Maine: Tobacco curbs need more time for results

Mainetoday.com ^ | 10-1-03 | JOSIE HUANG

[SheLion]

Maine leads the country in establishing strong tobacco controls, but a new study on smoking and women shows the effects have yet to be felt.

Maine ranked 33rd among states on health indicators such as smoking among pregnant women and teenage girls, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Women's Law Center and the Center for Women's Health at Oregon Health & Science University.

About 21 percent of adult women in Maine smoke, compared to the national average of 20.7 percent, leading to a high incidence of tobacco-related illnesses in the state. For example, the prevalence of lung cancer, the biggest cancer killer of women, was 48.3 deaths per 100,000 women, the 47th worst in the country.

State officials and health advocates in Maine said it could take years before policies are fully reflected in health statistics. They point out an aggressive anti-tobacco campaign did not begin in earnest until 1997, the same year the state doubled its excise tax on tobacco.

But one of the authors said Maine's poor performance on health indicators set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows the state needs to take more action. (Like what KIND of action? More bans???)

"There are other policies that Maine can implement to reach out to other women and encourage them not to smoke," said Neena Chaudhry, senior counsel at the National Women's Law Center.

Health advocates maintain that small improvements are already taking place because of current initiatives such as pregnant-specific counseling on a telephone hotline and Medicaid coverage for smoking cessation programs.

Such initiatives have caused the smoking rate among pregnant teens to drop from 36.6 percent, the 1999 figure used in the report, to 31.5 percent in 2000, said Judy Dorsey, a senior policy analyst for the Maine Coalition on Smoking or Health.

Dorsey also said the percentage of adult women trying to quit smoking has grown from the 51.5 percent in 2000 to 62.6 percent in 2002.

"We are in fact doing better than (the report) shows we're doing," Dorsey said.

Health advocates predicted more changes. About 88 percent of women report smoking bans at their workplaces, putting Maine at the top of the country. That proportion should grow even more once a smoking ban in bars and bingo halls takes effect in January.

Overall, the study offers a mixed report for Maine, but "at least it shows we're headed in the right direction and we're doing the right thing," said Megan Hannan, director of government relations for the American Cancer Society in Maine.

Hannan pointed out that California, which began a tobacco control program more than 15 years ago, is beginning to see a drop in lung cancer and chronic lung disease.

"It will work in Maine," Hannan said. "We just need to be patient."

Despite giving Maine an overall failing grade along with 38 other states, the study did recognize the state for its commitment to funding tobacco prevention programs when other budget-strapped states are making drastic cuts to their programs.

Each year, the state pays for tobacco control programs with $1 million from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and about $15 million in money from a multi-state settlement reached with tobacco companies. (LIAR! Your money comes from SMOKER'S who pay TAXES on CIGARETTES! NOT the Government and NOT the Tobacco Company's.  THE SMOKERS TAXES!)

Staff Writer Josie Huang can be contacted at 791-6364 or at: jhuang@pressherald.com

[Fledermaus]

Typical response from liberals...we need more time!

If we just had enough time everyone would be like us and the world would be a utopia. Come on, it's only been 40 years since we took over the education establishment and although we are failing, we just need more time and money.

Come on, if you just give the weapons inspectors (all 200 of them) more time, Saddam will let them find WMD's while he watches and moves things.

Come on, if you just give socialism more time we'll control your life cradle to grave and you'll never have to be burdened with ever having to make a decision again, you pour souls.

Please...we need more time!

[Fledermaus]

I like that cartoon. If you can't live dangeroulsy while young (and able), then what good is living past 80 if you can't walk, can't eat, can't go to the bathroom without help, etc.?

[Fledermaus]

I almost divorced my wife because of her cigarette smoking and drinking and "pot" smoking...she was cutting into my stash! ;-)

[SheLion]

Please...we need more time!

Actually.....we need new lawmakers.......

[metesky]

It was the third pic from cinnies source. He only showed us the first two.
;O)

[Leisler]

Just as one can read enough of a paticular writer and develop an idea of their deeper self, well, these threee are a crew of pinched ninneys, aren't they?

[SheLion]

It was the third pic from cinnies source. He only showed us the first two.

oic.......pity he opt to post the BAD one, eh? I'm surprised he didn't tell us that that lung was his TOO...................From SMOKING you know. heh~

[CSM]

"I have never met any adult that thinks he will live forever. But most know that by NOT smoking, they will have a better life, live longer and save some money if they do smoke."

Prove your assertions that you have made!

1) How will they live a better life?
2) Prove that the average life of a non smoker is longer than a non smoker!
3) How will they save money? (Hint: Non smokers are not automatically investing or putting money in a bank accout than smokers, they are just spending the money on different things.)

I have seen your posting on the WOsD threads and you very rarely post with provable facts, I don't expect your posts on this thread will be any different. If you had your way you would dictate how everyone else lives their life. That is not what freedom is about, it would then be a dictatorship!

[CSM]

"Must be a typo somewhere."

Nope, just more warping of information to vilify a certain segment of our society! Of course that is something you endorse!

[MrLeRoy]

some FReepers don't accept that any employer could have such a policy.

Oh, we accept it and have NOT one time accused you of not getting paid to post.

I do not get paid to post, just as I do not get paid to use the men's room although I do so during working hours.

[MrLeRoy]

DRUGS my friend are ILLEGAL. Tobacco is NOT!

Tobacco is a drug---as is the legal substance alcohol.

[MrLeRoy]

I don't expect your posts on this thread will be any different.

Please ping me in the unlilkely event that cinFLA makes a meaningful response.

[CSM]

Will do, but I don't expect an answer.

[MrLeRoy]

Thanks! Me neither.

[Mears]

This nasty smoker has had house guests for three days so not as much time for FR,but I just read through all the posts on this thread.

I've come to the conclusion that the smoker haters can't be reasoned with,tolerance is not a word with which they have much familiarity.

As I've said before,the idea of being an "outcast" smoker tickles my fancy since I spent most of my 71 years toeing the line and obeying the rules.The more people say I'm going to pay a health price for smoking the more I smoke since I'm out of danger of dying prematurely----the laugh is on them.

A friend of mine is in hospice care right now,a wonderful lady my own age,and she never smoked.Do you suppose she is dying of non-smoking?

[Max McGarrity]

Mears, you're truly wonderful!

[Mears]

Thanks,Max. FR has given me a place to vent my frustrations and find out I am not alone.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I'd be there wid em.

[Conspiracy Guy]

cinfla is a bag boy at the Safeway so Freeping is hard to do while sacking those canned goods.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Non-smoking is very bad.