GPs in a city say they are seeing an increase in teenagers with health problems linked to shisha pipe smoking. Leicester’s Primary Care Trust said it had been surprised by the numbers visiting doctors with symptoms. Qasim Chowdary, a PCT smoking cessation adviser, said the increase in pipe use, which involves burning fruit flavoured tobacco, was among 15 to 24-year-olds. He said research challenged the “misconception” that shisha smoking was not as harmful as smoking cigarettes. He said shisha pipe smoking was now incredibly popular among youngsters of all cultures and ethnic ... Jump to full article >>

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House voted Tuesday to lift a smoking ban in all of the state’s casinos during a debate that pitted the health of bettors and casino workers against hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenues. The proposal, which passed 62-52 and now moves to the state Senate, represents a significant softening of the state’s 2008 anti-smoking law that banned tobacco use in virtually all indoor public areas. “Ladies and gentleman, if we’re serious about our budget crisis in Illinois, let’s be real. This is not about the smoking issue. This is about the money,” sa ... Jump to full article >>

Before the April 5 smoking initiative, examine the history of the tobacco industry. 1950s: Doctors were paid to testify cigarettes were actually good for you. 1960s: Tobacco industry denies veracity of mounting evidence that tobacco was a real health hazard killing people daily. 1970s, ’80s and ’90s: Big tobacco spent millions claiming in court that tobacco was never responsible for one single death. 2000s: Having lied, litigated, lost and found responsible for uncountable deaths, they began anew the cycle of lies and deception: Denying the health risks that secondhand smoke is pro ... Jump to full article >>

The number of tobacco users in Ghana increases by the day, despite the health implications associated with it. Compared to the western countries, where most people smoke tobacco due to the excessive cold weather, smokers in Ghana have other reasons for smoking – either for pleasure or to get rid of an excessive nasty smell – which they later get addicted to. The number of tobacco smokers in Ghana, definitely, cannot be compared to smokers in the west, however, the adverse effects of smoking, unfortunately, does not affect users only, but people who find themselves present during the momen ... Jump to full article >>

The David and Goliath case of the family of lung cancer victim Rolah McCabe taking on a global tobacco giant has been quietly wrapped up in the Victorian Supreme Court after almost 11 years. British American Tobacco (BAT), the second biggest cigarette company in the world, has agreed to end its pursuit for compensation from the McCabe estate. Ms McCabe won a landmark case in 2002 when she became the first person to successfully sue a tobacco company. That verdict was achieved when the trial judge found that documents had been deliberately destroyed by the tobacco company. Ms McCabe was awarded ... Jump to full article >>

With the debate on smoking in vehicles garnering considerable attention, researchers have fuelled the concern that smoking in a car can put passengers at risk. Young children are particularly vulnerable when it comes to smoke in such a confined space and research has suggested that they could be at risk for ‘up to an hour’ after their parent or guardian has lit a cigarette. Many people had previous believed that simply opening windows or throwing away cigarettes was enough to guard youngsters against health threats. But researchers have discovered that many of the dangerous chemicals foun ... Jump to full article >>

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – The number of high school students who smoke is dropping, but the number of high school students who use other tobacco products is rising. These other tobacco products include snus, nicotine pills, chewing tobacco, cigars, and even a liquid that looks and works like hand sanitizer. These products can be very deceiving to parents who may not know what they are. “They’re marketed by the tobacco industry to look like candy or gum which is very attractive to youth. They also come in a variety of flavors,” said Michaelle Houghtaling, director of N ... Jump to full article >>

SPRINGFIELD—Gamblers would be able to light up their cigarettes on riverboat casinos once again under legislation that passed the House today, but its fate in the Senate is uncertain. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Dan Burke, D-Chicago, is aimed at keeping gamblers from choosing casinos in neighboring states that allow smoking. He said the lost business costs Illinois and local governments much-needed revenue from their share of gambling taxes. The bill moved to the Senate on a 62-52 vote. The statewide smoke-free act, which took effect Jan. 1, 2008, prohibits smoking in bars, restaurants a ... Jump to full article >>

State Auditor General Jack Wagner is calling for statewide hearings on how the commonwealth should spend its tobacco settlement money. The General Assembly has diverted $1.34 billion, or 30 percent, of the settlement fund payments it has received since 1999 to plug budget holes, according to a report the auditor general’s office released this month. Wagner has suggested Gov. Tom Corbett and the legislature use the money as intended by the Tobacco Settlement Act of 2001, which was proposed and approved by former then-Gov. Tom Ridge and the General Assembly. The funding is to be used for s ... Jump to full article >>

A two-day national consultation will be held here April 4-5 by the ministry of health and family welfare in association with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) to highlight the growing use of tobacco products other than cigarettes. A statement released Tuesday said that as per the recent Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India Report, the current use of smokeless tobacco among adult males in India is as high as 32.9 percent and for females it is 18.4 percent. Overall, 26 percent of the adult population consumes smokeless type of tobacco. Smokeles ... Jump to full article >>

Shares of Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI) saw unusually high trading volume on Monday. Approximately 3,083,237 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 0.83% from the previous session. The stock last traded at $35.45. Separately, analysts at Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) downgraded shares of Reynolds American, Inc. from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note to investors on Friday, February 25th. Also, analysts at UBS AG (NYSE: UBS) upgraded shares of Reynolds American, Inc. from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note to investors on T ... Jump to full article >>