REEDSPORT, Ore. – Este miércoles es el décimo octavo “Kick Butts Day” (“Día de patear traseros”), expresión que significa “Vencer al Enemigo”. La fecha anual está dedicada a convencer a los adolescentes y jóvenes adultos para que dejen de consumir tabaco. Es un reto peculiar, dada la nueva generación de productos en el mercado, con sabor a dulce o fruta.

Porque a pesar de las leyes para tener espacios libres de humo, y los límites de edad para comprar tabaco, casi el 15 por ciento de los estudiantes de High School en Oregon lo fuman o mascan. Eso equivale a unos 30 mil jóvenes con muchas posibilidades que les ofrece el mercado para seducir a otros a que se inicien. Danny McGoldrick, vice presidente de investigación de la Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (Campaña pro Muchachos Libres de Tabaco), dice que las compañías han agregado tabaco a su papel o envoltura de cigarrillos, lo cual clasifica como cigarro, viola las leyes federales y está dirigido a la masa joven.

“Tenemos esta abundancia de productos de cigarro nuevos, saborizados, dulces y baratos que realmente son cigarrillos disfrazados de cigarros – pequeños cigarritos con sabor a durazno, vainilla o fresa que cuestan dos por 99 centavos o menos, y que claramente buscan enganchar a los muchachos.”

McGoldrick afirma que los muchachos de hoy tienen dos veces más posibilidades que los adultos de ser fumadores. La campaña publica hoy un reporte sobre nuevos productos de tabaco que considera una amenaza contra la salud de los consumidores jóvenes. Agrega que también hay algunas opciones creativas para donde la gente no puede encender un cigarrillo.

“Y luego está un grupo nuevo de productos de tabaco sin humo que los chicos pueden disimular fácilmente, porque con ellos no tienes que escupir. Y algunos incluso son solubles -parecen Tic Tacs o dulce- y todos esos pueden servir, ya sabes, para meter muchachos al hábito.”

La Campaña pro Muchachos Libres de Tabaco estima que la industria gasta en Oregon casi 100 millones de dólares al año para promover sus productos. Las marcas que hacen más publicidad son las que más compran los jóvenes: cigarrillos Camel, Marlboro y Newport, y productos sin humo como Copenhagen, Grizzly y Skoal.

En Reedsport, la Dra. Janet Patin, médica familiar, es una de los muchos profesionales de la salud en Oregon que están tratando de contrarrestar las campañas publicitarias millonarias. Ella aplica un programa llamado “Tar Wars” (“Guerras contra el Alquitrán”) con alumnos locales de quinto grado. Hablan sobre los efectos del tabaco en la salud y analizan los mensajes contenidos en la publicidad del tabaco. Patin comenta que en su práctica médica familiar, gran parte de su trabajo es aconsejar a los fumadores que dejen de fumar.

“Todos los días hablo de esto. Es una adicción terrible y por eso es mejor no comenzar... porque es muy difícil dejarlo.”

Más información en tobaccofreekids.org.


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Health disparities in Texas are not only making some people sick, but affecting the state's economy.

A new study shows Texas is losing $7 billion a year because it does not adequately address quality-of-life issues and the health care needs of its lower-income residents.

The research was sponsored by the Episcopal Health Foundation, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, and St. David's Foundation.

Brian Sasser, chief communications officer for the Episcopal Health Foundation, said health care includes more than doctors' visits and medication.

"Everything from increasing access to affordable health insurance to investing in under-resourced neighborhoods to give them more options, whether that's exercise options or food options," Sasser outlined. "Look at policy changes that expand health insurance coverage for new moms."

The report breaks down the economic costs of preventable health differences for every Texas county. It found Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Tarrant and Travis counties are losing the most money annually because of health disparities.

The amount of the economic impact depends on the racial and ethnic makeup of the county and the size of its working-age population. Sasser added the report shows Black and Hispanic children are more likely to grow up in neighborhoods with high poverty levels, and higher rates of diabetes and obesity.

"What can we do to work to make sure that the rate of diabetes isn't dramatically different between white households and Black households?" Sasser asked. "That we can make sure the food insecurity isn't dramatically different between someone who makes over $100,000 and someone who makes less than $30,000?"

The Texas Legislature has passed laws to address some of the disparities, including House Bill 12. It extends Medicaid health coverage for 12 months for new mothers, and pays for maternal health services for community health workers and doulas.

There is light at the end of the tunnel for Tennesseans struggling with opioid addiction, as a bill has been passed to increase access to treatment for opioid use disorder at Community Health Centers.

More than 3,800 lives were lost to overdose in the state in 2021, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

Emily Waitt, policy and advocacy manager for the Tennessee Primary Care Association, said the original bill limited the number of patients nurse practitioners and physician assistants could treat with buprenorphine. The update removes the limitations, allowing more Tennesseans to access medication assisted treatment in their communities.

"It allows NPs and PAs to prescribe to 100 patients at a time, versus 50," Waitt explained. "Basically doubling the number of patients that they can prescribe to."

Community Health Centers serve more than 423,000 patients across Tennessee, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. About 7.7% of Tennesseans do not have health insurance.

Libby Thurman, CEO of the Tennessee Primary Care Association, said bringing the treatment to rural health centers expands access to a crucial service for patients who otherwise could not afford it. She noted it is important because people in remote areas often face challenges finding specialists and treatment facilities.

"We really wanted to work on this issue, because we know our Community Health Centers are where patients go for care," Thurman emphasized. "We really believe in an integrated model. So we want to treat the whole person, including if they are struggling with an addiction issue or a substance abuse disorder issue."

Health Centers offer behavioral health care, including counseling, along with treatment. The clinics also focus on creating a supportive network to help patients with family resources, job assistance and community connections.

While Black Maternal Health Week is wrapping up, health disparities for pregnant Black women continues to be an issue.

From April 11-17 this year, the high death rate of Black mothers is in the spotlight. Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts.

Dr. Patricia Egwuatu, a family practice physician at Kaiser Permanente in Seattle, said racism is at the root of the disparities, which create barriers to health care access. She pointed out lack of access can lead to problems during pregnancy that are preventable or treatable.

"They may exist prior to pregnancy and then it gets worse during pregnancy if it's not managed as part of that maternity care," Egwuatu emphasized. "There are more pregnant women that have chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease that are amplified during pregnancy."

The White House released a proclamation recognizing Black Maternal Health Week. The Biden administration began recognizing the week in 2021.

Egwuatu noted there are some warning signs any pregnant woman should be aware of and check in with their physician if they develop.

"You might get some changes in your vision that is not your normal. So, like, fuzziness, you can't see as well, or an excruciating headache," Egwuatu outlined. "You could also develop new swelling in your lower extremities that's making it difficult to get around or even new shortness of breath."

Egwuatu stressed physicians also need to recognize the role of racism in medicine. She argued continuous medical education is important for learning how to confront biases, and it is important for doctors to understand how they can provide people with resources.

"Asking the questions about personal barriers," Egwuatu suggested. "Does a patient have issues with getting to work, child care, transportation? What's their education, what's their cultural background and language? And do they even have a cell phone so we can connect with them?"