I might not be 30 years old, but I'm single, cute, friendly and I smoke, by golly!
Posted on 10/01/2003 10:05:11 AM PDT by 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
I might not be 30 years old, but I'm single, cute, friendly and I smoke, by golly!
You got THAT right! Sub-zero temperatures in the winter.........60 mph bone chilling wind.......wind chills that freeze the skin in under 5 seconds.....or yes, it's a REAL treat to smoke outside up HERE!
Maine lawmakers and Human Services are so cruel.....
LOL!!!!!!! Can you imagine??????
That's so cool. It's wonderful that not ALL of us are swayed by the stupid lies of the anti's. Thank God! I have been in this fight for 12 years and you would think the anti's mouthed recordings, because their lies are always the same..........and they think we are all sheeple out here and MUST BELIEVE WHAT THEY TELL US.
yea, right...........
Isn't this WONDERFUL? And not ALL of the voters can be smokers. This is wonderful. People are sick and TIRED of government intervention. This is really good.
I applaud you! I think a lot of the general public now sees where this is going and if this isn't stopped soon, everyone's rights will be eroded.
That's great! We don't need no government intervention for legal products!
Thanks, 8mmMauser! The general public is finding out!!! The general public sees how the nanny's are trying to rule the smokers, and the general public realizes that THEY could be NEXT! WE DON'T NEED OR WANT IT!
Same here---but 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. In fact we encourage you to acknowledge that you are getting paid to post your pro-drug propaganda.
They are probably in the back room toking also!
Huh? It is the people that are behind these inititatives. Somehow you miss the fact that the people are the government.
Huh? You lost me. WHICH people........
PRO DRUG???????????
DRUGS my friend are ILLEGAL. Tobacco is NOT! ( What world do you live in??
OH MY GOSH! I'm SO sorry. How long do you have to live???? I had no idea you were in such shape.
I'm so sorry..........
Not if Mrleroy gets his way! I was responding to MrLeroy who posts pro-drug propaganda while working.
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