Newsletter

As you know, the increase in the tobacco excise tax went into effect on July 1st, 2008 with revenue dedicated to the state's historic Health Reform Law. Little cigars were reclassified as cigarettes and the minimum pricing law was preserved - a key deterrent to price sensitive teenagers.

On July 1st, the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program launched a new campaign to distribute a free two-week supply of nicotine patches to any eligible residents who call the 1-800-TRY-TO-STOP quit-line. What great timing by the Department of Public Health! An estimated 26,000 residents will attempt to quit smoking because of the dollar increase, and research shows that people who use medications like the patch, along with counseling, are more than twice as likely to quit for good that those who try and quit on their own.

Within days of the increase, the quit line received 750 calls. Word of the patch giveaway has spread quickly and the MTCP quit-line has received more than 7,000 calls in July - a 20-fold increase from last July. Unfortunately, the FY2009 budget for the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program was level funded at $12.75 million, falling extremely short of federal recommendations and limiting the scope of the free patch offer. With additional funding, the program could potentially help thousands of additional people quit. With the recent $1/pack excise tax increase in effect, it's especially important to provide services to smokers who may otherwise not have access to cessation resources.

A letter to the editor was sent from one of our grassroots advocates encouraging their Legislator to support the MTCP. Please submit your own. The link to the website which has key points and links to daily papers in Massachusetts can be found on our website, www.tobaccofreemass.net.

The Department of Public Health had a recent State House press conference announcing that Massachusetts' smoking rates went down in 2007 to being the 4th lowest rate in the country. The 2007 adult smoking rate of 16.4% is the lowest ever recorded for the Commonwealth, and ranks 4th nationally behind only California, Utah and Connecticut. The drop in Massachusetts' adult smoking rate between 2006 and 2007 was the largest single year decrease in the state in more than a decade.

Health officials cited a number of factors contributing to the decline, including the state's smoke-free workplace ban and increased funding for DPH's Tobacco Control Program. That additional funding allowed DPH to launch several new initiatives including the first public awareness campaign in six years, additional tobacco enforcement grants to cities and towns, and renewed efforts to lower youth smoking rates.

Officials also noted the more than 350,000 Massachusetts residents who became insured as a result of the state's groundbreaking Health Care Reform initiative as another possible factor in the smoking rate decline. Primary care providers play an important role in encouraging and supporting patients to stop smoking, for example, by prescribing nicotine replacement therapy.

This really exemplifies that when given the proper resources, tobacco control programs work extremely well. The return on investment is clear, and with an ongoing commitment to tobacco control programs the state will continue to see real results, including a reduction in health care costs.

ADVOCACY UPDATE

FUNDRAISING

UPCOMING EVENTS

MEMBER EVENTS

PARTNER EVENTS

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Our July 24th goal setting summit was a success! Thank you to all who were able to attend and share your ideas and thoughts for the FY09-10 goals and priorities. We'll start to narrow down our priorities and develop strategies at our next Advocacy Committee meeting. We'll update the Coalition at our September meeting, and finalize the plan in the coming months. We'll then vote to accept the plan at our December Coalition meeting.

Here is a picture of attendees at the 2008 TFM Summit.

If your organization has not yet made a donation to the Coalition and would like to please contact Russet or Erin at 508-270-4683. Any amount is helpful and appreciated. Consider making a personal donation on behalf of your organization as several members have done. Our goal is to get 100% member participation this fiscal year at some level and we are currently less than halfway to that goal.

• Take Action! Please visit
  http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/181/t/3839/letter/?letter_KEY=1000 and write a letter to the editor of your local paper. This link is also on our website.
• www.tobaccofreemass.net is continuously being updated, please visit the site and let us know what you think. The newsletter can now be seen on our website, and the "for Coalition Members" section is up and running which contains meeting minutes.
• Press Clips are being sent out to interested Coalition members two or three times a week. If you would like to be added to this list please send an email to erin.hightower@cancer.org.

The American Lung Association recently released the 2008 State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI) Mid-Term report, which summarizes legislative activity in 2008 on key state tobacco control policies, including smokefree workplace laws, tobacco taxes and funding for state tobacco control programs. A copy of the report is available for download on the SLATI website, http://slati.lungusa.org/midtermreports.asp.

Beginning July 1, 2008, the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program will offer free nicotine patch kits to smokers who call the State's Quitline at 1-800-Try-To-STOP. This offer is good through August 31, 2008 while supplies last.

The kits include a two-week supply of patches, along with quit tips and information on resources for smokers who want to quit. Retail value is approximately $50 per kit.

Research shows that people who use medications like the patch are more than twice as likely to quit for good as those who try to quit on their own.

There are no income restrictions on this offer. Most smokers will qualify for free patches, though those with certain medical conditions - pregnancy, recent heart attack, other medical conditions - will not qualify.

Please distribute this message to your clients, staff, and others who may be able to take advantage of this free offer.

For more information: www.Makesmokinghistory.org/quitting-smoking/index.html

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is pleased to announce it is accepting applications for the Greater Boston Community Impact Grant Awards for 2008-2009 which will provide funding for community-based organizations in the Greater Boston area.

The Greater Boston Division of the American Heart Association has recognized the need to support community-based activities that address our mission to fight heart disease and stroke. Many local community groups and organizations are working, or would like to work, on projects that would result in improvements in the cardiovascular health of our communities. In addition, as the American Heart Association focuses its attention on systems change, it will be important to continue to balance our work with programs in the communities we serve. This funding will help to ensure meaningful activities continue and that new, creative projects are developed.

Grant proposals are requested that support projects aimed at reducing cardiovascular disease, stroke, and their risk factors that fall within the four cause areas of the AHA: Go Red For Women, Childhood Obesity, Power to End Stroke or Physical Inactivity. In addition, outstanding proposals outside the scope of the 4 causes will be considered if significant need and potential can be demonstrated. An application is attached and, the first application due date is September 1, 2008.

Grants will be awarded between the amounts of $1,000 and $25,000 to support ongoing and new projects. A total of $125,000 will be allocated per year. Grants will be made to 5O1C3 organizations to support work within the divisions 4 counties of Suffolk, Essex, Middlesex or Norfolk.

If you would like further information or have any questions please contact Allyson Frazier at allyson.frazier@heart.org or 598-925-2925. Please forward this application on to others that may be interested in applying.

Thank you for your help to share the news about our new Greater Boston Community Impact Grants with your contacts. Together we can save lives!

Decade of Development:

A Ten Year Celebration of the BOLD Teens
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Boys and Girls Club
Performing Arts Center
15 Talbot Ave. Dorchester, MA 02124

The fundraiser event will include dinner, speakers, a silent auction, a raffle, and a table where you can make donations throughout the night.

For the past ten years, the BOLD (Breath of Life Dorchester) Teens have made significant, sustainable changes to the community through education, advocacy, and activism.

Please visit our website to learn more about us and our successes. www.boldteens.org.

We look forward to seeing you at our celebration!

Please RSVP by Friday August, 29, 2008 to Sasha Mungal at 617-822-8278 or SashaMungal@familysystem.net