On Thursday, April 2, 2020, ASH hosted a live webinar with Dr. Carolyn Dresler to address the nexus between the tobacco epidemic, human rights and the coronavirus. The discussion focused on the additional risk tobacco users face during the pandemic, the human rights implications for tobacco users as we respond to the pandemic, and what can be done to mitigate the health and human rights risk for tobacco users. You can view the webinar recording here and find additional resources on COVID-19 and tobacco here.

• ASH Discusses Proposed D.C. Ban on the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products

On January 2, 2020, ASH staff Liz Furgurson and Chris Bostic attended a public hearing of the DC City Council Judiciary and Public Safety Committee…>

• ASH Statement: The Surgeon General is right: Smoking cessation treatment works and is critical

On January 23, 2020, the Surgeon General released “Smoking Cessation: A Report of the Surgeon General.” Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) applauds the Surgeon General for once again leading the fight against tobacco addiction, disease and death…>

• ASH Statement: Dutch Parliament Moves to Drastically Reduce Tobacco Sales

The Hague, Netherlands – March 3, 2020 – Earlier today, the Dutch House of Representatives passed a bill designed to significantly reduce the number of retail outlets for tobacco products, aiming to restrict sales to tobacco-only, adult-only specialty stores…>

• ASH Statement: The Coronavirus Catch-22 for the Tobacco Industry

Washington, DC – March 31, 2020 – As governments close non-essential businesses to maximize social distancing, they face the need to decide just what “essential” means…>

• Nonprofit Sues JUUL, Alleges Labeling on E-Cigarette Product Is Misleading

Washington, D.C. – January 21, 2020 – Breathe DC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting healthy breathing and clean air, filed a complaint in the District of Columbia Superior Court against JUUL Labs, Inc., the controversial e-cigarette purveyor…>

• Los Angeles Region is the Epicenter of a Global Revolution in Public Health

On February 18, 2020, the Manhattan Beach city council voted 4-1 to phase out the sale of all tobacco products in the city…>

• Sheltering in Place – An Opportunity to Finally Quit Smoking

We are living through extraordinary times, and most of us are being forced to reorder our lives without notice. For many, coronavirus means staying at home for an extended time…>

• ASH Podcast – As more events move online, ASH is sharing our digital presentations on our new Soundcloud channel. Tune in here.
• Facebook Live Video: Tobacco, Global Development, & Women’s Rights
• Facebook Live Video: Environmental Impact of Tobacco Use
• Facebook Live Video: COVID-19 and Tobacco Use
• Facebook Live Video: Women’s Rights are Impacted by Tobacco Use
• Instagram Live Video shared on Facebook: How to #QuitInQuarantine

Next Live Chat: Tomorrow, Thursday, April 9^th at Noon Eastern via YouTube

Tune in here: https://www.youtube.com/ashorgusa

As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the globe, these are trying times for us all. We are all adjusting to our new “normal” at home, and ASH is proud to be running at full capacity, having previously put measures in place to do so. At the same time, the tobacco epidemic continues. We are in no way minimizing the fear felt and harm experienced from the coronavirus, but we also don’t want to forget about the smokers who were already being targeted by the tobacco industry with deadly cigarettes and losing their lives from their powerful addictions.

We need to take this time to encourage any and every person who smokes to quit for good, starting now. 1-800-QUIT-NOW remains open for all! Smokers are more likely to have severe COVID-19 symptoms if they contract the coronavirus, and the act of bringing their hands to their mouths to smoke is not in line with current WHO and CDC recommendations for preventative measures. So, the work in front of us is only expanding.

Please consider making a donation to ASH to keep our crucial, life-saving work underway. In return, we will continue to share the best resources and facts out there. You’ll be hearing from us more than usual on social media and with webinars, so make sure you follow us there too:

Thank you for making our work possible.

And while you are shopping on Amazon, don’t forget to start each visit to their website through Smile.Amazon.com and to select ASH as your beneficiary charity. Amazon Smile will donate a portion of your order to ASH every time, with no extra cost to you!