Each month, the Geographic Health Equity Alliance (GHEA) aggregates the latest news and research related to place-based tobacco control and geographic health disparities. This post is updated regularly throughout the month.
(Last updated: March 29, 2020)
Place-Based Tobacco Control News and Research
Brought to you by our partners at CounterTobacco.org.
- Research study: Tobacco retail licensing and density 3 years after license regulations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2012-2019), American Journal of Public Health
Researchers evaluated the effects of implementation of tobacco retailer licenses on density of tobacco retailers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They found that, three years after implementation, the density of tobacco retailers declined by a little over 20%, with a 12% decline in the rate of retailers within 500 feet of schools. The reduction in tobacco retailer density was significantly greater in low-income districts compared to “not-low-income” districts. These findings suggest that tobacco retailer licenses can effectively reduce tobacco retailer density, income-based disparities, and rates of tobacco retailers near schools.
- Association of electronic cigarette regulations with electronic cigarette use among adults in the United States, JAMA Network Open
In this cross-sectional study of nearly 900,000 US adults, researchers assessed the association between various e-cigarette regulations and current e-cigarette use. They found that the odds of current e-cigarette use were significantly lower in states that required retailer licenses to sell e-cigarettes, prohibited the sale of all tobacco products to those under age 21, and taxed e-cigarettes. This study suggests that various state regulations regarding e-cigarettes may influence, and ultimately reduce, e-cigarette use.
Visit CounterTobacco.org for their full monthly news and research roundup for February.
General Tobacco Control News and Research
- A study on patients who tested positive for COVID-19 found that the progression of COVID-19 was more likely to occur in smokers, and that smokers were more likely than nonsmokers to progress to pneumonia.
- The FDA announced a final rule to require new health warnings on cigarette packs and advertisements to promote a greater public understanding of the negative health consequences of smoking.
- Public health experts say vaping could aggravate the symptoms of COVID-19-19, increasing the risk of serious COVID-19 in the individual.
- Altria has asked the FDA to delay the regulatory deadline due to complications caused by the coronavirus, requesting an extension which coincides with the CDC recommended social distancing period.
- A study on perceived addiction to vaping found that more than half of youth and young adult regular e-cigarette user felt they had some level of addiction.
- The FDA issued 22 warning letters to retailers and manufacturers to remove unauthorized e-cigarette products from the market.
- A new study on ‘thirdhand’ smoke finds that tobacco-related toxins can still be present in smoke-free buildings.
- Researchers have found that e-cigarette users are exposed to increased concentrations of potentially harmful levels of metals linked to DNA damage.
