Pediatric Tobacco Issues

The Pediatric Tobacco Issues SIG (CigSIG) is an open and welcoming group of individuals interested in all aspects of how tobacco influences kids: from secondhand tobacco smoke prevention, to adolescent tobacco prevention and cessation, to parental smoking cessation, to policy changes reducing tobacco’s impact on children and families. Our current members have wide ranges of experience, and our annual meeting is a great opportunity to learn highlights of new research and policies, discover new resources for research and practice, and foster collaboration among researchers, practitioners and trainees. Members receive periodic updates via listserv on tobacco topics throughout the year.

2008 is already proving to be a lively year in tobacco control, with an updated Tobacco Treatment Guideline about to be released (in May) and a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Tobacco Bill which will be in mark-up in the House (H.R. 1108) in the next few weeks. The bill would grant the FDA the authority to:

• Restrict tobacco advertising and promotions, especially to children.
• Stop illegal sales of tobacco products to children.
• Ban candy-flavored cigarettes.
• Require changes in tobacco products, such as the removal of certain harmful ingredients or the reduction of nicotine levels.
• Prohibit health claims about so-called "reduced risk" products that are not scientifically proven or that would discourage current tobacco users from quitting or encourage new users to start.
• Require tobacco companies to disclose the contents of tobacco products, changes to their products and research about the health effects of their products.
• Require larger and more informative health warnings on tobacco products.
• Prohibit terms such as "light", "mild" and "low-tar" that mislead consumers into believing that certain cigarettes are safer than others.

This year’s annual meeting of the CigSIG will be in Hawaii on Monday May 5, 9am-noon. Please join us for an exciting morning of networking, idea sharing, and several presentations. Highlights include the following:

• We will hear from Jon Klein regarding the AAP Richmond Center, with great opportunities for collaboration and funding. The Center, supported by a major grant from the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute (FAMRI), is dedicated to the elimination of children’s exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS).
• Tom Peterson will present the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital’s parental tobacco cessation program and discuss their smoke-free hospital campus.
• We will have a participatory point/counterpoint discussion about the proposed FDA Bill (mentioned above).
• As always, we will hear updates of member and guest activities, with time for informal discussion, problem solving and idea sharing.

We look forward to seeing you in Hawaii! If you cannot be there but would be interested in joining the listserv, please contact any of the current co-chairs: Sophie Balk (sbalk@montefiore.org), Tahniat Syed Ansari (tahniat.Syed@drexelmed.edu), or Susanne Tanski (susanne.tanski@hitchcock.org)

Networking at your fingertips.

E-connections is now live. This electronic networking resource allows APA members to seek project-specific assistance from other members. Consultants listed in E-Connections have self-identified expertise in Education, Research, Career Development, Advocacy/Health Policy, Administration/Leadership and Communication/Technology. They are willing to consult by e-mail or phone to assist other members with project development or project dilemmas. To access: Go to the members-only home page and click on the E-Connections tab.