BREATHE EASY SUTTER
August 2022
Los Angeles and San Diego newest cities to join flavored tobacco ban
Los Angeles and San Diego have made a move towards protecting their community from the dangers of tobacco by signing ordinances into law that prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and San Diego Mayor Todd Garcia each signed ordinances in June of 2022 that will take effect on January 1st, 2023. While each ordinance does have exemptions regarding hookah, it is a step towards addressing issues like the rise in youth usage rates and disproportionate health equity issues associated to menthol products amongst the African American and Latino communities.
Los Angeles and San Diego join over 335 local governments and four states (Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island) to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products or flavored e-cigarettes. California will vote soon regarding Senate Bill SB 793, which was signed in 2020 by Governor Gavin Newsom, but is on hold pending the outcome of the California Proposition 31 referendum that is on the November ballot. The law would ban the sales of flavored tobacco products, including menthol, but exempt loose leaf tobacco, hookah, and premium cigars. November's election will determine if California becomes the 5th state in the US to ban flavored products, or if local governments will be the driving force on the future of flavored tobacco use.
Sources:
Mayor Gloria signs ordinance to restrict sale of flavored tobacco. The City of San Diego. (n.d.). Retrieved July 15, 2022, from https://www.sandiego.gov/mayor/mayor-gloria-signs-ordinance-restrict-sale-flavored-tobacco
Service, C. N. (2022, June 13). Mayor garcetti signs ban on flavored tobacco with hookah exception. NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/mayor-garcetti-signs-ban-on-flavored-tobacco-with-hookah-exception/2915777/
Students Advocates of Sutter County Partners with Jakara Movement
During the spring semester of the 2022 school year, Sutter County Tobacco Control partnered with the local chapter of the Jakara Movement to re-establish the Student Advocates of Sutter County (SASC) Coalition at River Valley High School, after a hiatus during COVID. Along with student volunteers that participate in the Jakara Movement, Tobacco Control was able to provide information on SASC to over 100 students and recruited 15 students to join the coalition. Tobacco Control also provided information regarding the dangers of vaping and had students complete a public opinion survey on smoking in non-recreational outdoor spaces. Our student volunteers and Jakara Movement were great partners in furthering outreach efforts to our local students and gaining interest in SASC at River Valley. Tobacco Control looks forward to future partnerships with the Jakara Movement and future meetings with the new SASC group at River Valley High School.
If you know of any youth who would be interested in joining and would benefit from the skills we teach, please reach out to us at tobaccocontrol@co.sutter.ca.us
Surveys completed with Sutter County residents on smoke-free nonrecreational outdoor spaces
In March and April of this year, Tobacco Control reached out to the community in person and on social media to collect surveys on the public's opinion regarding smoke free non-recreational outdoor spaces. Out of the 75 surveys collected, 72 respondents felt that secondhand smoke was harmful to their health. Eighty-six percent considered aerosol smoke from e-cigarettes and vaping devices to be harmful as well.
Tobacco Control included a question asking what areas respondents felt should be smoke free, including areas like farmer's markets, college campuses, shopping center parking lots, and transit stops. Of those locations, the highest number of respondents supported smoke free farmer's markets with a total of 88.3%, and the second highest being shopping center parking lots with a total of 85.7%. The location with the least support was public streets, with just over 50% stating they felt streetways should be a smoke free zone. A total of 90.8% agreed that making all those areas asked about smoke free would improve the overall health of the community.
The survey gives the Sutter County Tobacco Control program a better understanding of the community's thoughts regarding tobacco in our area and will be used to further educate and support tobacco free policies.
CATCH, our local community coalition that focuses on tobacco related issues within Sutter County, meets on the first Thursday of every month from 3pm - 4pm both via Microsoft Teams and in person in the Ampla Health Boardroom at 935 Market Street in Yuba City. If you are interested in joining the coalition, please reach out and let us know at tobaccocontrol@co.sutter.ca.us
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