News

On Thursday morning April 30, 2020, the director and professor for the Center for the Study of Tobacco, Dr. Pebbles Fagan had a wonderful opportunity to be on-air via phone on KFFA Radio: Leon and James radio show located in Helena, Arkansas. KFFA has been on air since November 1941 serving the community in Helena, Arkansas.

Before Dr. Fagan talked about one of CST’s current research projects, the FRESH study, she gave valuable points on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) such as were Arkansas is in terms of cases, what helps keep cases low, and the importance of staying home, washing your hands with soap and water, using hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available, and wearing a mask if going out in the public.

During Dr. Fagan’s talk, she gave adequate reasons on what the Coronavirus has to do with smoking. Some of her points included:

  •  If people are spending more time at home, with the children, and you or someone in your home smokes, then this can increase exposure to secondhand smoke in the home.
  • Smoking also lowers your immunity and could increase your risk for respiratory diseases like COVID-19.
  • Many people may be experiencing more stress, have worries, and even boredom which could cause people to smoke more.
  • FRESH is here at a good time and we can help you keep your home smokefree during this difficult time.

What can FRESH do to help?

  • African Americans are less likely to have bans on smoking in the home. We do not know why, but this is what we know from many studies.
  • Many people say that they do not allow smoking in the home, but sometimes it may be allowed in a bathroom or closet. The toxins are still there and can still impact asthma in children. There may be more exposure in the home now because of COVID-19, but we do not know.
  • So, FRESH seeks to work with women and encourage and motivate them to keep their homes free from smoking.

UAMS Midsouth Summit Black Expo

team working at booth at a community event

On February 29, 2020, the Center for the Study of Tobacco was a vendor at the UAMS Midsouth Summit Black Expo. This is an annual event that is presented by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, to celebrate black history month by highlighting health education, minority-owned businesses, and family-friend entertainment. This is the first year CST has participated in this annual event and loves interacting with the community to bring awareness to the tobacco epidemic.

News Articles

The Center for the Study of Tobacco Lecture: “Electronic Cigarettes: What are they and what do they do?” held on May 25, 2018

Tobacco Regulatory Science: A New Approach to Tobacco Control: Public Health Seminar Held on March 27, 2018

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