HOW to GET INVOLVED

“SMOKING CESSATION…

represents the single most important step that smokers

can take to enhance the length and quality of their

lives.”

Antonio C. Novello, M.D., M.P.H., former U.S. Surgeon General

Make it a habit: ASK your patients whether they use tobacco.

When appropriate, ADVISE tobacco users to quit.

ASSESS their willingness, or readiness, to quit.

Always ASSIST your patients with the quitting process.

ARRANGE follow-up counseling. It will be the difference between quitting and not quitting for many patients.

TAKE ACTION: PROTECT the HEALTH of YOUR PATIENTS

or BUTTsYour health professional can help you quit.

Talking with a professional increasessmokers’ chances of quitting.

No ifs… ands…

REMEMBER… Comprehensive counseling from a clinician can

double patients’ likelihood of quitting

Follow-up counseling increases the likelihood of success

Between 4 and 7 contacts is best, but …

Even one brief contact can have significant impact

Reassess readiness to quit at every contact

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?

You can become a tobacco control advocate!

But why should you?

In recent years, a number of advocacy campaigns have resulted in the promotion of tobacco-free health around the globe.

WHAT’S BEING DONE, and HOW CAN YOU HELP?

The following slides present successful advocacy examples as well as possible actions to create change in your own

community.

If your state has not enacted a smoke-free workplace law, you can work locally to enact city or county laws.

Web sites are available with guidelines on how to promote local laws in your community. One such site iswww.no-smoke.org/document.php?id=273.

SMOKE-FREE WORKPLACE LAWS

Action steps

More and more states and countries are adopting smoke-free workplace laws.

These laws protect the health of workers, regardless of work setting.

FRAMEWORK CONVENTION on TOBACCO CONTROL (FCTC)

The FCTC is a global treaty that bans tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, and sets international standards to prevent the tobacco industry from meddling in health policies.

The treaty, which was initiated by the World Health Organization, has been ratified by more than 90 countries…

but not the United States.

Urge the United States to ratify the FCTC.

Go to the American Cancer Society’s web site and send an electronic letter to the president and to your senators requesting they pass the Global Health Treaty:

RATIFICATION of the FCTCDespite signing the treaty in May 2004, President Bush has yet to send it to the U.S. Senate for ratification, as required by the U.S. Constitution.

Action steps

http://lungaction.org/campaign/RatifyFCTC

PROTECTING the ENVIRONMENT:LITTERING

Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, not cotton, and can take decades to degrade.

More than 4.5 trillion cigarettes are littered worldwide each year.

PROTECTING the ENVIRONMENT:LITTERING, cont’d

Litter harms people, animals, the places where animals live, and our economy.

Support organizations that are developing educational efforts on this issue, including The Ocean Conservancy and Keep America Beautiful. For more information about cigarette butt litter, visit www.longwood.edu/cleanva/cigarettelitterhome.html.

Cigarette butts are litter. Littering is illegal.

Action steps

Empower the public to reduce littering of cigarette butts. Host a beach or park cleanup. For information about hosting a “Hold onto your Butt” beach or park cleanup in your community, visit www.earthresource.org.

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT: SMOKE-FREE PARKS and BEACHES

A number of communities have implemented smoke-free parks and beaches, including Malibu and Redondo, CA; Eastchester, NY; and Sharon, ME.

Action steps

The toxic residue in cigarette filters is damaging to the environment.

Tossing a burning cigarette onto the road is a misdemeanor and a citable offense in many states. Fines of up to $1,000 can be imposed.

Recently the California Highway Patrol created a new toll-free number to call to report fellow commuters who toss cigarette butts out the window.

PROTECTING the ENVIRONMENT:OUR ROADWAYS

An open car window is not an ashtray.

Check with local officials to see if existing laws in your community prohibit the tossing of butts onto your roadways and elsewhere.

Action steps

In patient waiting areas, provide newspapers and magazines that do not advertise tobacco products.

Consider socially responsible investing (disinvest in tobacco companies) www.socialinvest.org.

Conscientious consuming: boycott products produced by tobacco companies.

“QUICK” ACTION THAT MAKES a DIFFERENCE

SAMPLE NONTOBACCO ITEMS

Miller Brewing Brands: Miller Geniune Draft, Miller Lite, Lowenbrau,Red Dog, Leinenkugel’s, Icehouse, Hamm’s, Henry Weinhart’s.

Kraft Foods Brands: Miracle Whip, Cool Whip, Jell-O, Kool-Aid, Seven Seas, Country Time, Taco Bell Home Originals, Baker’s Baking Products, Maxwell House Coffee, Sanka, Cool Whip, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, DiGiorno Italian Sauces and Pizzas, Shake ‘N Bake, Altoids, Stove Top Stuffing, Breyers, Tombstone Pizza, South Beach Frozen Dinners and Snacks.

Post Cereals: Alpha-Bits, Grape Nuts, Raisin Bran, Pebbles,Toasties, etc.

Oscar Meyer products Louis Rich products

Here are just a few of the Philip Morris nontobacco companies and brands:

End support of politicians who receive contributions from tobacco companies www.opensecrets.org/pubs/tobaccotally.htm.

Support pharmacies that do not sell tobacco.

Sign a petition in support of tobacco-free pharmacies at http://rxforchange.ucsf.edu.

“QUICK” ACTION THAT MAKES a DIFFERENCE (cont’d)

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES to GET INVOLVED…

Clinicians have an outstanding opportunity to expand their role in wellness education:

Prevention activity Get involved in tobacco use education and

prevention

Community advocacy Join a speakers’ bureau and give talks at schools

and to community and youth groups

Promote smoke-free homes, cars, workplaces, and communities

Visit these national health organization web sites for other ideas on getting involved:

OTHER TOBACCO CONTROL ADVOCATES

American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org

American Lung Association: www.lungusa.org

American Heart Association: www.americanheart.org

American Legacy Foundation: www.americanlegacy.org

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: www.tobaccofreekids.org

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

— Margaret Mead

GET INVOLVED!YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.