smoking

READER’S EDITORIAL: IT’S TIME TO STOP THE MARKETING AND SALES OF VAPING DEVICES AND FLAVORED PRODUCTS USED IN THEM

We applaud the 26 California jurisdictions that have taken these steps and encourage El Cajon to join them.” – Dana Stevens

By Dana Stevens, Community Action Service & Advocacy (CASA)

Photo: Chance Ammirata shared these photos on Twitter of his collapsed lung and lung spots, which doctors attributed to vaping. The 18-year-old Florida student underwent emergency surgery and was told he can no longer do cross country running or scuba diving.

September 20, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- Hundreds of people have been hospitalized across the country, including 12 here in San Diego, by a respiratory illness linked to vaping that has claimed eight lives – sadly this number seems to increase daily. If emergency rooms were facing this rush of illness from any other source, it would have been pulled from the shelves within days. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the government agency that regulates tobacco products, describes an outbreak as when two or more people get the same illness from the same food or drink contaminant. Food producers recall their product from the marketplace when the products are mislabeled or causes illness. Vaping devices, the flavored liquid used in those devices, and the liquid form of THC are not regulated by the FDA.  


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SANTEE BANS SMOKING IN PARKS, EXCEPT AT CITY-SPONSORED EVENTS IN DESIGNATED AREAS

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
May 26, 2019 (Santee) – Lighting up a cigarette, cigar, or vaping device is now illegal in Santee parks, making the city the last in the region to outlaw smoking in public parks.  Council smoked out an exception, however, for designated smoking sections at special events  at Town Center Community Park, including summer concerts and the city’s annual Santee Salutes Fourth of July festivities, as well as Fido Fest.
 

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LEMON GROVE TO CONSIDER TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSING ORDINANCE TUESDAY

 

By Miriam Raftery

November 18, 2018 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove’s City Council will consider a tobacco retail licensing ordinance aimed at keeping tobacco products away from children. Following months of planning and community input, the ordinance will have its first reading at Tuesday’s 6 p.m. council meeting at the Lemon Grove Community Center, 3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove.


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SANTEE PARKS COULD SOON BE SMOKE-FREE

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Santee middle school age youth and high school students learn about the health risks associated to secondhand smoke and how tobacco waste like cigarette butts hurt their environment.

December 13, 2017 (Santee) – Santee is the last city in San Diego County to still allow smoking in public parks. But that could soon change.  On Thursday, December 14th at 6:30 p.m., the Santee Parks and Recreation Committee will consider a smoke-free ordinance and recommendation to the City Council to make parks and open spaces smoke-free.  The meeting will be held at Santee City Hall’s Community Services building #7, 10601 North Magnolia Avenue in Santee.


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CHIEF’S CORNER: A RED HOT VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT

 

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

February 6, 2017 (San Diego) -- Did you know there are over 2 million heart attacks and strokes each year resulting in 800,000 deaths and even more depilating injuries?

Valentine’s Day is coming up, so besides the chocolate and flowers, consider the best gift you can give someone this year is a commitment to a healthy heart! This is a great gift to give (and receive) to any loved ones in your life. I promise, they want YOU more than candy or flowers!


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GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL RAISING SMOKING AGE TO 21, ALSO APPROVING OTHER SMOKING RESTRICTIONS

 

By Miriam Raftery

May 5, 2016 (Sacramento) – California has become the second state in the nation (after Hawaii) to raise the smoking age to 21 years of age. Governor Jerry Brown signed a package of bills into law that also bans sale of e-cigarette products to youths and prohibits use of electronic cigarettes in public places such as restaurants or theaters, as well as at most areas in public schools including charters.

El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick praised the Governor’s action. “That’s going to save millions of lives,” said Kendrick, who authored El Cajon’s measures to restrict e-cigarettes and smoking in public places. The El Cajon Council, at Kendrick’s urging, also passed a resolution in support of raising California’s smoking age from 18 to 21.


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WANT TO SAVE OVER A MILLION BUCKS? STOP SMOKING!

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

 

January 19, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Just in time for Tobacco-Free Awareness Week, WalletHub, a financial website, has analyzed the cumulative cost of smoking a pack of cigarettes daily over several decades, along with health care expenditures, income losses and related expenses.


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CALIFORNIA SPENDING FAR TOO LITTLE TO COMBAT SMOKING

 

 

 

A new report says California is shortchanging tobacco cessation programs.

