From Action on Smoking and Health <[email protected]>
Subject ASH Daily News for 05 January 2021
Date January 5, 2021 12:28 PM
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** 05 January 2021
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** UK
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** South West: The best time to quit smoking is now, says Cornwall Council (#1)
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** London: Free service launches in Newham to help people quit smoking (#2)
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** International
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** US Study: Replacing some cigarettes with vaping does not reduce risk of heart problems (#3)
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** South Africa: Government to appeal a court ruling that the tobacco ban was unconstitutional (#4)
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** UK
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**
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** In Cornwall, smokers are being urged to join thousands of others across the UK and stub out smoking for good this year. It is estimated that nationally a million people quit smoking during the first lockdown with hundreds of thousands maintaining their success.

According to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) research in the South West, around 78,000 are thought to have given up during the summer lockdown. Cornwall Council’s stop smoking service said it remains open and ready to support local people to quit in January. Besides the obvious health benefits, evidence suggests that those who successfully quit stand to save £2,000 a year. They will also help alleviate pressure on health services and society in general.

According to analysis by ASH, there are approximately 63,010 adult smokers in Cornwall at a cost to society of £117.3 million a year, including a £29.7 million burden on the NHS. About £10m is spent on smoking-related hospital admissions and £19.6m on treating smoking-related illnesses.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH, said: “This has been a tough year, but local councils have shown they are more than up to the challenge, showing tremendous commitment to local people during the pandemic. If you are planning to quit in 2021, get help from your local service, it might make all the difference.”

Source: In your area, 4 January 2021

See also: ASH Ready Reckoner – The local costs of tobacco ([link removed])
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**

Newham Council has launched a free service to help people quit smoking. The new service is for smokers in Newham who are at most risk of developing severe respiratory health problems. According to the council, smoking is the biggest cause of death and illness in the borough where almost 40,000 people smoke.

The service offers a flexible eight-week-long treatment program with an adviser. Language support is available if it is required. It also offers free nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medication or electronic cigarettes. The service combines telephone and online support, including video conferencing. Face-to-face support will also be available in line with lockdown restrictions.

Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, the cabinet member for health and adult social care, said: “In Newham, we are committed to tackling the health inequalities that exist within the borough. Working towards a smokefree Newham is a priority in our recently launched strategy ‘50 Steps to a healthier Newham’ and this service is key to achieving this.”

Source: Newham Recorder, 5 January 2021
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** International
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** According to new research, using a combination of cigarettes and e-cigarettes results in harmful health effects similar to exclusively smoking.

The researchers analysed data on the smoking habits and health of more than 7,000 Americans over 18, focusing on inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. These are key signs which can be used to predict heart attacks and heart failure. Of the study participants, more than half (58.6%) did not use cigarettes or e-cigarettes; nearly 2% vaped exclusively; about 30% only smoked cigarettes. Around 10% reported using a combination of both traditional and electronic cigarettes.

The study's analysis reveals that those who vaped exclusively had similar levels of cardiovascular danger signs than those who did not smoke at all. However, participants who used both cigarettes and e-cigarettes had levels of all inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers comparable to those who smoked exclusively.

Source: The Telegraph, 4 January 2021

See also: AHA Journals - Association of Cigarette and Electronic Cigarette Use Patterns With Levels of Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers Among US Adults: Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study ([link removed])
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** South African government will appeal the Western Cape High Court judgment that the ban on tobacco products’ trade during the coronavirus lockdown — aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 — was unnecessary.

The case was brought to court by tobacco traders, including British American Tobacco SA (Batsa). In the judgment, the court found that the ban could not stand up to constitutional scrutiny and would not serve objectives set out in Section 27 of the Disaster Management Act.

In court papers, Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and President Cyril Ramaphosa will petition the Supreme Court of Appeal to overturn the judgment. Among 13 grounds for the appeal was that the court “was not consistent in its approach to expert evidence.”

Source: Times Live, 4 January 2021
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For more information call 020 7404 0242, email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.ash.org.uk

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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