It's Quittin' time according to a Public News Service Article

Excellant article from the Public News Service on smoking cessation in Wisconsin. 

"For those in Wisconsin looking for reasons to quit smoking, there are two new ones that are prompting people to stub the habit. The American Lung Association in Wisconsin says a 75-cent increase in the cigarette tax that took effect this month, along with new laws to ban smoking in public places statewide, are driving new traffic to quit lines and Web sites."

To read the full article CLICK HERE

Back to Basics: Interactive Human Body Map of Smoking's Effects

Need to brush up on the basic facts about smoking and its effects on the human body? Check out the CDC's interactive human body map, based on the Surgeon General's 2004 Report - The Health Consequences of Smoking. (Flash and html versions available.)

Click below to view the videos!

JFC Hearings

The Joint Committee on Finance will be holding hearings around the state to hear your input on the budget. We encourage you to attend a meeting in your area! See the dates and locations below:


Sparta
Monday, March 23
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
American Legion Hall
1116 Angelo Road


Milwaukee Metro
Wednesday, March 25
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
State Fair Park
Banquet Room #2
640 S 84th St West Allis


Eau Claire
Friday, March 27
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
UW- Eau Claire
Haas Fine Arts Center
Gantner Concert Hall
121 Water Street


Racine
Monday, March 30
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Case High School
Theater
7345 Washington Avenue


Appleton
Wednesday, April 1
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Lawrence University
Stansbury Theater
Music Drama Center
420 E College Ave


Cambridge
Friday, April 3
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Amundson Community Center
200 Spring Street

WI State Budget 101

We've been getting some requests for a budget process refresher.  Watch our SlideShare presentation below to brush up on the WI budget process (hint:  click on the presentation and choose the "download" link above the slides to view the notes that accompany this presentation!):

WI State Budget 101

View more presentations from Smokefree Wisconsin. (tags: budget legislative)

Spread the word!  Feel free to share this information with your colleagues and friends.

In honor of the national inauguration...

I caught this story on NPR (there's an audio option near the top of the article).

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99652538

Big Tobacco Not Letting The Economy Get Them Down

For most of the country, a recession means more worries, less money for gas, food, or nights out, and some serious belt-tightening. For the tobacco industry? Recessions are no big deal.

According to a new poll conducted by Harris Interactive in October on behalf of the American Legacy Foundation, the economic downturn has meant increased stress on current smokers, and that stress means more cigarette breaks.

A few key facts:

• 77% of smokers reported increased stress levels due to the current state of the economy
• Two-thirds of those smokers say this stress has affected their smoking
• More middle income ($35-74.9k) Americans have delayed their quit attempts because of stress over the economy
• Unemployed smokers stressed about the economy reported smoking more cigarettes per day (29%) than full-time or self-employed stressed workers (17%)

The more challenging your economic situation is, the more likely you'll be hit hard by this addiction: in your pocketbook and in your lungs.

For more about the benefits of a recession for the tobacco industry, check out Erich's October 24th post, "Despite economic downturn, Big Tobacco still makes BIG profits".

The Cost of Smoking

MSN Money wrote a recent article about the costs incurred by smoking. Click here to read the article. Take a look at some of the ways that smoking can hurt personal finances and people's jobs:

Costs to an Individual smoker:

• A pack-a-day smoker spends about $31.43 per week on cigarettes, or $1,635 per year
  
• Life Insurance for a nonsmoker is between $570 to $1,035 in premiums per year but as much as $4,250 for a pack-a-day smoker
  
• Non-smokers will receive at least a 10% discount when shopping for homeowners insurance.
  
• If 40-year-old quits smoking today and puts the savings into a 401(k) earning 9% a year, he or she would have accumulate almost $250,000 by age 70!!
  

