The #TobaccoFreeNJ quarterly newsletter, created to keep you in the know!
Tobacco-Free for a Healthy NJ is a comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation program funded by the NJ Department of Health, Office of Tobacco Control and Prevention, which works to reduce tobacco use and the negative impact of secondhand smoke in all counties of New Jersey.
FEATURED NEWS
BREAKING NEWS:
FDA announced issuing 119 warning letters and filing of 41 civil money penaltiy complaints against brick and mortar retailers that were involved in the underage sale of various flavors of ZYN nicotine pouches between october 2023 and February 2024. Three online retailers received warning letters for the sale of unauthorized, flavored ZYN nicotine products including Espressino, Back Cherry, Lemon Spritz, and Cucumber Lime.
With funding from NIH and FDA, Rutgers Center for Rapic Surveillance of Tobacco seeks to understand emerging tobacco and nicotine product use among teens with funding. A new find and trend is SPREE BAR, which is a new e-cigarette brand that uses Metatine, "a patented non-nicotine compound that provides adult users with a feeling of satisfaction that is different to differentiate from traditional vape products."
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The Assembly Health Committee has approved three bills earlier last month to combat the rising usage of tobacco and vaping products among young people.
TOBACCO PREVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
Incorruptible.Us Statewide Summit
Incorruptible.Us hosted their Statewide Summit at Adventure Crossing USA in Jackson, N.J. on March 16th, 2024. Youth from each county chapter were given the opportunity to listen to Caroline INSPIREs Boomshakalaka presentation, engage in team building activities, and to create their own Superhero to successfully Take Down Tobacco. Breakfast and Lunch were provided for attendees, as well as the ability to have some fun at Adventure Crossing following the program. County chapters also competed with each other to be this year’s Tobacco Free Champions. Incorruptible.Us Photos and information about the Statewide Summit were shared across social media platforms, including a special feature on the Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action pages.
To learn more about Incorruptible.Us, please visit https://www.incorruptibleus.org/.
Tobacco Free Community Action
Tobacco Free for a Health NJ is reviewing 2024 Action submissions for the Tobacco Free Community Designation. For more information on this action please see below for more information from the webinar.
TFHNJ INITIATIVE SPOTLIGHT
Eliminate Tobacco Use Summit
Eliminate Tobacco Use New Jersey Summit occurred on Wednesday April 3rd at Georgian Court University. Despite the weather, we had approximately 60 in-person attendees that enjoyed a day kicked off by our partners at Georgian Court. The Keynote Speaker was Onjewel Smith from American's for Nonsmokers Rrights (ANR), and workshops were held by Southern NJ Perinatal Cooperative (SNJPC), Garden State Equality, and Rutgers University. Attendees also experienced a unique panel discussion session featuring Aria CHalileh from Incorruptible U at TCNJ, Kim Burns from the Atlantic Quit Center, and Dr. Mary Hrywna from Rutgers University. LMTI then led the attendees in an Action Planning session, to work on specific issues on campuses.
The ETU Virtual Summit occurred on Wednesday April 10th virtually. It was hosted by our partners at MDAnderson and featured a hybrid format where folks in Texas attended in-person while over 200 attendees were able to attend virtually. Presenters included UT Austin staff, Amanda Graham from Truth Initiative, Rutgers University, and more. New Jersey’s own Aria Chilaleh from Incorruptible U at TCNJ also served on a youth panel that discussed Tobacco Prevention and Advocacy as college students.
New Jersey Prevention Network Annual Conference Fireside Chat
Empowering Recovery: Tobacco Cessation & Other Supports in Behavioral Health
At the New Jersey Prevention Network (NJPN) Annual Conference TFHNJ representatives Ashley Smith, Kim Burns and Monica Hanna participated in a “Fireside Chat” with NJPN's CEO Diane Litterer as the moderator. The session was titled, "Empowering Recovery with Tobacco Cessation & Other Supports in Behavioral Health: Strategies, Resources, and Policies." The goal was to acknowledge the disproportionate smoking rates among behavioral health clients compared to the general population and to discuss resources in NJ aimed at supporting tobacco cessation for those clients. The importance of policy and enforcing current smoke free laws was also discussed.
Tobacco Free for a Healthy NJ attended the annual New Jersey Apartments Association Conference & Expo to promote the housing initiative, and provide smoke-free resources to property management companies and multi-unit housing facilities.
To learn more about Smoke-Free Housing, visit https://www.tobaccofreenj.com/smoke-free-housing
This quarterly focus is on Tobacco & the Environment. Youth participated in Earth Day and is utilizing the updated Digital Backpack. Below are pictures from Atlantic County and Sussex County youth participating in Earth Day and Arbor Day events.
Incorruptible.Us Digital Backpacks
THIS IS QUITTING
Free mobile program from Truth Initiative
Designed to help young people quit vaping
Text messaging program that incorporates messages from other young people who are attempting to or have successfully quit
This Is Quitting is tailored based on ages within 13 to 24
Ready to Quit Vaping? Text VAPEFREENJ to 88709!
Changemakers
The issue brief from the American Lung Association highlights the importance of extending postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months to support tobacco cessation efforts among new mothers. It discusses the high relapse rate of smoking postpartum and the benefits of extended Medicaid coverage, including improved health outcomes for mothers and their babies. The brief acknowledges New Jersey as one of the first states to extend the postpartum coverage through a Section 1115 Waiver. The process was supported by the Nurture NJ initiative, aiming to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Key stakeholders included the First Lady of New Jersey, the Department of Health, and the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative promoted cessation benefits through various media campaigns and programs including Mom’s Quit Connection for Families.
Health Equity Impact
On April 26, 2024 the Biden Administration announced its decision on the long awaited menthol cigarette ban. Biden’s top official, Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra gave no timeline for issuing the ruling, stating that more time is needed to consider feedback from civil rights groups. Becerra said, “It is clear that there are still more conversations to have and that will take significantly more time.”
EVENTS
June is PRIDE MONTH! Find community events happening in your area. TFHNJ has been participating in PRIDE events around the state. Thank you North Jersey PRIDE, Toms River PRIDE and Asbury PRIDE for allowing us to share our resources and celebrate with you!
Part 1 Tiny Lungs Healthy Lungs: What is Thirdhand Smoke Webinar
Part 2 Tiny Lungs Healthy Lungs: How to Write a Policy that Protects Everyone
For more information, click the image below!
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