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Abigail Buchanan, reporter at The Telegraph, explores some of the reasons behind the data released this week (beginning 23rd August) by UCL and funded by Cancer Research UK showing that the number of 18 to 34-year-olds classed as smokers rose by a quarter in the first lockdown.
Buchanan interviews several young people who cite stress and boredom as key factors in their starting or increasing their smoking during the lockdown. Eloise, 23-years-old, says that “it was something to do when you got bored and an excuse to go outside for a bit.” Sara, 28, says that “as soon as I started working from home a combination of boredom and wanting to break up the working day meant I started smoking a lot more.” Sean adds that even the end of strict lockdown did not discourage smoking as “when restrictions were still in place and you had to sit with your household in the pub, smoking outside was a way to sidestep restrictions, mix groups, and mingle with more people.”
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the charity Action on Smoking and Health, explains that young people have been “among those worst affected” by pandemic restrictions: “Although more people overall are quitting smoking, there have been a lot of young people taking it up, and the stresses young adults, in particular, are under and what has been happening in education [could explain it].”
Anecdotal evidence also suggests vaping (or smoking e-cigarettes) rose amongst young people during the lockdown, further suggesting that stress and boredom were key influences. Arthur, 20, took up vaping due to the combined stress of lockdown and university work. “From my perspective, it’s a stress-coping mechanism in the same way going for a drink would be,” he says.
Source: The Telegraph, 26 August 2021
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The Guardian columnist Zoe Williams argues that the increased number of young people who started smoking during the COVID-19 lockdown have forgotten the lessons of the 1980s.
Williams argues that it is foolish to turn to cigarettes as a way to combat stress as “there is nothing more stressful than an old-fashioned nicotine habit.” She says smoking brings hassle and generates addiction - “minute to minute, you’re wondering when you can next have one, and where you left them.” They are expensive and generate guilt - “month to month, you’re stifled under the weight of knowledge that you have to give up, because what kind of an idiot does it for ever?”
Williams argues that romanticised images of the past have warped young people’s view of cigarettes. “I can say all that to Generation Z, and then Pinterest can show them a picture of Madonna circa 1984, in black lace gloves as though she’s accessorising as an act of homage to the cigarette she’s always holding, and it’s pretty open and shut who comes across as the least stressed.”
Source: The Guardian, 26 August 2021
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GambleAware has chosen three individuals to fill three major new senior posts, Chief Commissioning Officer, Chief Communications Officer, and Chief Operations Officer, based on their extensive work experience in the public health sector including with NHS England and Public Health England. The hires reflect the requirement in GambleAware’s new five-year Organisational Strategy to increasingly apply a public health approach to addressing the harms of gambling.
Anna Hargrave, who has worked in NHS commissioning for 13 years, will become GambleAware’s new Chief Commissioning Officer. Alexia Clifford, formerly Marketing Director at Public Health England, will take on the role of Chief Communications Officer. GambleAware has also made a series of less senior recruits, including a new Research, Information and Knowledge Director; Head of Programme and Project Management; Prevention and Evaluation lead; and a Fundraising & Engagement Manager.
Source: Charity Today, 27 August 2021
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US: FDA blocks sale of 55,000 flavoured e-cigarette products
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) blocked the sale of more than 55,000 flavoured e-cigarette products on Thursday 26th August in its first ban of e-cigarette products since it began requiring makers to apply for premarket reviews in September 2020. The FDA issued marketing denial orders for the e-cigarettes on the grounds that they pose a public health threat to youth in the US.
The ruling means that of the more than 55,000 products impacted by the decision, those not yet being sold may not be introduced into the market and those already on the market must be removed or risk enforcement. The non-tobacco, flavoured e-cigarette products impacted by Thursday's decision, including flavours such as Apple Crumble, Dr. Cola and Cinnamon Toast Cereal, are made by three companies, JD Nova Group LLC; Great American Vapes; and Vapor Salon.
Public health advocates complained the action did not cover big name products such as Juul and did not go far enough. Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said that "the FDA's action covers just a fraction of the more than 6.5 million tobacco products for which the FDA has received marketing applications and does not include any e-cigarette brands with a significant market share or that are most popular with kids, such as Juul, the number one youth brand."
The FDA however said that it was making its way through the other applications submitted by 500 companies by the September 2020 deadline for new products to apply for pre-market review. The agency must determine whether these products "have a benefit to adult smokers sufficient to overcome the public health threat posed by the alarming levels of youth use of such products."
Source: CNN, 27 August 2021
See also: FDA - FDA Denies Marketing Applications for About 55,000 Flavored E-Cigarette Products for Failing to Provide Evidence They Appropriately Protect Public Health
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The US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has issued an order delaying the introduction of a new requirement for graphic warning labels to be on cigarette packets. The Court granted a motion by the plaintiffs in the case of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. et al. v. United States Food and Drug Administration et al. and issued the order delaying the effective date of the “Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements” court rule to October 11th 2022.
The latest extension marks the third time that a new deadline has been set for the ruling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new requirement for graphic warning labels on cigarette packs was initially due to take effect in June 2021 but the court then extended the date until January 2022 before the latest extension. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that it strongly encourages entities to submit cigarette plans as soon as possible but by December 12th 2021 at the latest.
Source: Convenience, 26 August 2021
See also: FDA - Cigarette Labeling and Health Warning Requirements
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This webinar will focus on the smoking and mental health components in the NHS Long Term Plan, setting out their overarching objectives, the roles and expectations for different partners in the system, and how the LTP will be implemented and supported regionally and nationally. It will:
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Include service user perspectives on the importance of addressing tobacco addiction alongside mental health support
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Explain how e-cigarettes can support a smokefree future in mental health services
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Include best practice case studies from trusts
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Include a Q&A session with clinical and project leads from NHSE who are supporting the LTP rollout
The event will be Chaired by Dr Adrian James, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and the main event will be followed by regional sessions led by the PHE Long Term Plan regional leads. You can sign up below.
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
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