"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Friday, February 28, 2014

Survey Finds More Teens Would Use Marijuana if Legal

Feb 27, 2014
Drug type: Marijuana
A new study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy by researchers affiliated with New York University's Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR), finds large proportions of high school students normally at low risk for marijuana use (e.g., non-cigarette-smokers, religious students, those with friends who disapprove of use) reported intention to use marijuana if it were legal. 

The study, "Correlates of Intentions to Use Cannabis among US High School Seniors in the Case of Cannabis Legalization," used data from Monitoring the Future (MTF). The researchers found that 10 percent of non-lifetime marijuana users surveyed by MTF reported that they would try marijuana if legal. 

"Our study focused on intention to use and it was the first to find that groups generally not "at risk" become more "at risk" when legalized," said Joseph J. Palamar, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor at the Department of Population Health, NYU Langone Medical Center. 

The researchers examined the most current attitudes, focusing on cohorts from 2007-2011. The data were collected prior to the legalization of recreational marijuana use in Colorado and Washington, but after legalization of medical marijuana was pending or enacted in up to 16 states.

Data were analyzed separately for the 6,116 seniors who reported no lifetime use of marijuana and the 3,829 seniors who reported lifetime use (weighted samples). The researchers looked at whether demographic characteristics, substance use and perceived friend disapproval towards marijuana use were associated with 1) intention to try marijuana among non-lifetime users, and 2) intention to use marijuana as often or more often among lifetime users, if marijuana was legal to use.

"Assuming that onset use would occur before or during the senior year, the study's results suggest that this would constitute a 5.6 percent absolute increase in lifetime prevalence in this age group, rising from 45.6 percent to 51.2 percent," Dr. Palamar said. 

Not surprisingly, odds for intention to use outcomes increased among groups already at high risk for use (e.g., males, whites, cigarette smokers) and odds were reduced when friends disapproved of use. However, large proportions of subgroups of students normally at low risk for use (e.g., non-cigarette-smokers, religious students, those with friends who disapprove of use) reported intention to try marijuana if legal. Recent use was also a risk factor for reporting intention to use as often or more often among lifetime users. 

"What I personally find interesting is the reasonably high percentage of students who are very religious, non-cigarette smokers, non-drinkers, and those who have friends who disapprove of marijuana use—who said they intended to try marijuana if it was legal," Dr. Palamar said. "This suggests that many people may be solely avoiding use because it is illegal, not because it is "bad" for you, or "wrong" to use."

The researchers caution that as marijuana use increases, regardless of legal status, it will become increasingly important to prevent adverse consequences that may be associated with use. Public health practitioners must continue to educate marijuana users and those at risk for initiation and/or continued use about the potential harms associated with use.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Join CADCA in Urging Major Chain Drug Stores to Stop Selling Tobacco

Last week, CVS announced that they would stop selling tobacco products in their stores by Oct. 1st. Now, CADCA is asking coalitions to join us in asking other major drug store chains to follow CVS’ lead. 

CADCA has developed a template letter that coalitions can use to write to major drug store chains like Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Rite Aid and Kroger requesting that they, too, stop selling tobacco products. All of these stores operate pharmacies so selling tobacco products contradicts their efforts to help customers achieve good health. We encourage you to write these companies, as well as the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Here is their contact information:

National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS)
Steven C. Anderson, President and CEO
1776 Wilson Blvd.,
Suite 200
Arlington, VA 22209
contactus@nacds.org

Walgreens
Gregory D. Wasson, President and CEO 
Walgreen Co.
200 Wilmot Road
Deerfield, IL 60015

Wal-Mart
Doug McMillon, President and CEO 
702 SW 8th Street
Bentonville, AR 72716-8611

Rite Aid
John T. Standley, Chairman and CEO
30 Hunter Lane
Camp Hill, PA 17011

Kroger
Michael L. Ellis, President and COO
1014 Vine Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-1100 

We also encourage you to sign a petition started by the American Public Health Association (APHA) asking retailers that operate pharmacies to stop selling tobacco products: http://action.apha.org/site/PageServer?pagename=tobacco_petition.  

CADCA issued a statement thanking CVS for taking this bold move, which will go a long way toward creating a tobacco-free generation and will potentially save lives. Join us in thanking CVS by using this template thank you letter so that CVS knows that the coalition field supports this important move.

Monday, February 10, 2014

CADCA Issues Statement on CVS Decision to Stop Selling Tobacco Products by October 1



CVS Caremark Corp. surprised many with an announcement this week that they will stop selling tobacco products in their CVS/Pharmacy stores by Oct. 1. In response, CADCA issued a statement thanking the major drugstore chain. 
 
"CADCA applauds CVS Caremark Corp. for their remarkable decision to remove tobacco products from their stores by October 1 and the launch of their new smoking cessation program. This is a tremendous step in the right direction that will potentially save thousands of lives and bring us closer to making the next generation tobacco free. We at CADCA salute CVS and hope that their bold move will encourage a domino effect among other retail chains," said Gen. Arthur T. Dean, CADCA’s Chairman and CEO.
 
“Ending the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products at CVS/pharmacy is simply the right thing to do for the good of our customers and our company. The sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose – helping people on their path to better health,” said the company in a statement.

CVS Caremark is the largest pharmacy in the United States based on total prescription revenue, according to the company. It operates more than 7,600 CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide in addition to more than 800 MinuteClinics, which are medical clinics within the pharmacy locations.

To learn more about this announcement, visit: http://info.cvscaremark.com/cvs-insights/cvs-quits.