Digest #7: This Week in Smoke-free News

Starbucks: My New Favorite Coffee Shop
I don't like coffee very much; I never go out of my way to drink it, and I reluctantly suck down a Starbucks frappuccino once or twice per year when I desperately need energy. This is partially due to the fact that caffeine is addictive, somewhat like nicotine, and I don't want to be dependent on a foreign substance, particularly one that eats away at my wallet. However, in light of the news I just read, I have a new-found respect for Starbucks. Smoking has been banned on the outdoor patios at all California Starbucks locations. As of June 7, those who enjoy lighting up outside with a cup of coffee will only be able to partake in one of these guilty pleasures. Let's hope that every Starbucks franchise around the US follows suit, which will hopefully encourage other outdoor dining venues to go smoke-free.

Is Secondhand Smoke Making Us Crazy?
A study at the University College of London has determined a correlation between secondhand smoke and mental health illness. Although it is well known that nicotine is a depressant in the sense that it relaxes the mind and body, it might also be making people clinically depressed. How does it do this? I have no idea, so I'll just paraphrase: The presence of nicotine in the body inhibits dopamime transmission, which is commonly linked to altered mood and depression.

"What's particularly worrisome is that for the majority of the population, even transient exposure to secondhand smoke is sufficient to have an effect; those with the lowest cotinine [a biomarker used to measure SHS exposure] levels, equivalent to the amount that might be absorbed during occasional forays to a smoke-filled bar or restaurant, still increased their risk of depressive symptoms and anxiety by 25%, compared with those with negligible exposure."

To me, the most striking finding is that subjects exposed to a high level of SHS were 62% more likely to report psychological distress than those subjects who were not exposed. ...Yet another reason to ban smoking in public places.

What are these Gators Smoking?
The editorial board of The Independent Florida Alligator, the University of Florida's student newspaper, has officially denounced the smoking ban that is coming to their campus on July 1. The article takes a sarcastic turn, questioning why UF doesn't ban "everything unhealthy and fun for everyone," and ultimately calling the school's administration "hypocritical." ...Wait, did they just say smoking is fun? I've never heard the words, "smoking" and "fun" in the same sentence. Please excuse my digression. Now, I'm about to be more frank than I've ever been on this blog: If I read another one of these poorly-written, misguided columns in a student newspaper, I'm going to lose it! We need to dispel the notion that campus smoking bans are paternalistic policies that only take away rights and do not significantly improve public health. I realize that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and can write about whatever they want, but I think it's a shame that students might be persuaded by this kind of rhetoric. Hopefully, someone will respond to the editorial board's statement.

Quote of the Week

"We want kids playing on the beach to pick up seashells, not cigarette butts." --Sheelah Feinberg, Coney Island Coalition for a Smoke-free City

This is particularly ironic to me because, as a toddler, I used to collect cigarette butts from the ground...or so I've been told. I suppose that I started my smoke-free advocacy at a young age.