NAQC Newsroom https://www.naquitline.org/news/default.asp Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:43:50 GMT Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:18:00 GMT Copyright © 2026 North American Quitline Consortium Everything a Pet Parent Should Know About the Dangers of Nicotine https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733512 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733512 When people smoke or use tobacco or nicotine products, the potential impact on pets is not always top of mind. But exposure to tobacco smoke, nicotine vape aerosol, and cannabis products can pose serious health risks to dogs, cats, birds, and other animals.
Learn more.]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:18:00 GMT Higher Legume, Soy Product Consumption Linked to Improved Respiratory Morbidity in COPD https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733513 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733513 Healio News – Higher consumption of isoflavones, found in legumes and soy products, is linked to improved health status and reduced cough symptoms among individuals with COPD who formerly smoked. This finding underlines the potential lung health benefits of a diet rich in vegetables and lean proteins. 
Learn more about the COPD study.]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:18:00 GMT Old Tactics, New Products: How Big Tobacco Targets Women in E-cigarette Marketing https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733510 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733510 Since the 1920s, the tobacco industry has used women’s suffrage and equality movements to market cigarettes to women. Today, as the industry shifts its focus to e-cigarettes, tobacco companies are using similar tactics to market these products to women, with themes of independence, glamour, fun, and health-consciousness.
Learn more.]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:17:00 GMT A Breath of Fresh Air: The Immediate Benefits of Quitting Smoking or Vaping Nicotine https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733511 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733511 Quitting smoking has countless short and long-term health benefits, some of which start to impact the body almost immediately after putting down a cigarette. Just 20 minutes after quitting, heart and blood pressure begin to drop.
Learn more.]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:17:00 GMT What's Inside a Vape? https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733508 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733508 The design of e-cigarettes has drastically changed over the past two decades: from boxy mods and tanks to pod-based products with “smart” features like Bluetooth connectivity and games. While their design continues to evolve, there are four basic components of e-cigarette technology that have persisted through the years.
Learn more.

]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:16:00 GMT Multiple Products, Increased Risks: Dual and Poly Use of Nicotine Products https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733509 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733509 Today's nicotine product landscape includes a range of addictive products, including traditional combustible products as well as disposable e-cigarettes and oral nicotine pouches. Combining these nicotine products, also known as dual or poly use, is associated with greater nicotine dependence and increased likelihood of adverse health effects compared with using one product.
Learn more.]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:16:00 GMT Blood-based Lung Cancer Screening Test Earns FDA Breakthrough Device Designation https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733505 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733505 CancerNetwork – The FDA has granted Breakthrough Device designation to a blood-based lung cancer screening test, SimpleScreen Lung. Presented at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, data showcased the potential of this test for detecting lung cancer through a simple blood sample.
Learn more.

]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:15:00 GMT The Most Recent Policy and Research Newsletter from Truth Initiative https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733506 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733506 The latest Tobacco Research and Policy Newsletter highlights recent developments, research, and policy issues relevant to tobacco control and cessation. It is intended to help members stay informed about emerging evidence, policy activity, and resources that may support program planning and advocacy.

Read the full Q2 2026 Tobacco Research and Policy Newsletter.]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:15:00 GMT Peer Acceptance of Vaping Tied to E-cigarette Initiation https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733507 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733507 Research from Truth Initiative found that young people who go on to start vaping already had elevated perceptions that their friends viewed vaping as acceptable, highlighting the role that peer acceptance plays in vaping initiation.
Learn more.]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:15:00 GMT The Truth About “Tobacco-Free” Pouches and Vapes: Why They’re Still Addictive and Risky https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733502 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733502 Tobacco companies are constantly shifting their tactics to keep profits high and customers addicted and dependent on tobacco products. One of the latest trends is the growing popularity of nicotine pouches and vapes claiming to be “tobacco-free.” While the label sounds reassuring, it can leave consumers – especially young people – with the mistaken impression that these products are safer than they really are. Studies show that by marketing a product as “tobacco-free” can reduce perception of harm and increase young people's intention to use these products.
Learn more.

]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:14:00 GMT New AI Framework ASTRA-Net Maps Hidden Peripheral Airways for Bronchoscopy https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733503 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733503 Lung cancer is the most diagnosed cancer globally and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Early detection of the same can prove to be a boon for survival. However, collecting tissue samples from small tumors located deep within the lungs remains a big challenge. As many of these lesions are found in the peripheral regions of the lungs, physicians must navigate through an intricate network of tiny branching airways to reach the target.

