We had a great time supporting the Cloud Free Carnival, presented by Legacy High’s Stop the Cloud group as part of the #NationalDayofAction! The group put in a ton of work to make it a huge success!
This is a huge win. Many other countries have pictorial warnings on tobacco products. We hope this momentum will continue.
“A federal appeals court on Thursday said a U.S. government requirement that cigarette packs and advertisements contain graphic warnings about the dangers of smoking is constitutional, in a victory for the Biden administration and a defeat for the tobacco industry…”
New Zealand is taking decisive action against disposable e-cigarette products. CDC data show disposable products are the overwhelming choice for kids and they cause significant harm to the environment.
The tobacco industry has a decades long history of doing whatever it can to keep itself profitable. Recently, they’ve been taking harm reduction, a necessary piece of public health, and trying to co-opt it for their products. No electronic products, dip, nicotine pouches, etc. are FDA approved to help a quit attempt. If you are looking for more information on quitting, contact your healthcare provider, local public health unit, or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW
From our partners at Truth Initiative: U.S. college students reporting a mental illness diagnosis within the past year had a 33% higher risk of currently using e-cigarettes when compared to those without past-year mental health conditions.
New to TFND is the addition of a TFND Youth Board Seat!
This position is open for ND 10th, 11th and 12th graders to apply. Each term will be one year. This person will not be a voting member of the
board but will be attending monthly meetings and presenting to our board about various topics, providing a valuable youth perspective to TFND and partners.
If you’re interested, please fill out this sheet Youth TFND Board Nomination Form
Many industries mimic big tobacco’s marketing playbook because of how effective they were at hooking generations of people on their product. Now the Washington Post is reporting that influence goes much deeper than tobacco- it even includes the food we eat.
Health advocacy groups encourage city leaders to prioritize health, well-being of Mandan residents, visitors by voting down cigar bar ordinance
MANDAN, N.D., Sept. 13, 2023 — The City of Mandan should uphold the state of North Dakota’s vision to make North Dakota the healthiest state in the nation by keeping cigar bars out of our community and follow the will of the voters who approved our state’s clean indoor law more than a decade ago.
This year, 4,370 state residents will be diagnosed with cancer and thousands more will be diagnosed with heart disease and stroke. Sadly, these diseases are the top killers in our state and caused more than 3,000 deaths in 2022. Cigar Lounges will lead to diminished health quality and a potential uptick in health care costs for all. There is no safe level of second-hand smoke, and studies have repeatedly shown there is no ventilation system capable of filtering out all smoke particles, exposing anyone who shares walls with a cigar lounge to dangerous secondhand smoke. Allowing cigar bars in our community would be a step backwards for the health of Mandan residents. Secondhand smoke from cigars poses significant health risks to people who smoke and those around them.
“We owe it to our youth and all our citizens to place public health concerns first,” said Greg Gallagher, a Mandan resident and American Heart Association volunteer. “Cigar bars offer limited and highly questionable value to our community. It should be rejected outright.”
Every county in the state voted in favor of the North Dakota Clean Indoor Air Law in 2012 and it remains a solid foundation for quality of life in Mandan and across the state. Since enacted in 2012, North Dakota has seen decreases in the percentage of residents who smoke and new cancer cases, according to Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health. In addition, the current smoke-free law treats everyone equally and is consistent and fair. Nobody should have to choose between a job and long-term health, which is clearly put at greater risk with any exposure to carcinogens and other harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Everyone has the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air, regardless of where they live, work, or play.
“Reintroducing tobacco use into public places, like cigar lounges, will increase the exposure to secondhand smoke, increase the number of people using tobacco and potentially raise the number of local people who develop long term health issues from tobacco,” said Joyce Sayler, a Mandan resident and retired nurse.
Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the U.S., and smoking is now linked to at least 15 types of cancers. In fact, 27 percent of cancer deaths in North Dakota are attributed to smoking. It is also a leading risk factor for the development of heart disease and stroke. Cigars are bad for your health whether consumed directly or exposed through second-hand smoke. According to the American Thoracic Society, smoking one large cigar can be the same as smoking an entire pack of cigarettes.
Beyond the public health concerns, there is no proven economic benefit from cigar bars:
# # #
TFND joined this release in partnership with American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, and Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation.
France is planning to ban disposable vapes as part of a broader strategy to curb smoking and vaping in the country. You can read about their full strategy by clicking here.