A new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that smoking rates among American adults and teens is holding steady at 21%, which means 46 million Americans are still lighting up. The CDC attributes the stall out to tobacco company discounts and lack of funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Read the full article to learn more. If you’re a smoker looking to quit in Louisiana, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit www.QuitWithUsLa.org for 24-hour assistance.

New Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations on the sale and marketing of tobacco are in effect as of June 22, 2010. The new federal regulations limit the ability of tobacco companies to market and sell products to anyone under 18 years old, require larger health-warning labels to be placed on smokeless tobacco products, and make it illegal for companies to market products as “light,” “low,” or “mild.” Read more.

A new study exploring the addictiveness of cigarettes reveals that only one cigarette a month is enough to get teens and young adults hooked. Key results show that nearly two-thirds of teens who have tried cigarettes said they smoked at least once a month, and half said they experienced symptoms of dependence. Additionally, a third of students who had ever smoked found that they had little control over the habit, and a fourth experienced withdrawal symptoms after attempting to quit. Read more.

New research shows that if every state in the U.S. had smoke-free air laws in all public places, heart attack rates would drop by more than 18,000 within the first year. Currently, 39 states have some form of smoke-free air law, with 26 prohibiting smoking in all enclosed public spaces. Louisiana’s current smoke-free air law exempts bars and casinos, leaving bar and casino employees chronically exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace. To show  your support for smoke-free bars and casinos in Louisiana, visit www.LetsBeTotallyClear.org.

Looking for a new reason to adopt a healthier lifestyle? A new study finds that four combined bad habits can age you by as much as 12 years. The four habits include smoking, drinking too much, inactivity and poor diet, all of which can contribute to weight gain, heart disease, cancer and even premature death. Read more.

In recognition of Kick Butts Day this past March, over 60 performers joined forces and staged a six-minute flash mob scene at a shopping center in Las Vegas. This video features the professional and non-professional dancers of all ages who want to send a clear message about the negative health effects of smoking and secondhand smoke.

Among other things, the new rule:

Prohibits the sale of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to people younger than 18, Prohibits the sale of cigarette packages with less than 20 cigarettes, Prohibits distribution of free samples of cigarettes, Restricts distribution of free samples of smokeless tobacco, and Prohibits tobacco brand name sponsorship of any athletic, musical or other social or cultural events. Manufacturers and retailers who do not comply with the new rule may be subject to penalties. To learn more about the new tobacco marketing restrictions, visit the FDA website.

The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) is seeking community organizations interested in applying for Community Advocacy Grants worth up to $18,000. A total of $658,000 is available statewide to help reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, prevent youth tobacco initiation and reduce tobacco-related health disparities in Louisiana. Deadline to submit applications is March 24, 2010, 4 p.m. CST. Click here for more details and to download the application. Graphic from: American Cancer Society

The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living is looking for supporters of smoke-free air to come out and be a part of its next statewide mass media campaign. Film crews will be on site in Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans this week to conduct on-camera interviews with volunteers who want to speak up in support of a smoke-free Louisiana. Some footage from the interviews will be used for a new statewide television ad campaign, while others will be featured in a documentary. Get details of the film shoot. You can also show your support at www.LetsBeTotallyClear.org.

Currently, bars and casinos in Louisiana are not required by law to be smoke-free, but several bar owners in Lafayette who have made their businesses smoke-free voluntarily have nothing but good things to say. Read the full story. To learn more about supporting stronger smoke-free laws in Louisiana, visit LetsBeTotallyClear.org. Graphic from: California Department of Health Services, ad campaign