Health News
- Athletes Drive A Rise In High Schoolers' Use Of Smokeless Tobacco
High-school athletes are using more smokeless tobacco, even though overall tobacco use among high-school students has declined, according to a study published by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ?We can do more to protect America?s...
- Altria, Parent Of Philip Morris, Reports Spending Most On Lobbying The 2014 Legislature But Says It Didn't Fight Smoking Ban
The parent firm of the nation's largest cigarette company again reported spending more than anyone else on lobbying the Kentucky General Assembly, but says it did not fight the bill that would have imposed a statewide smoking ban in most public places....
- Tobacco Use Higher In Rural Areas; Several Factors Include Tobacco Companies' Targeting Of Rural Youth, Lung Assn. Says
Tobacco use is higher among rural communities than in suburban and urban areas, and smokeless tobacco use is twice as common. According to the American Lung Association, rural youth are more likely to use tobacco and to start earlier than urban youth,...
- Kentucky Ranks 36th For Tobacco Prevention Spending; Many States Have Made Cuts
Though it received $389 million in tobacco-settlement funds in fiscal year 2012, and ranks first or second in tobacco use, Kentucky spent just $2.2 million of that on prevention of tobacco use. The figures rank Kentucky 36th in the nation for helping...
- Smokeless Tobacco Can Help You Quit Cigarettes, Owensboro-area Residents Are Told (partly With Tobacco Money)
"Switch and quit" is the theme of an advertising campaign being promoted by a prominent cancer center in Kentucky, in which smokers are advised to lay off the cigarettes in favor of smokeless tobacco such as chew or snuff. "Supporters say smokers who...
Health News
Tobacco is top target in Beshear's health plans, but he still praises expansion of plant that makes smokeless tobacco
Gov. Steve Beshear says tobacco is the main cause of Kentuckians' relatively poor health, which he is pushing to improve, but on Feb. 27 "his tone shifted as he praised the economic benefits from a tobacco company's plans to expand its Western Kentucky processing operations for smokeless tobacco products," reports Bruce Schreiner of The Associated Press.
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., an Altria Group subsidary that makes Copenhagen and Skoal from local tobacco, says it will spend $118 million and create 42 jobs as it expands its 90-employee plant in Hopkinsville. Beshear called that "proof that Kentucky is a great place to grow a business." If the company creates the predicted number of jobs, it could get $4.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively, in state and local tax breaks.
Tobacco farming is a smaller part of Kentucky's economy today than it was for most of the 20th Century, but Schreiner notes the state has the nation's highest percentage of smokers and "has the worst or near-worst rates for smoking, cancer deaths, heart disease and high blood pressure." Smokeless tobacco is linked to cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus.
Those are among the reasons Beshear's tax-reform plan would raise levies on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. "He also touts legislation calling for a statewide smoking ban at workplaces and in public buildings," Schreiner notes. "Altria opposes any tobacco tax increases."
The American Cancer Society says smokeless tobacco can cause nicotine addiction, which can lead to smoking, and can also lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Oral health is one of the seven main points in Beshear's recently announced plan to improve the state's health, Schreiner notes.
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., an Altria Group subsidary that makes Copenhagen and Skoal from local tobacco, says it will spend $118 million and create 42 jobs as it expands its 90-employee plant in Hopkinsville. Beshear called that "proof that Kentucky is a great place to grow a business." If the company creates the predicted number of jobs, it could get $4.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively, in state and local tax breaks.
Tobacco farming is a smaller part of Kentucky's economy today than it was for most of the 20th Century, but Schreiner notes the state has the nation's highest percentage of smokers and "has the worst or near-worst rates for smoking, cancer deaths, heart disease and high blood pressure." Smokeless tobacco is linked to cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus.
Those are among the reasons Beshear's tax-reform plan would raise levies on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. "He also touts legislation calling for a statewide smoking ban at workplaces and in public buildings," Schreiner notes. "Altria opposes any tobacco tax increases."
The American Cancer Society says smokeless tobacco can cause nicotine addiction, which can lead to smoking, and can also lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Oral health is one of the seven main points in Beshear's recently announced plan to improve the state's health, Schreiner notes.
- Athletes Drive A Rise In High Schoolers' Use Of Smokeless Tobacco
High-school athletes are using more smokeless tobacco, even though overall tobacco use among high-school students has declined, according to a study published by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ?We can do more to protect America?s...
- Altria, Parent Of Philip Morris, Reports Spending Most On Lobbying The 2014 Legislature But Says It Didn't Fight Smoking Ban
The parent firm of the nation's largest cigarette company again reported spending more than anyone else on lobbying the Kentucky General Assembly, but says it did not fight the bill that would have imposed a statewide smoking ban in most public places....
- Tobacco Use Higher In Rural Areas; Several Factors Include Tobacco Companies' Targeting Of Rural Youth, Lung Assn. Says
Tobacco use is higher among rural communities than in suburban and urban areas, and smokeless tobacco use is twice as common. According to the American Lung Association, rural youth are more likely to use tobacco and to start earlier than urban youth,...
- Kentucky Ranks 36th For Tobacco Prevention Spending; Many States Have Made Cuts
Though it received $389 million in tobacco-settlement funds in fiscal year 2012, and ranks first or second in tobacco use, Kentucky spent just $2.2 million of that on prevention of tobacco use. The figures rank Kentucky 36th in the nation for helping...
- Smokeless Tobacco Can Help You Quit Cigarettes, Owensboro-area Residents Are Told (partly With Tobacco Money)
"Switch and quit" is the theme of an advertising campaign being promoted by a prominent cancer center in Kentucky, in which smokers are advised to lay off the cigarettes in favor of smokeless tobacco such as chew or snuff. "Supporters say smokers who...