To address this challenge, researchers from Pusan National University in South Korea developed ASTRA-Net (Anatomical Segmentation with Tree-aware Refinement Attention), an AI framework designed to identify previously overlooked airway branches and generate more complete airway maps. The study was led by Dr. MinWoo Kim from the School of Biomedical Convergence Engineering, Pusan National University, and Dr. Hee Yun Seol from the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, in collaboration with other researchers. This paper was made available online on March 9, 2026, and was published in Volume 45, Issue 6 of the journal IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging on June 01, 2026.
Learn more]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:14:00 GMT ANRF Smokefree Protections Tipsheet https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733501 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733501 ANRF has developed a resource to help smokefree advocates counter common misinformation from cigar-industry proponents. The resource is available through ANRF’s monthly Cigar and Smokefree Air Office Hours, which provide strategies and additional tools to support strong smokefree indoor air policies. Registration is required.]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:13:00 GMT Update: New Health Warning Labels in Canada – Series 2 Launched on August 1, 2026 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733497 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733497 Health-related messages on tobacco product packaging remain one of the most effective ways to inform people in Canada about the health hazards of tobacco use. These warnings are seen daily by millions of people and play a key role in supporting healthy, tobacco‑free lives.

In 2023, the Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging and Labelling Regulations (TPAPLR) introduced a rotation scheme for health-related messages on all tobacco product packaging. This rotation is designed to keep messages novel and relevant by alternating distinct series of warnings on a pre‑set schedule.

  • Series 1 health-related messages have appeared on tobacco packages since January 2024.
  • On August 1, 2026, Series 2 came into effect, introducing a new set of Health Warnings, Health Information Messages, Toxicity Information, and Health Warnings on Tobacco Products across cigarette, little cigar, and other tobacco packaging.

The Series 2 updates include:

  • Continued large, graphic health warnings covering at least 75% of the primary display areas on packages.
  • Rotating messages that emphasize both health harms (e.g., heart disease, cancer) and benefits of quitting, and that include quitline and cessation web portal information.
For more details, including the complete set of Series 2 messages and implementation timelines, see Health Canada’s TPAPLR guidance and Health-related messages resource pages.
Learn more.

]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:12:00 GMT A Legislative History of The Tobacco Control Act https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733498 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733498 The Center just released a new legislative timeline that highlights key events leading to the enactment of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009.  The Act gives the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate commercial tobacco products. It emerged in response to over fifteen years of litigation with the tobacco industry, regulatory initiatives, settlement negotiations, U.S. Supreme Court review, and congressional debates.
Learn more.]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:12:00 GMT FDA Authorization of Flavored Nicotine Pouches Threatens to Sustain Youth Nicotine Use (A Statement https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733499 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733499 The American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, issued the following statement in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s announcement authorizing four flavored on! nicotine pouches from Helix Innovations. The authorization applies to products in Rich Berry, Cappuccino and Autumn Spice flavors.

“The American Heart Association is deeply concerned by the FDA’s decision today to authorize four new flavored on! nicotine pouch products manufactured by Helix Innovations. Nicotine pouches are already the second most popular tobacco product among youth, and flavored tobacco products have long appealed to kids.”
Learn more.]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:12:00 GMT Nicotine Pouch Sales Data (January 2020 - May 2026) https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733492 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733492 CDC Foundation’s Monitoring Tobacco Project has released a new Nicotine Pouch Sales Data Brief (Issue 5) that highlights trends in nicotine pouch sales from January 2020 – May 2026. The brief includes data for the United States overall and for California, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island.

