The Australian government on Monday launched its new advertising campaign calling on all Indigenous Australians to quit smoking. The new campaign will start hitting the airwaves, newspapers and TV screens today as the Australian Government continues its world-leading action to combat tobacco use. In a national first, a new hard-hitting advertising campaign urging Indigenous Australians to break the chain and quit smoking hit the airwaves, newspapers and TV screens today as the Gillard Government continues its world leading action to combat tobacco use. This campaign depicts a young Indigenous ... Jump to full article >>

They’re not cigarettes, but they’re are close enough to catch the attention of Clark County Public Health. E-cigarettes often look like normal cigarettes, but rather than burning tobacco, smokers puff on vaporized nicotine solutions. They’re battery-powered and have a red LED at the end that mimics the burning tip of the real thing. Health department leaders briefed the Clark County commissioners, who also act as the county’s Board of Health, on the issue and proposed adopting an ordinance that would ban sale of the devices to people younger than 18. [caption id="attach ... Jump to full article >>

A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows both the intended and unintended consequences of cigarette taxes. According to an analysis of Internet search data, the 2009 U.S. federal cigarette excise tax increase successfully drove many smokers online to find ways to quit smoking, but more often smokers responded by shopping online for tax-free or cheap cigarettes in an apparent effort to evade the tax hike. The study is the first evaluation of smokers’ responses to the tax, which increased from $0.39 to $1.01 per pack under the State Children†... Jump to full article >>

Britain’s anti tobacco bosses have decided to voice against the tobacco companies by suggesting tougher rules on tobacco and they believe that cigarette packets contain absolutely nothing but a health warning. New plans were announced late this week under which cigarette packets would be plain and unbranded with no color, logos or graphics. Australian government is also thinking on the same lines and it aims to introduce a measure in 2012 but if UK government introduces a law related to this, it will become the first European country to introduce this tough measure. Amand Sandford, Research ... Jump to full article >>

President Barack Obama, we are told by no less an authority than Mrs. Obama, has quit smoking and been off cigarettes for about a year. Obama watchers are putting his quit date some time last March, right around the time health care passed. Good for him, but the White House is being quiet about the details of an act — kicking the habit — that most people would find altogether laudatory. Maybe they’re afraid talking about it will jinx him. Coming from an administration that is not shy about boasting of his accomplishments, this reticence is puzzling because one thing reformed ... Jump to full article >>

Irrfan Khan started smoking while doing his first play but the actor now wants to kick the bad habit, which he calls his biggest disappointment. A self-confessed chain-smoker, Irrfan says his character was required to smoke in his debut play. He wanted it to look natural but ended up picking up the habit. “I started smoking while doing my first play but I want to quit it since ages. It is a harmful, useless addiction and has been my biggest personal disappointment. In fact, I also smoked beedis at one point of time in the foolish hope that they were less harmful,” Irrfan told PTI. ... Jump to full article >>

Northland smokers are being reminded they will be saving more than their lives if they kick the nicotine habit this year – they’ll also be saving a sizeable amount of cash. Quitting smoking is one of the most popular, and most broken, of New Year’s resolutions and Northland’s smokefree co-ordinator, Bridget Rowse, hoped a 10 per cent tobacco tax hike that kicked in on January 1 would help those wanting to give up. The price of cheaper cigarette brands was expected to rise from about $14.60 for a packet of 25 to more than $16. Ms Rowse, from Northland District Health Boa ... Jump to full article >>

Over 500 pilgrims in Makkah decide to stub it out for good MAKKAH: More than 500 pilgrims quit smoking during the current Haj season thanks to the efforts of a voluntary anti-smoking society called, Kafa (Enough). Hundreds of pilgrims of various nationalities visited Kafa’s mobile clinic, the largest of its kind, stationed closed to the Grand Mosque, said Ibrahim Al-Hamda, the society’s director. “The clinic cost an estimated SR1 million. It is located in a large bus, equipped with all the required medical instruments and facilities needed for smokers to quit. There are two sections in t ... Jump to full article >>

Slash was motivated to quit smoking after his mother died of lung cancer. The former Guns N’ Roses guitarist hasn’t smoked for a year and admits seeing his beloved parent Ola Hudson lose her battle with the disease, and a bout of pneumonia he suffered himself, made him realise he needed to ditch his habit for good. Slash – real name Saul Hudson – said: “I’ve been off them for a year. The first time I quit smoking was because me and my wife just had a baby and she claimed the baby smelled like an ashtray. So I thought, ‘Well, I’ll give it a shot. ... Jump to full article >>

As she poses in her bikini, Chloe Madeley looks more than happy with her trim figure. And with little wonder. The TV presenter daughter of Richard and Judy has slimmed down in time for summer by losing 6lbs – in just one week. The 22-year-old took herself off to bikini bootcamp after she quit smoking and started eating junk food, putting on half a stone over four months. Chloe, 5ft 7in, said: ‘After I stopped smoking last year, I turned to junk food and put on half a stone in just four months. ‘By February I weighed 9st and was a size 10, which isn’t big by any means but I ... Jump to full article >>

Nicorette is offering two new ways to help smokers finally quit smoking. A new nicotine lozenge is now available, as well as more internet support. By sharing a smoking story online, participants in Nicorette’s latest contest can also get the opportunity to meet Dr. Drew Pinsky. Nicorette’s latest item is a “mini lozenge” to help smokers quit. It is a dissolvable lozenge that dissolves three times faster than their previous dissolvable items. These little craving attackers are great, but must be kept away from children or people that can be harmed by nicotine. A recent ... Jump to full article >>