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March - May 2021
ARMC Tobacco Cessation Department
Summer 2021 Issue
Currently, the Tobacco Cessation Department at Anaheim Regional Medical Center (ARMC) serves over 3,700 people who want to quit smoking each year. On average, this means the department helps 10 people quit smoking every single day. With a staff of 11 and services offered in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Farsi, the Tobacco Cessation Department has come a long way since 2003, when it was first established at ARMC.
“One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by.”
In March - May, we helped 176 people quit smoking!
NEW-LUNG has helped people who want to quit smoking and vaping. Below is the number of people who have received NEW-LUNG services this quarter.
March
Adults 79
April
Adults 48
May
Adults 45
Youth 4
TOTAL 176
If you know anyone who is ready to quit smoking, call 1-866-639-5864. Free services in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Farsi.
SEE WHAT’S INSIDE
03 THE CONNECTION BETWEEN TOBACCO AND HAIR LOSS
04 SUMMER VACATION
05 BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERING TO CUT NICOTINE
06 WHY SUMMER IS THE BEST TIME TO QUIT
07 DOES RAISING THE AGE OF SALE FOR TOBACCO LOWER YOUTH SMOKING?
08 YOUTH SEMINAR
The Connection Between Tobacco and Hair Loss
One of the lesser-known side effects of smoking is an increased chance of developing hair loss. Smoking tobacco increases the chances of developing damaged hair follicles leading to hair loss. In a 2020 study among male smokers and nonsmokers between 20 - 30 years old, it was found that 425 out of 500 smokers had some level of hair loss compared to 200 out of 500 nonsmokers who also showed signs of hair loss. This can be due to reduced blood flow to hair follicles.
Chemicals in tobacco can also negatively impact blood circulation and heart health. Smoking can cause a build up of plaque in blood vessels leading to conditions such as blood clots, heart attacks, and stroke. However, blood vessels that feed hair follicles an also be damaged in this process. Weakened blood flow to the scalp an potentially lead to hair loss or damage.
Quitting smoking may help reduce damage to the hair follicles. Quitting smoking may also help achieve a limited amount of hair regrowth while positively impacting overall health in many ways.
Citation:
Healthline, May 2021
Summer Vacation
Quitting pays off in many ways. Quit smoking and save money for more important things in life. Reward yourself with the money you’ve saved by going on a summer vacation!
Use a cost calculator to see how much you can save by quitting smoking!
Click here for cost calculator
Biden Administration Considering Rule to Cut Nicotine in Cigarettes
The Biden administration is thinking of requiring tobacco companies to lower nicotine in all cigarettes sold in the U.S. to levels at which they are no longer addictive. This change also brings about another questions: whether or not to ban menthol cigarettes. The nicotine - reduction policy would lower the chemicals in cigarettes to less addictive levels, which in turn, would encourage millions of smokers to quit or switch to less harmful options.
A menthol ban would aim to lower smoking, more specifically among young people. Many youth start smoking with menthols. Both considered policies would take years to apply and would likely face legal challenges.
Citation:
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, May 2020
Why Summer is the Best Time to Quit Smoking
Is Raising the Sale Age of Tobacco Reducing Youth Smoking?
Smoking is known to be the leading cause of preventable death, causing almost 30% of all cancer deaths in the U.S. U.S. In 2016, the state of California passed a law raising the tobacco sale age from 18 to 21 years old (T21 law). UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers: Melanie Dove, Susan Stewart, and Elisa Tong, performed and published a study in Preventive Medicine, which looked at the impact and smoking patterns before and after the T21 law was passed.
Most adult smokers begin smoking before age 18. Which makes them more likely to become addicted to nicotine as the brain continues to develop until age 25. The T21 law will likely lower the number of youth who begin smoking from an early age. The study showed the T21 law had a greater impact on daily smokers compared to non-daily smokers. This may be due to daily smokers buying their own cigarettes regularly and being more affected by the law. The daily smoking rate among 18-20-year-old young adults went down from 2.2% to almost 0% in 2019. In California, there was a greater decrease in smoking among 18-20-year-old young adults compared to those who are 21-23 years old. There was no decrease in “current” or “ever” smoking patterns with California’s T21 law, at least three years after the law took place.
T21 law did not reduce all smoking behaviors. Challenges include state enforcement, pre-existing declines, increases in the use of e-cigarettes and marijuana, and sales of tobacco products outside of policy following retailers. Researchers state future studies should also look at e-cigarette use, online retailers, and policy enforcement, for possible new policy options to protect California youth from the effects of tobacco products.
Citation:
Marker Editors, May 2020
COVID, Vaping, and Social Justice Youth Seminar
On May 5th, NEW-LUNG collaborated with the Orange County Health Care Agency’s Tobacco Use Prevention Program (TUPP) to educate middle and high school students.
During the Zoom seminar, youth in attendance were educated about the following topics:
Harms of vaping
Vaping risks associated with COVID
Vaping cessation services
The Zoom seminar was a success and both students and Specialists had a blast.
Can you spot two of our Cessation Specialists in the photos above?
Please RSVP if you would like to sign up.
CALL 1-866-NEW LUNG (639-5864)
Free quit vaping classes are available.
*Must attend ALL CLASSES of 5 session class series.
Participants receive a FREE SUPPLY OF NICOTINE PATCHES.
Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency/Tobacco Use Prevention Program.