Since 2023, nicotine pouch sales in the United States have been rapidly increasing. Total U.S. monthly nicotine pouch sales more than quadrupled, increasing by 319.3%, between January 2023 and May 2026. The average price per pouch was $0.33 nationally as of May 2026.
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]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:10:00 GMT Medicare Change May Encourage Clinicians to Help Patients Quit Smoking (STAT News) https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733494 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=733494 A proposed Medicare change aims to incentivize clinicians to provide more support to patients trying to quit smoking. Clinicians who offer counseling on quitting cigarettes or other tobacco products during patient visits would receive a 19% reimbursement increase. The same adjustment would also apply to assessments of, and interventions for, alcohol and substance misuse during doctors’ visits.
Learn more about the proposed Medicare change.  ]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:10:00 GMT The Tobacco Industry has been Targeting Black Americans for Generations. Here's How to Fight Back https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731533 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731533 The tobacco industry has a long history of targeting Black communities with tobacco products, contributing to higher death rates from tobacco-related causes. To shine a light on this history and combat nicotine addiction, Truth Initiative published a piece in ESSENCE magazine and will be joining ESSENCE Fest to promote EX Program, the free digital quitting program that can increase the odds of quitting by up to 40%.
Learn more.]]> Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Tobacco and Baseball have a Long, Shared History. Is Zyn the Latest Chapter? https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731534 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731534 Oral nicotine pouches such as Zyn are gaining ground among athletes, replacing smokeless tobacco products (like chew, dip, and snus) that players have used historically.
Learn more.]]> Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT 3 Ways Nicotine Addiction Impacts Mental Health https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731535 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731535 While there is a misconception that nicotine can help people manage stress, anxiety, or depression, there are worrying connections between nicotine addiction and mental health. Nicotine use can quickly turn into addiction, which can amplify feelings of stress and anxiety and make users feel trapped in a brutal cycle. Here are three ways that nicotine addiction can impact mental health.
Learn more.]]> Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Shopify’s Removal of Online Vaping Stores – Truth Initiative Highlights https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731531 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731531 Shopify’s removal of online vaping stores from its platform is a meaningful step in closing channels that have helped make illegal e-cigarettes widely available and too easy for young people to obtain. The evidence is clear that online e-cigarette sales in particular have become a major loophole for illegal products and underage access. Truth Initiative research published earlier this year found that nearly 90% of online e-cigarette stores identified as using Shopify appeared to violate at least one requirement related to age verification, shipping, or adult signature upon delivery. These failures demonstrate how lax oversight online and weak enforcement can undermine youth protections and allow illegal products to reach consumers with minimal accountability.
Learn more.

]]> Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:59:00 GMT Health Groups, Pediatricians, and Parents Sue FDA Over Policy Allowing Unauthorized e-cigarettes and https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731532 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731532 A coalition of public health organizations, pediatricians and parents today filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Food and Drug Administration’s new enforcement policy that allows e-cigarette and nicotine pouch products to be marketed and sold without the scientific review and marketing authorization required by federal law. The lawsuit asserts that the FDA’s enforcement guidance, issued in May 2026, violates federal law by permitting the marketing of unauthorized tobacco products – including products the FDA itself has repeatedly found pose a substantial risk to youth.
Learn more.]]> Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:59:00 GMT A New Policy Brief - Protecting Our Youth from Nicotine Addiction https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731529 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731529 Across the country, flavored nicotine products are driving youth addiction. A new policy brief from the Healthy Americas Foundation (HAF) and the National League of Cities (NLC), 4 Practical Steps Cities Can Take Now to Protect Youth from Flavored Tobacco, finds one in six high school students currently use e-cigarettes and almost nine in 10 high school e-cigarette users report using flavored products, making flavors a primary driver of youth nicotine addiction. This policy brief calls on local leaders to take action and offers four practical strategies cities can use right now along with real-world examples and clear steps to get started.
Learn more.]]> Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:58:00 GMT The New York Times Article - Efforts to Help Smokers Quit Stall Under Trump https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731530 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731530 The New York Times reports that federal support for helping people quit smoking has stalled under President Trump, threatening decades of progress in tobacco control. Major cuts to CDC tobacco programs and quitline funding, including the end of campaigns like Tips From Former Smokers, are reducing access to evidence‑based cessation support just as millions of Americans still smoke and new nicotine products proliferate. Public health experts warn these rollbacks will lead to more preventable deaths, higher healthcare costs, and widening inequities, and are calling on states and health systems to step up with stronger, locally funded quit support in the absence of robust federal leadership.
Learn more.]]> Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:58:00 GMT The Vital Strategies Report - Strategies for Improving Access, Use, Success, Synergy and Impact at t https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731527 https://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=731527 This report introduces the concept of the Tobacco Cessation Ecosystem (TCE), a model that emphasizes maximizing the reach and effectiveness of tobacco cessation interventions by integrating different tobacco cessation services and supporting them with consistent funding and strong policies. A TCE approach aligns and integrates services across diverse clinical and public health systems, ensuring maximum impact through sustainable, equitable, population-level access to evidence-based services that support tobacco users to quit. The TCE is enhanced by the success of other tobacco control initiatives that increase motivation to quit and decrease the influence of the tobacco industry.  
Learn more.]]> Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:57:00 GMT