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service

December 28, 2015 (Sacramento) -- Anti-smoking advocates are pressing for a $2 a pack tobacco tax in the wake a recent report that says California is seriously shortchanging smoking cessation programs.


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BILL TO RAISE SMOKING AGE TO 21 PASSES CA STATE SENATE

 

By Juwan Armstrong

June 9, 2015 (Sacramento)--The California Senate approved a bill last Tuesday that would raise the minimum legal age for buying cigarettes and other tobacco products from 18 to 21 as part of an effort to reduce smoking by young people.


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EL CAJON COUNCIL TO CONSIDER REGULATING HOOKAHS AND E-CIGARETTES

 

El Cajon’s City Council’s agenda this Tuesday includes a proposal by Councilman Kendrick to regulate electronic cigarettes and hookahs.  Both products contain nicotine and the CDC reports that the number of teens using e-cigarettes doubled from 2011 to 2012.

A Spring Valley teen passed out and was hospitalized last week with carbon monoxide poisoning from a hookah.

A 2005 report by the World Health Organization documented potential health hazards from hookahs, noting that in a typical 20-80 minute hookah session produces about as much smoke as the amount received from smoking 100 cigarettes.”


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HOW TO AVOID HEART DISEASE

By Nancy White

It’s pretty easy to avoid America’s leading killer, lurking in that dark alley.

February 2, 2013 (San Diego)--Heart disease kills more Americans – 599,000 in a recent year -- than such likely suspects as cancer, automobile accidents or illicit drug use. Start with the ABC’s. A is for avoiding tobacco. B means becoming more active. C stands for choosing good nutrition.


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ECM WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS

November 28, 2012 -- (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecti all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

WORLD

HEALTH

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.


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TOBACCO INDUSTRY SPENDS BIG TO OPPOSE PROP 29

By Miriam Raftery

The tobacco industry has thus far spent $38 million in its efforts to snuff out Proposition 29.  But supporters, including leading medical professionals and major newspapers statewide, say big tobacco is using a "smokescreen" of false statements and urge voters not to be deceived.

A quick fact check (see links below) prove the tobaco industry is continuing its long track record of making provably untrue statements to the detriment of public health.


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FATHER'S DAY FACT: DAD'S EXPOSURES CAN BE SIGNIFICANT PRIOR TO PREGNANCY

 
UCSD Experts Say Many Paternal Exposures Can Affect Sperm & Lead To Infertility 

 
June 18, 2011 (San Diego) - According to the California Teratogen Information Service (CTIS) Pregnancy Health Information Line, a statewide non-profit that educates the public about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, more studies are needed to evaluate the potential effect of illnesses, medications and men's lifestyle habits and their impact on both fertility and pregnancy.

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BLOCK BILL WOULD ALLOW COLLEGES TO ENFORCE SMOKING BANS, LEVY FINES ON SMOKERS

 

May 8, 2011 (Sacramento)--Assembly Higher Education Chair Marty Block (D-Lemon Grove) has authored legislation that calls on campuses of the California Community Colleges (CCC), California State University (CSU), and the University of California (UC) to enforce local and system-wide smoking and tobacco laws and ordinances already in place. AB 795 would give these institutions the authority to enforce current policies and fine perpetrators.

 

The measure was overwhelmingly approved this week by the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee.


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POLITICAL WRANGLING: SMOKE SIGNALS

 

By Buck Shott

 

August 4, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – This week, our Political Wrangler brings you the lastest from those smoke-filled rooms in Washington and San Diego.  Amid pressing world issues, which of your U.S. legislators has a bill to ban marijuana brownies?   Who is drawing fire for cozy ties to tobacco lobbyists after backing a cigar club for legislators? Which Congressman is fighting to make it easier to send cigarettes to our troops?  Did a certain Supervisor break the law in doling out $80,000 in taxpayer money to a special interest group?


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CONGRESS GRANTS FDA AUTHORITY TO REGULATE TOBACCO PRODUCTS, PROTECT KIDS; LOCAL CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES DIVIDE VOTES

CONGRESS GRANTS FDA AUTHORITY TO REGULATE TOBACCO PRODUCTS, PROTECT KIDS FROM SMOKING IMPACTS June 16, 2009 (Washington D.C.) The House and Senate have passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, designed to protect children and teens from the harmful effects of smoking. The bill grants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate the advertising, marketing and manufacturing of tobacco products to protect public health.


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