Request For Application (RFA) to be Released on June 27th: California Tribal Initiative to Reduce Tobacco-Related Disparities

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We are pleased to announce that the California Department of Public Health, California Tobacco Control Program anticipates releasing a Request for Application (RFA) for the California Tribal Initiative to Reduce Tobacco-Related Disparities on June 27, 2019. This RFA will fund projects to reduce tobacco-related disparities and achieve health equity among American Indian Tribal populations through approaches focused on tobacco use prevention and reduction. Details about this RFA and eligibility can be found on the attached Funding Opportunity Alert. We highly encourage you to pass on this funding opportunity to Tribal government contacts that may be interested and to read the funding eligibility closely. To find out more, please reference the TCFOR website.
Questions may be directed to CTCPCompetitiveGrants@cdph.ca.gov. Please reference “CTCP RFA CG 19-10011” in the subject line.
Need help in completing an RFA?
The LOOP has experienced Tailored Assistance Trainers who can support you in this process at NO CHARGE! Email us atTheLOOP@ucsf.edu.

New Study Examines Tobacco Use among Disaggregated Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Groups

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Tobacco studies often combine data for Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (AANHOPI) subgroups, masking subgroup differences. A newly published study describes tobacco use (ever use and past 30-day use) among some disaggregated AANHOPI subgroups. Data from Wave 1 of the 2013-2014 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study were analyzed. The dataset contains a sample of 32,320 adults, of which 1623 identified as being of AANHOPI origin. Asian Americans further identified as being Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, or other Asian. Those who identified as Native Hawaiian, Guamanian or Chamarro, Samoan, and Other Pacific Islander were combined into an NHOPI group.

 

Findings included:

·         Asian Indians and Chinese had the lowest and NHOPI had the highest tobacco use prevalence compared to other AANHOPI subgroups.

·         Males generally had higher prevalence compared to females.

·         Prevalence varied by AANHOPI membership and tobacco product.

 

Tobacco use varies by AANHOPI subgroup and product type. Tobacco use differences in AANHOPI subgroups may be attributed to socio-economic status differences. The researcher concluded that treating these distinct subgroups as a monolithic group may contribute to reliance on tobacco prevention and control strategies that may have limited impact on specific subgroups.

 

Nguyen (2019). Disaggregating Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (AANHOPI) Adult Tobacco Use: Findings from Wave 1 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, 2013-2014. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, Jan 4. doi: 10.1007/s40615-018-00532-1. [Epub ahead of print]

Did You Know? Hookah Use Among African American College Students Linked To Stress

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Water pipe with smoke

A newly published study assessed the contribution of substance use and stress/traumatic events to hookah use among African American college students (n = 1,402).

 

Findings included:

·            Lifetime hookah use was 25%, with 34% of lifetime users having done so in the past 30 days.

·            Compared to nonusers, hookah users had significantly higher use rates of alcohol, marijuana, other tobacco, and other drugs.

·            Hookah use was more likely among those with cumulative stress, yet less likely among older students.

 

The researchers concluded that prevention messages may need to be tailored for African American college students and particularly target younger students, substance users, and those with cumulative stress.

 

Source: Cunningham-Williams et al. (2018). Stress, stressors, and substance use: Differential risk for hookah use among African American college students. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, Oct 22:1-22. doi: 10.1080/15332640.2018.1511492. [Epub ahead of print]

Request For Application (RFA) to be Released on June 3rd: Initiative to Reduce Tobacco-Related Disparities at Residential Behavioral Health Facilities

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We are pleased to announce that the California Department of Public Health, California Tobacco Control Program anticipates releasing a Request for Application (RFA) CG 19-10033 Initiative to Reduce Tobacco-Related Disparities at Residential Behavioral Health Facilities on June 3, 2019.

