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** 22 November 2024
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** UK
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** Farage-led campaign against WHO linked to nicotine industry consultants (#1)
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** Expanded support to help Telford residents quit smoking (#2)
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** Gambling watchdog criticised for inaction on addiction-linked suicides (#3)
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** International
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** Tobacco disparities persist despite decades of progress in the US (#4)
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** Links of the week
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** Blog: The impact of cancer costs on the UK economy? (#5)
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** ASH public briefing ahead of 2nd reading of Tobacco and Vapes Bill (#6)
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** UK
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** Farage-led campaign against WHO linked to nicotine industry consultants

A joint investigation by the Guardian and the Good Law Project has found that Action on World Health (AWH), a campaign group co-founded by Nigel Farage, is staffed by consultants who work with the nicotine products industry. AWH advocates for reform or replacement of the World Health Organization (WHO) as a means of curbing public health interventions. The group opposes WHO’s influence on national public health policies and rejects its calls for stricter regulations on vaping and other products.

AWH’s campaign director, David Roach, and his consultancy firm have past associations with vaping companies, though Roach denies current funding from such sources. The group has been criticised for lacking transparency in its funding, with critics suggesting potential alignment between its goals and the interests of the novel nicotine industry.

Action on World Health’s manifesto also opposes what it describes as over-regulation of vaping and other lifestyle products, promoting less restrictive approaches to public health policy.

The WHO has dismissed AWH’s claims, emphasising that its proposed pandemic treaty respects national sovereignty and does not grant it unilateral authority to enforce health measures. The treaty aims to enhance global collaboration on pandemic preparedness, countering misinformation about its intentions.

Source: The Guardian, 21 November 2024

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** Expanded support to help Telford residents quit smoking

Telford and Wrekin Council is enhancing its Stop Smoking service to address smoking as a major public health issue. The initiative includes more professional appointments, additional in-person clinics, and a new campaign called Crush the Habit. This campaign aims to motivate smokers by emphasising the positive impact of quitting on their own health and the wellbeing of loved ones.

The programme offers personalised support, including setting a quit date, exploring motivations and habits, and providing nicotine replacement therapy. Smokers can also join the Healthy Telford community for shared experiences and mutual encouragement. Councillor Kelly Middleton, a former smoker, has voiced strong support for the initiative, highlighting its potential to help residents lead healthier lives.

Source: BBC News, 21 November, 2024

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** Gambling watchdog criticised for inaction on addiction-linked suicides

The Gambling Commission faces scrutiny after Annie Ashton, whose husband Luke died following a gambling addiction, announced plans to sue the regulator. Ashton condemns the Commission for not investigating Betfair, despite a coroner’s finding that its safeguarding failures contributed to Luke’s death.

Although the coroner highlighted the role of gambling disorder in the tragedy and called for preventative measures, no action has been taken against Betfair or its parent company, Flutter. Critics accuse the regulator of prioritising industry interests over consumer protection, raising questions about its effectiveness.

Campaigners and Ashton’s legal team argue the Commission’s inaction undermines accountability and fails to protect vulnerable individuals, while Flutter claims to have since enhanced player protections.

Source: The Guardian, 21 November 2024

Editorial note: Media stories covering other harmful consumer products, such alcohol, unhealthy food and drink and gambling, are being included in ASH Daily News because policy change in these areas is indicative of the Government’s position on prevention and their attitudes to harm-causing industries.
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** International
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** Tobacco disparities persist despite decades of progress in the US

A new report from the US Surgeon General highlights significant disparities in tobacco use across various population groups, despite a nationwide decline in smoking rates since the 1960s. While only 11.5% of adults reported smoking in 2021 compared to over 42% in 1965, tobacco use remains disproportionately high among certain demographics, including American Indian and Alaska Native people, those living in poverty, and LGBTQ+ people.

Smoking prevalence among American Indian and Alaska Native adults was over double that of white adults in 2020, while people earning less than $35,000 annually were more than three times as likely to smoke compared to those earning $100,000 or more. Similarly, smoking rates among LGBTQ+ adults and teens were significantly higher than their heterosexual counterparts.

The report underscores the ongoing toll of tobacco use, which causes nearly 500,000 deaths annually and disproportionately impacts marginalised communities. To address these inequities, it calls for equitable access to healthcare, stricter nicotine regulations, and enhanced protections against secondhand smoke exposure.

Source: abc news, 19 November 2024

See also: Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death: Addressing Disparities ([link removed])

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** Links of the week
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** Blog: The impact of cancer costs on the UK economy?

In this blog, Cancer Research UK’s lead economist Annalisa Belloni sets out the cost of cancer to the UK and explores the implications this has for the UK’s wider economy. With cancer adding £14.4bn to the Uks health expenditure alone, cancer has a huge impact on public finances. The blog then presents the key to reducing not only cancer prevalence but the ensuing costs which is funding preventative measures and continuing to pursue breakthroughs in cancer research.

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** ASH public briefing ahead of 2nd reading of Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will take place next Tuesday the 26th November. ASH and the SFAC have produced a briefing on the Bill. This covers:

1. What the Bill does (and doesn't do)
2. Arguments supporting the bill
3. Rebuttals of common criticisms
4. Some things 'beyond the bill' to mention in the debate
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**
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For more information email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.ash.org.uk
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.

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