Costs to all of us:

• 5% of employers prefer to hire nonsmokers and 1% do not hire smokers at all
  
• 5% of companies charge smokers more for health-care premiums
  
• Smokers cost the economy $97.6 billion a year in lost productivity due to premature death, as well as an additional $96.7 billion on public and private health care combined
  
• Every American household spends $630 a year in federal and state taxes because of smoking
  

Quitting smoking is not just good for health, but it's good for the checkbook too!

Quit Line Expands Services for Pregnant Women Who Smoke

The Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUIT-NOW) announced today that it will be expanding services for pregnant women who smoke. This is a critical enhancement of free individualized coaching services since Wisconsin is in the top 20 of all states for smokers in that vulnerable group.

Given that nearly 14 percent of the pregnant women in Wisconsin smoke, compared to the national average of 10 percent. This is a much needed service.

For more details please see: www.ctri.wisc.edu

Prevention and Cessation Programs See Results

The Governor’s office released a statement announcing new statistics from a survey measuring adult tobacco use. Data comes from the 2007 Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey, a telephone survey of residents age 18 and older. Here are a few highlights:

• Adult smoking prevalence: 19.6 percent (down from 24 percent in 2000)
• National average: 20 percent
  

The governor also announced that since January 1, when the cigarette tax went into effect, a record 20,000 people have called The Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line (800-QUIT-NOW).

Know someone who is resolving to quit smoking? www.WIQuitLine.org

Are you or your friends resolving to quit smoking in 2008? If so, get started on the right foot by visiting www.WIQuitLine.org or by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Calling is free and easy and the QuitLine is known for its great results!
Beginning tomorrow, the Wisconsin Tobacco QuitLine (1-800-QUIT-NOW) will make available free stop-smoking medication to all state residents who call and participate in coaching. Callers can choose from nicotine gum, lozenges or patches in two-week starter kits.

Thinking about Quitting Smoking? The Quitline

With the holidays rapidly approaching and the New Year just around the corner we are all starting to think about our resolutions for the upcoming year. On January 1, 2008 Wisconsin's cigarette tax will increase by $1 and it is a great time for smokers to begin the process of quitting smoking. Since 2001 the Quit Line has served as a great resource for smokers who are trying to quit and today they announced an expansion of services that will help more people be smoke-free in 2008.

At a news conference in Milwaukee today, the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services and the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI) announced an expansion of quit line services for Wisconsin tobacco users who want to quit. This includes free medication for those who participate in quit line coaching, and a new interactive Web coaching service that provides personal tracking tools and discussion forums for those trying to quit. For more information on the Quit Line click here

The Quit Line offers a variety of services, including:

• Free telephone coaching for Wisconsin tobacco users who want to quit, including:

o A 20-40 minute initial assessment of each caller ready to make a quit attempt.
o Advice on how to quit, based on extensive scientific research.
o An option to have a Quit Line coach follow up with return calls.

• A starter kit that includes free medications and self-help materials.
• A new “Web Coach” feature that allows callers to interact with Quit-Line coaches and peers online.
• Referrals to local tobacco-treatment programs and services.
• Information for friends, family and others concerned about a tobacco user.

Great American Smoke Out

Thanks to Lisa Davidson for this guest post!

Quitting smoking is tough. If you have ever been close to someone who has tried to quit, you know what I am talking about. Today, November 15th, marks the annual American Cancer Society Great American Smoke Out, a day to take a break from smoking and hopefully love the way it feels to be smoke-free. To successfully quit smoking it's important to offer love, support and patience. Breaking free from the grips of tobacco addiction is one of the hardest things to do, but there is help. If you or a loved one is interested in quitting smoking please call the Wisconsin Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. You can also visit www.cancer.org for more information on resources to help you quit smoking.

Take some time today to thank those in your life who have successfully quit smoking. And if you or someone else needs help, please reach out to the Quitline or other resources available through your doctor. Life is beautiful, enjoy every breath!

Lisa Davidson works in Field Government Relations for the Midwest Division of the American Cancer Society.