Despite the country being in a state of recession, funding is still allocated both federally and locally for healthy lifestyle promotions. The largest amount of money goes to anti-smoking advertising and has for some time now. With tough economic times upon us, we’ve seen the amount of money given to anti-smoking campaigns dwindle but never go away entirely because, despite there being less money to spend on making people aware of the dangers of smoking, data has proven that this money is well spent.

Between 1998 and 2005 the national smoking rate has dropped by 13% and the youth smoking rate dropped by 40%. In recent years, we’ve seen those numbers level out a bit (the national rate is sitting around 20% and the youth rate has slowed it’s rate of decline to 21%) and many are suggesting that the slowing can be directly attributed to decreased funding; given that funding began taking cuts around the same time the rates declined by smaller percentages.

Both the CDC and FDA will continue to roll out new awareness campaigns detailing and educating about the dangers associated with smoking. Money may be tight but you can’t ignore the data. Anti-smoking campaigns actually work. According to the CDC, anti-smoking advertising’s message is educational but the real power of persuasion comes in its ability to demoralize smoking. That is to say, people are less compelled to quit because of the health facts and more by advertising’s ability to make smoking a socially unacceptable practice. Dirty looks and overly-theatrical coughs will make any smoker feel like a jerk; just try to light up at a crowded bus stop plastered with anti-smoking posters and see how other people react.

As if the data showing a positive return on advertising investment wasn’t enough for agencies to continue funding these campaigns, newer data is emerging showing that every dollar spent on anti-smoking advertising shows up as savings somewhere else: health care costs. Many states have noted that with an increase in spending on preventative tobacco campaigns, they have seen a direct correlation to a decrease in health care costs as they relate to smoking-related illnesses.

Anti-smoking campaigns work and the more we put into them, the more we get out.

It’s estimated that some 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are thrown on the ground or in bodies of water each year. For the record, there are 12 zeros in a trillion, that’s a whole lot of litter.

We know that butts can be harmful to many animals if they happen to ingest them but a new study out of San Diego State University suggests that not all animals have to consume the butts to be harmed by them. Fish could very well be the most helpless animal when it comes to cigarette butts.

According to the SDSU study, one cigarette butt with traces of tobacco left on it can turn a single liter of water yellowish brown and kill 50% of any fish living in it. If the butts are free of any lingering tobacco, 4 butts will have the same effect on a liter of water. When immersed in water, butts become deadly because they emit poisonous toxins such as nicotine, carcinogens, metals and benzene.

Unlike land animals that have to eat the butts to be harmed, fish just have to breath the poison in through their gills. The poisonous effects of butts harm both freshwater and saltwater fish equally. Food for thought: in beach cleanups, cigarette butts are the number one item people find in the sand. Bad day to be a fish.

Apple-flavored tobacco will no longer be available in the Big Apple. A federal district court judge upheld a city ban that prohibits the sale of all flavored tobacco products (except cigarettes), with the exception of menthol and mint-flavored products.

According to a recent article, the ban pertains to “any fruit, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb or spice” flavorings used in anything but cigarettes. The idea is to keep tobacco tasting like tobacco, a move that could directly damage the potential to attract new tobacco users. Among those potential new users that can be turned off by the lack of flavoring are minors – a group of customer that can’t legally buy tobacco products but (although big tobacco will never openly admit it) would be necessary to keep big tobacco earnings high in the future. Because let’s be honest here, who is candy-flavored tobacco really aiming to attract?

The move by NYC to enforce the flavoring ban also sets the stage for more cities to join in. While the FDA hasn’t enforced a ban on the production of flavored tobacco products, NYC’s move to create a citywide ban sets a precedent that allows other cities to do the same thing.

If you’re working to quit smoking, the holiday season can be especially stressful. So here are some tips to help you stay smokefree.

1. Take care of yourself. If you aren’t feeling 100%, going through the holidays and maintaining your smokefree status will seem impossible.
a. Take a vitamin
b. Drink plenty of water
c. Exercise. This doesn’t mean go buy a gym membership or start running everyday. Times are tough and time is sometimes harder to come by than cash. Get up and move around. Keep your blood pumping hard, anyway you can.
d. Get your ZZZs. Try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. Dealing with relatives, shopping, cooking, and traveling can really drain your system, so make sure to recharge.
e. Take a breather. It can sound corny, but taking deep breaths through your nose and out your mouth for a few minutes will curb the cravings and calm you down during anxious periods.

2. Do something for yourself. It is the time for giving, but don’t give it all away, leave a little something for #1:
a. Get a massage
b. Entertain a hobby you’ve been putting off
c. Catch a yoga session at your local studio (Groupon & Living Social usually have great specials)
d. Grab your favorite holiday beverage and a good book

Don’t beat yourself up through this time. You’ve already took the hardest step, quitting. Maintaining smoking cessation is a process that takes time and patience. Despite the chaos in this gift giving season, remember that the best gift is what you’re giving yourself; a fresher, healthier, better smokefree you.

For more tips during the holiday season. Check out these helpful sites:

http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/holidaytriggers/tp/Smoking-Cessation-Holiday-Help.htm

http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/holidaytriggers/a/firstholidays.htm

Today is the American Cancer Society’s “Great American Smokeout.” Our recently smokefree President, has marked the occasion by making this video that not only shows support for the Great American Smokeout but has some honest, straight-forward facts about the risks of smoking.

Go here for more info.