The purpose of this RFA is to fund up to 15 Wellness Quality Improvement Projects (QIP) to reduce tobacco use and promote wellness policies and activities among people with substance use disorders and mental illness in community residential behavioral health facilities through the adoption and implementation of tobacco-free campus policies, implementation of evidence based nicotine addiction treatment, and other wellness policies and system changes that support tobacco use cessation.

The Wellness QIP seeks to reduce tobacco-related disparities in residential behavioral health settings through participation in specialized training and technical assistance for tobacco policy, system, and environmental change, paired with the promotion of other wellness approaches such as increasing exercise breaks, improving access to healthy foods, and promoting socialization and activities for wellbeing.

Details about the release of this solicitation can be found on the Funding Opportunity Alert posted on the Tobacco Control Funding Opportunities and Resources (TCFOR) website. To receive email notifications about this funding opportunity, please sign up on TCFOR.

New Study Examines Cigarette Smoking Among Hospitalized Patients with Substance Use Disorders

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Smoking cessation may promote long-term recovery in patients with substance use disorders (SUD). Yet smoking rates remain alarmingly high in this population. A recently published study examined smoking rates among hospitalized patients with SUD at a large safety-net hospital, and then characterized factors associated with smoking behaviors. Researchers analyzed data from all hospital admissions (7/2016-6/2017) and conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 20 hospitalized SUD smokers.

 

Findings included:

  • Prevalence of cigarette smoking among hospitalized smokers with SUD was three times higher than those without SUD.
  • Qualitative analyses showed that patients perceived that smoking cigarettes was a less serious concern than other substances.
  • Some patients feared that quitting cigarettes could negatively impact their recovery and perceived that clinicians do not prioritize treating tobacco dependence.
  • Almost all patients with heroin use disorder described how cigarette use potentiated their heroin high.
  • Many SUD patients are turning to vaping and e-cigarettes to quit smoking.

 

The researchers concluded that hospitalized patients with SUD have disproportionately high smoking rates and perceive multiple barriers to quitting cigarettes. Smoking cessation interventions with this population should take into account how patients with SUD perceive smoking-related health risks and how that influences their decision to quit smoking.

 

Source: Kathuria et al. (2019). Perceived barriers to quitting cigarettes among hospitalized smokers with substance use disorders: A mixed methods study. Addictive Behaviors, Feb 18;95:41-48. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.02.017. [Epub ahead of print]

International Press Briefing – Thursday 5/23 What’s Menthol Got To Do With It? Everything! (Still!)

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When: Thursday, May 23, 2019 

Time: 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM EDT 

Where: The National Press Club- Zenger Room
529 14th Street, NW, 13th Floor
Washington, DC 20045 

 

This Briefing will be Live Streamed

Register Here!

 

The Plight of African Americans & Mentholated Tobacco Products: The Time is Now

Tobacco use remains the number one preventable cause of death for African Americans, claiming more than 45,000 lives annually. Due to decades of racialized targeting of mentholated tobacco products by the tobacco industry, over 80% of Black smokers use mentholated tobacco products. These targeted campaigns included manipulation of African American leadership groups, elected officials, Black media, ethnic specific advertising campaigns, and the free distribution of mentholated cigarettes to inner city children as young as nine years old. Many of these pernicious and racist practices are in direct violation of civil law statutes as well as international treaties.
This international briefing will provide the press and the greater community an update on where the menthol/flavor ban movement stands today, the status of the landmark 2006 Kessler ruling, international treaty violations (including the targeting of African countries), and local and civil actions that have been successfully implemented or won.

Press briefing speakers are prominent U.S. and international tobacco control advocates, researchers, attorneys, and elected officials.

