News & Events
Events
January 21, 2010. MDQuit's 4th Annual Best Practices Conference
A web-based CME course to help your pregnant patients quit smoking: click here.
In the News
Maryland Tobacco News
Maryland health experts weigh in on diabetes risk after quitting -- January 6, 2010
Health care professionals, including MDQuit Advisory Board Member Dr. Kevin Ferentz, discuss a new study that found that the short term risk for developing diabetes increased when individuals quit smoking.However, this effect decreased and by ten years after quitting was nearly gone. Read more here.
Maryland 4th lowest rate of adult smokers -- December 7, 2009
Maryland's effort to curb smoking has paid off with smoking on the decline in Maryland. Maryland has the fourth-lowest percentage of adult smokers (~15%) in a study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, compared to national rates of nearly 21%. Read more here.
Towson University is Smoke-Free! -- November 16, 2009
Towson became one of the first Maryland 4-year colleges to adopt a
campus wide no smoking policy, it will be implemented August 2010.
The ban seeks to provide a cleaner, healthier campus and students hope other 4-year institutes will follow their lead. Read more here.
Playground smoking ban under consideration -- September 15, 2009
In Rockville a proposal to ban smoking in public parks passed. Smoking can not occur within 40 ft of the parks' borders. The goal of the ban is to reduce children's exposure to secondhand smoke. Read more here.
National Tobacco News
New Parents Are More Accepting of
Cessation Efforts - March 8, 2010
A recent study
found that expecting parents who are informed of the harmful effects of smoking
just prior to delivery and during the postpartum hospital stay were almost
three times more likely to attempt cessation than those receiving no
information. In the study, one group received no extra contact, while the other
was visited during the postpartum hospital stay and invited to enroll in a telephone counseling program. The birth of a
child can be both a joyous occasion as well as a "teachable moment." Read more
here.
Smoking Increases the Chances of
Esophageal and Stomach Cancer - March 8, 2010
A longitudinal
study conducted by Dutch researchers found that smoking increased a person's
risk of contracting certain stomach cancers by a range of 60% to 263%. They
also found that regular alcohol consumption only increased the risk for one
form of esophageal cancer, while smoking increased the risk for four different
cancers both in the esophagus and stomach. Read more here.
The Risks Associated With Third-Hand
Smoke - March 8, 2010
Third-hand smoke
is the chemical residue left on surfaces from smoke. It can be found on
clothes, skin, upholstery, and much more. It can than react with other
pollutants in the environment to form toxic chemicals, which can be absorbed
through the skin, creating a potential risk for cancer. Read more here.
The Benefits of Raising Tobacco Taxes $1
- March 8, 2010
If every state
raised their cigarette taxes by $1, it would generate an extra $9.1 billion in
national revenue a year. An approximate 2,337,300 children would be deterred
from smoking, and there potentially could be a great reduction in the health
care expenses associated with smoking. For more estimates like this from the
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, click
here.
Spanish Ads Increase Quitline
Cessation Rates - March 1, 2010
A
study involving the Colorado Quitline found a significant increase in Latino
callers after running a Spanish-language media campaign, with a doubling of six-month
abstinence rates for Latinos. Read more here.
Maryland a Magnet for Tobacco Smugglers - March 1, 2010
With recent increases
in Maryland's tobacco taxes have come an increase in tobacco smuggling. Surrounding
states, primarily Virginia, have significantly cheaper taxes, making access to
cheaper tobacco products almost effortless. While total numbers are difficult
to accurately estimate, the Mackinac
Center for Public Policy, a pro-markets think tank suspects that about half of
the cigarettes smoked in Maryland are contraband. Read more here.
Lack of Funds for
Cancer Research - March 1, 2010
Due to the decline in smokers, Maryland is receiving less Cigarette
Restitution Fund money. As a result of this and recent budget cuts, cancer
research and substance abuse programs are being forced to find alternative
funding options. Read more here.
MDQuit News Archives
Note: Links to full stories may have limited access.
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
Maryland News Archives
MDQuit Newsletter Archives
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Volume 5
Volume 6
Volume 7
Volume 8
Volume 9
MDQuit Events Archives
MDQuit 4th Annual Best Practices Conference - January 21st, 2010
MDQuit 3rd Annual Best Practices Conference - January 22nd, 2009
MDQuit hosted its 3rd Annual Best Practices Conference on January 22nd, 2009 at the Four Points by Sheraton BWI Airport. Click here for additional information about the Conference, including downloadable Powerpoint slides.
Cultural Diversity Workshop - October 3rd, 2008 MDQuit hosted a Smoking and Cultural Diversity Workshop on October 3rd, 2008 at the Colony South Conference Center in Prince George's County. Click here for additional information about the Workshop, including downloadable Powerpoint slides.
Smokeless Tobacco Workshop: Trends in Use and Interventions - June 26th, 2008
MDQuit in conjunction with the Allegany County Health Department hosted a Smokeless Tobacco Workshop on June 26th, 2008 at the Allegany County Health Department. Click here for additional information about the Workshop, including downloadable Powerpoint slides.
County-Specific Youth Tobacco Use Fact Sheets
Click here to view and download Fact Sheets on Tobacco Use by Youth for all Maryland Counties and Baltimore City brought to you by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. These reports have been prepared and published by the Surveillance & Evaluation Component of Maryland's Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program. A link to these pdfs can also be found under the Maryland Data Overview Page (under the Maryland State Specific Prevalence Data).
Youth Prevention and Cessation Workshop
MDQuit hosted a workshop entitled, 'Making the Grade: How to Score Big with Youth Prevention and Cessation Strategies' which was held Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, MD.
Presenters included Dr. Carlo DiClemente, Dr. Gilbert Botvin, Dr. Chudley Werch & Dr. Linda Hancock. Click here to view and download the presenter's slides.
MDQuit's 2nd Annual Best Practices Conference - December 6th, 2007
MDQuit hosted its 2nd Annual Best Practices Conference on December 6th, 2007 at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City.
Presenters included: Dr. Kevin Ferentz, Dr. Raymond Boyle, Dr. Cathy Melvin, Dr. Lisa Dixon, Dr. Melanie Bennett, Dr. Carlo DiClemente & Dr. Thomas Cargiulo. Click here for additional information about the Conference, including downloadable Powerpoint slides.
