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John Bowman, executive vice president for U.S. Tobacco Programs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, sounds the alarm about the tobacco industry’s relentless drive to encourage young people to use their products; Kayley Humm, ASTHO senior analyst...
John Bowman, executive vice president for U.S. Tobacco Programs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, sounds the alarm about the tobacco industry’s relentless drive to encourage young people to use their products; Kayley Humm, ASTHO senior analyst on the Overdose Prevention Team, says there is some encouraging news about the rate of overdose deaths; ASTHO continues its celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month; and learn how to promote healthy aging as a public health priority in an ASTHO learning module now online.
ASTHO Legislative Prospectus: Tobacco and Nicotine Products – The Unwavering Public Health Crisis
CDC Webpage: Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts
ASTHO Webpage: Integrating Healthy Aging into Public Health
ROBERT JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, May 30, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
JOHN BOWMAN:
Yeah, I mean, I think it would be great if folks just take a more active role in the policymaking process.
JOHNSON:
John Bowman at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids on the eve of World No Tobacco Day, sounding the alarm about the tobacco industry's relentless drive to encourage young people to use their products.
BOWMAN:
What we're seeing now, both in the U.S. and globally, is a huge rise in using social media using Instagram and Facebook and Tik Tok. And the companies are even going as far as hiring influencers, who have large followings to promote the products.
JOHNSON:
Another challenge 23 e-cigarette products, most of them tobacco-flavored remain available. But according to Bowman, they're just as harmful as other flavors already taken off store shelves.
BOWMAN:
Make sure that policymakers know that, demand action, like hey, what can you do to help get these things out of stores. So, because kids are getting them I mean they're 15 to 20 bucks for about the same amount of nicotine that's in a carton of cigarettes.
JOHNSON:
ASTHO examines the policy trends regarding tobacco and nicotine products in a legislative prospectus released in December, you can read it now using the link in the show notes.
Also World No Tobacco Day is tomorrow. That's when we hear from Kentucky's Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program manager be here at 5am. Eastern time for that story.
Some encouraging news today about the rate of overdose deaths in the U.S. This is ASTHO's Kayley Humm with the latest data from the CDC.
KAYLEY HUMM:
So, the provisional data show that overdose death increases appear to be slowing, and even slightly decreasing in some states with an estimated 3% decrease overall, in overdose deaths between December 2022 and December of 2023. And this is the first decrease in overdose deaths since 2018.
JOHNSON:
Humm giving public health agencies credit for their work to improve access to Naloxone.
HUMM:
Just making it more widely accessible from increased funding through the opioid settlement dollars, increased access through vending machines, library, schools, and other public spaces and the FDA approving Naloxone for over the counter use.
JOHNSON:
Humm is careful to note that some population groups continue to suffer with their overdose death rates still on the rise.
HUMM:
For example, the overdose death rate increased 44% for black and 39% for American Indian and Alaska Native people in just one year. So, it's important to consider these increases when planning and to incorporate culturally responsive actions in your planning to address these disparities.
JOHNSON:
You can review the CDC's provisional data by clicking the link in the show notes.
Also today, ASTHO continues its celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with reflections from public health leaders in the Island Areas. Gaafar Uherbelau is Minister of Health in Palau.
GAAFAR UHERBELAU:
You know, I think the Pacific Island people pride really comes from the culture and the uniqueness that we have in terms of who we are and where we are. We have sort of common values with the people of the United States, for example, democracy and freedom and peace. We share a lot of commonalities in terms of the virtues and principles and values. But at the same time as Pacific islands, we have our unique cultures which we draw our pride from.
JOHNSON:
Finally, this morning, learn how to promote healthy aging as a public health priority in an ASTHO learning module now online, there's a link to the curriculum in the show notes.
Before we go, a reminder also to follow this newscast on your podcast player and connect with ASTHO on social media. We are on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.
That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASCO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.