View Full Media Advisory

WEBINAR: Addressing Tobacco Health Disparities in African Refugee and Immigrant Groups

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Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PST

Guest Speaker: Patricia Wakhusama

Learning Objectives:
  • History of African Refugee and Immigrant groups in the United States
  • Major health issues faced by African Refugee and Immigrant groups
  • The intersectionality of tobacco health disparities among African Refugee and Immigrant groups (socioeconomic status, age, gender, social norms, country of origin)
  • A way forward in engaging and advocating against tobacco health disparities in African Refugee and Immigrant groups

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Patricia Wakhusama

A Kenyan native, Patricia emigrated to the United States in 2016 to pursue higher education at a Master’s degree level. She holds a Masters in Peace and Justice from the University of San Diego and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and minor in Psychology from the United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya. Her passion for social justice and advocacy derives from her long-standing volunteer experiences while working in Kenya and in the United States with African Refugee groups both individually and with multi-cultural teams during her graduate studies.

Patricia currently works with Nile Sisters Development Initiative in their FULSToP (Families Uniting Locally to Solve Tobacco Proliferation) tobacco control program and has been involved in advocating for tobacco health disparities in African Refugee and Immigrants groups for almost a year. Her vision is to be a voice and be a source of empowerment to marginalized groups.

 

Register Here!

Community Engagement Application Deadline EXTENDED: May 15th

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Heluna Health on behalf of Saving Our Legacy, African American for Smoke Free Safe Places – The SOL Project will award up to three organizations who want to advance policy or system change and increase awareness on the issue of tobacco-related disparities or address social determinants of health in the African American community in the Gold Country Region (GCR) Counties of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Inyo, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tuolumne and Yolo.

This round of funding is open to African American youth-focused organizations in the cities of Rocklin, Roseville, Tracy, Modesto, Turlock, Sonora or Yuba.

Amount: Up to $4,900

Additional questions may be directed via email to Twlia Laster atTwlia@thesolproject.com or Vida Tehrani at vtehrani@HelunaHealth.org.

Did You Know – That Tobacco Use is a Risk Factor for Preterm Birth among Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Women?

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A newly published study examined the characteristics and risk factors for preterm birth in Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women. Data from 10,470 women of Hawaiian or Pacific Islander descent in California were analyzed. Hawaiian/Pacific Islander women were at higher risk for preterm birth when they had fewer than three prenatal visits; were underweight, reported tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs use in pregnancy; had a diagnosis of anemia, gestational diabetes, preexisting diabetes, or hypertension with or without pre-eclampsia; or had a history of previous preterm birth.  
Source: Altman et al. (2018). Patterns of Preterm Birth among Women of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Descent. American Journal of Perinatology, Dec 21. doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1676487. [Epub ahead of print]

Did You Know? Study Shows that Increasing Smoke-Free Homes among Low-Income Populations Can Reduce Income Disparities in Smoking Cessation

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Lower rates of successful quitting among low-income populations in the United States may be from slower dissemination of smoke-free homes, a predictor of cessation. A recently published study explored the role of smoke-free homes in cessation behavior across income levels. Researchers analyzed data from the 2002-2003 (n = 2801) and 2010-2011 (n = 2723) Tobacco Use Supplements to the Current Population Survey.

 

Findings included:

  • Between the two surveys, heavy smoking (≥ 1 pack/day) declined by 17%, and smoking prevalence declined by 15% among those with higher-incomes.
  • Although similar in 2002, the prevalence of smoke-free homes was 33% lower among individuals living <300% FPL than those living ≥300% FPL.
  • Whereas smoking ≥ 1 pack/ day was associated with lower odds of 30+ days abstinence, having a higher income and a smoke-free home were associated with greater odds of 30+ day abstinence.

 

The researchers concluded that increasing the diffusion of smoke-free homes among low-income populations may attenuate at least a third of the income disparities in smoking cessation, highlighting the need for interventions to increase adoption of smoke-free homes among low-income households.

 

Source: Vijayaraghavan et al. (2018). Income disparities in smoking cessation and the diffusion of smoke-free homes among U.S. smokers: Results from two longitudinal surveys. PloS One, Jul 27;13(7):e0201467. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201467. eCollection 2018.