The #TobaccoFreeNJ quarterly newsletter, created to keep you in the know!
Tobacco-Free for a Healthy NJ is a comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation program funded by the NJ Department of Health, Office of Tobacco Control and Prevention, which works to reduce tobacco use and the negative impact of secondhand smoke in all counties of New Jersey.
FEATURED NEWS
BREAKING NEWS:
The Surgeon General recently released a report: Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death: Addressing Disparities. The new report includes updated scientific evidence about commercial tobacco-related health disparities. The report also offers a bold vision and a call to action for all sectors of society for a tobacco-free future, for everyone.
The FDA finalized new cigarette health warnings in March 2020, which include 11 text and graphic warnings highlighting lesser-known health risks of smoking. These warnings are part of the The Tobacco Control Act amends the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (FCLAA) (15 U.S.C. 1333) to require each cigarette package and advertisement to bear one of the new required warnings.
In a recent development, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge from tobacco company R.J. Reynolds against these federal rules. The FDA supports the warnings, stating that the images accurately reflect the well-established health risks of smoking.
The FDA announced it will enforce the new rule starting December 12, 2025, with a 15-month delay from the release of guidance on September 12, 2024. Legal challenges are ongoing, and the timeline for fully implementing the new warning labels remains uncertain.
Geek Bar is promoting their new Christmas Edition flavors of Pulse X disposable vapes with a large, themed banner on the brand website. The two new flavors are Creamy Mintz (green model) and Pepper Mintz (red model). The Pulse X model features a curved screen with animated lights that flash during use.
A new disposable vaping device from Lost Mary, Adjust MySweet 40k, is now available on several wholesale websites. This device features "4-level adjustable sweetness" that allows users to adjust sweetness intensity. The device also features three "adjustable power & airflow modes," which changes the number and intensity of "puffs" from the device ("Power I" to “Power III”).
TOBACCO PREVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
On Tuesday November 19th, 2024, Incorruptible.Us members conducted a LIVE recording of their new Podcast Series – Let’s Talk About It – to talk about the Great American SmokeOut, youth vaping, natural highs, and cessation information. Youth from multiple counties participated, and the podcast was moderated by a few of the Incorruptible.Us Youth Coordinators. Incorruptible.Us will begin recording monthly episodes in 2025 to be made available via YouTube and platforms where podcasts can be listened to.
To learn more about Incorruptible.Us, please visit https://www.incorruptibleus.org/.
Great American SmokeOut
Every year, on the third Thursday in November, is the Great American SmokeOut sponsored by the American Cancer Society. This event focuses on encouraging Americans to quit tobacco smoking or vaping. People are challenged to stop smoking for at least 24 hours with the hopes the decision will last longer, hopefully forever. Here are some highlights with partners across the state participating in the Great American SmokeOut!
TFHNJ INITIATIVE SPOTLIGHT
Tobacco at the Point-of-Sale
North Bergen Passes Ordinance to Protect Minors from Illegal Tobacco Sales
Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the Township Commissioners passed an ordinance at the last commission meeting that will require all tobacco retailers to seek a local license from the North Bergen Department of Health. The ordinance is meant to protect minors from illegal tobacco sales by ensuring that retailers are registered and local law enforcement is easily able to crack down on any illegal sale of tobacco products to minors.
THIS IS QUITTING
Free mobile program from Truth Initiative
Designed to help young people quit vaping
Text messaging program that incorporates messages from other young people who are attempting to or have successfully quit
This Is Quitting is tailored based on ages within 13 to 24
Ready to Quit Vaping? Text VAPEFREENJ to 88709!
Thank you to our 2024 Tobacco-Free Champions!
UPCOMING EVENTS / RESOURCES
January 16th, 2025, 9:30-10:30AM
Virtual Southern Regional Tobacco Collaborative (Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, Gloucester, Salem, Camden, Burlington)
January 30th, 2025, 10:00AM-12:00PM
Don't Get Vaped In Virtual Training
February 6th, 2025, 10:00AM-11:00AM
Virtual Northern Regional Tobacco Collaborative (Sussex, Somerset, Passaic, Warren, Bergen, Morris, Essex, Hudson)
February 12th, 2025, 10:00AM-12:00PM
In-Person Central Regional Tobacco Collaborative (Hunterdon, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean)
April 5th, 2025, 10:00AM-5:00PM
Incorruptible.Us Youth Statewide Youth Summit
Email TobaccoFreeNJ@njpn.org for more information
April 9th, 2025, 9:00AM-3:30PM
In-Person NJ Eliminate Tobacco Use Summit
NJ residents use discount code ETUNJ2025 when registering
June 10th, 2025, 10:00AM-12:00PM
Virtual Statewide Tobacco Collaborative
June 12th, 2025, 12:30PM -4:30PM & June 13th, 2025, 8:30AM-4:00PM
New Jersey Prevention Network Annual Conference
For more information, click the image below!
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