Newsletter

As you know, on July 1 the Legislature raised the tax on cigarettes by $1.00 per pack. In response to this increase, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health provided free nicotine patches to smokers who called the state's quitline at 1-800-Try-to-STOP. More than 10,000 people took advantage of this offer during July and August!

On Tuesday, September 23rd MTCP announced the giveaway of a four-week supply of patches to anyone recovering from drug or alcohol addictions who want to stop smoking. The program runs through the end of the year. Health Commissioner John Auerbach said the smoking rate among people entering substance abuse treatment tops 75 percent, compared to the statewide smoking rate of 16.4 percent. The health department says tobacco-related diseases are the leading cause of death among people who have undergone treatment for drug or alcohol addictions.

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services held two public hearings - August 27th in Roxbury, MA and on August 28th in Springfield, MA. TFM attended both hearings and testified in Springfield asking for an increase of $5.25 million for MTCP in next year's budget. Several TFM member organizations submitted written testimony and an action alert was sent to our e-advocates to have them send in written testimony. We received over 27 personal stories from our advocates which were submitted to Secretary JudyAnn Bigby. In Roxbury Scott Keays and Dr. Blake Cady and in Springfield Sarah McColgan, all gave excellent oral testimony to the panel. In Roxbury, a youth panel with members from the Southie Teens Against Tobacco Smoking and MYAT gave testimony as well and were applauded by the panel.

Thank you once again for the success of our TFM July Summit. We have been narrowing down and finalizing priorities and are continuing to discuss the strategic plan at Advocacy Committee meetings. More discussion and a vote to accept the plan will be held at our December Coalition meeting.

ADVOCACY UPDATE

FUNDRAISING

UPCOMING EVENTS

MEMBER EVENTS

PARTNER EVENTS

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

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.

• Welcome to our newest members of Tobacco Free Mass: The LGBT Tobacco Control Network, the Massachusetts Coalition for School-Based Health Centers, the Massachusetts Dental Society and The Oral Health Advocacy Taskforce.
• 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.
• 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 Boston Public Health Commission has released for public comment two proposed regulations:

1.    1. Amendments to the Clean Air Works Workplace Smoking Restrictions; and,
2.    2. Restricting the Sale of Tobacco Products in the City of Boston.

The board is accepting written comments on the proposed regulations for the next 60 days. The comments should be sent to: Boston Public Health Commission, Board Office, Attention: Julie Webster, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02118 or emailed to boardofhealth@bphc.org, on or before Nov. 3.

In addition, the Commission will hold two public hearings on the proposed regulations both on October 8, 2008. The first session will be 10:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m. and the second session will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Both sessions will be held in the Carter Auditorium located in the Northampton Square complex, on 35 Northampton Street, Boston. All members of the public are invited to attend and provide testimony.

You are invited to submit abstracts online for presentation at the 2009 National Conference on Tobacco or Health, June 10-12, in Phoenix, AZ!

The purpose of the National Conference on Tobacco or Health is to improve and sustain the effectiveness and reach of tobacco control programs and activities in the United States. Whether you are a student, program manager, researcher, or seasoned advocate; or whether you work at the local, state, or national level, the 2009 National Conference welcomes your abstract submission(s).

We are seeking papers addressing twelve program areas:
2.    1. Cessation
3.    2. Communication and Media
4.    3. Evaluation and Surveillance
5.    4. Increasing Diversity / Eliminating Disparities
6.    5. International Tobacco Control
7.    6. Legal Issues
8.    7. Nicotine and the Science of Addiction
9.    8. Non-Cigarette Tobacco and Nicotine Products
10.    9. Tobacco Control Movement-Skills Building
11.    10. Tobacco Control Policies
12.    11. Tobacco Industry
13.    12. Youth