He looks fine here, well after.
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
It is your choice. Chances are your lung looks like the one in the photo. I know mine doesn't.
The one's that vote the politicians in and pass the intiatives.
Sorry about your "bad gene" there. I, too, had cancer twice in my life. Two major surgery's. Teams of Doctors both times.
Each time, they ask me if I smoked, and how much. I told them. Each time each team told me that smoking did NOT cause my cancers.
I am really sorry for you plight, but you know........some get it and most don't!
I understand your bitterness........but please..don't try to change the whole world. Please........
Life is a roulette wheel. Many people I knew never smoked and they still died. At least your still alive.
At least till 80. Never had a major illness. You?
I wasn't making light of this. I saw THIS picture before I saw the previous post with your pictures. Sorry. I didn't mean to sound like an ignorant b*tch.
Everyone dies. ?????
ack! Foiled again! Sorry.........I just got home and am trying to catch up. I guess I had better read what I missed, eh? heh!
Acutually, MrLeroy pinged me and I responded before reading this thread subject. We had been discussing cocaine legalization issues and his use of his employer's time for posting. Blame MrLeroy for bringing me to this thread.
Oh yes my friend. I told you in a previous post. Two major cancer surgery's, one followed by 5 years of radioactive iodine in total isolation for 5 days every 6 months. The second one 6 months of chemotherapy.
Been there done that. I thank God every day that I am alive. But my life is in His Hands anyway, so all I can do is live each day to it's fullest.
LOL! Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!! A lot of people think if they don't smoke, they will live forEVER! WRONG! No one gets out of this world alive.........sorry.....
ahhhhhhh go watch TV. There is no talking to you. You are walking through life with blinders. I have little tolerance for the likes of you.
And everyone has a cross to bear. I guess yours was throat cancer. I am sorry for that. But that was you and I am me. I've been smoking a long time, and if the Good Lord wants me to die from smoking, so be it.
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.
My eyes are open. Smokers that deny the hazards are the ones with blinders.
Peeing is a biological neccessity; smoking is a dirty filthy habit. Smoking shows that one has no respect for his body or the comfort of those around them.
He looks fine here, well after.
An alleged brain is a terrible thing to waste...
Well, stealing oxygen anyway.
I have left instructions to my family and friends that when I'm on my death bed, and if your tedious life extends beyond mine, they are to seek you out and bring you to my bedside so that I may blow smoke in your face.
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