Barack Obama's struggle to kick the dangerous habit, as well as the need for physicians to become more active in the quit smoking realm.

NC Hospitals Go Tobacco Free

Every North Carolina acute-care hospital must be free of tobacco use today.

The nonprofit N.C. Prevention Partners launched the voluntary initiative three years ago, according to a story at the StarNewsOnline.com. 

During his presentation at the Making Your Campus Tobacco-Free Workshop at Ozarks Technical Community College in June, Dr. Ed Mink said that any effort to go tobacco-free would take at least three years.