People ask, “Is Secondhand smoke really that risky?”

Dr. Otis Brawley, the chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, answers the question that many people ask: “Is secondhand smoke really that risky?” In the CNNHealth expert doctor report, Dr. Brawley says, “Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer, heart and lung disease in non-smokers” (CNNHealth Expert Report). He explains that tobacco smoke is filled with chemicals such as benzene, nicotine, and carbon monoxide. Benzene is known to cause leukemia. He says that secondhand smoke is responsible for an estimated 5,000-10,000 lung cancer deaths and 40,000 heart disease deaths in the US each year. He also points out an analysis of 25 studies that showed that non-smokers who work in a smoke-environment were 20% more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers who worked in smoke free environments. That statistic should be enough to pass a smoking ban through legislation (CNNHealth Expert Report). Read the entire report

The Bills are still pending in the House and the Senate, but the co-chariman of the Texas Smoke Free coalition remains optimistic saying, “We are already six weeks ahead of schedule” on April 8, 2011 (Austin Business Journal).

A week ago Lance Armstrong of Livestrong was interview by Texas Tribute about Smoke Free in the Texas Legislature. They discuss the issues and arguments against the smoke free bills, which seem to be a slim category with little rational opposition to the bills.




-Jennifer Neel

Texas Cities are taking a stand on Smoke-Free Texas

Wednesday, April 13, Highland Villiage passed a Smoke-Free ordinance by a vote of 5-2. This is the second and final time for the council to vote on the ordinance. It will go into effect June 1, 2011. Smoking is now prohibited in any enclosed facilities or any facilities that are open to the general public. However, outdoor patios will still allow smoking.

The bills in the House and Senate are still pending in the legislature, that if passed will make Texas the 29th state to become smoke-free. Many national and state wide organizations are supporting the smoke-free Texas campaign. Those organizations include Livestrong, Cancer Support Community, Cheatham Street Music Foundation, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Children’s Hospital Association of Texas and many more associations and organizations. They have shown their support and put pressure on the legislature to pass Senate Bill 355 and House Bill 670. 

To find out more information visit Smoke Free Texas Coalition
Support the cause on Facebook, or follow Smoke Free Texas on Twitter and YouTube



-Jennifer Neel

History of Gambling Push and Social Concerns

Legalizing gambling in Texas isn’t a new issue to legislative discussion. During times of economic hardship throughout our state’s history, the issue of expanding gaming laws has always been discussed, and, for the most part, shut down. Traditionally opposed to gaming expansion, Texas first expanded its gaming policy in 1986 to allow a vote for para-mutuel betting in a 1987 referendum. Simply put, this allowed for the creation of horse and dog tracks. Opponents of legalized gaming in Texas, specifically Texans Against Gambling, are quick to note that para-mutuel betting has not delivered the revenue its proponents promised. According to the Texans Against Gambling website, they view para-mutuel gambling as a “dismal failure.” In 1991, Texans again voted to allow the creation of the Texas Lottery. Since then, all initiatives to expand gaming in Texas have been shut down in Legislature.

The legalization of gambling may be a way to raise revenue streams, but on a personal level it can have devastating consequences. I have a family member, who lives in a state where gambling is legal, that struggled with gambling addiction. I was around 10 years old when it happened, so I wasn’t told the specifics of the situation, but from what I overheard and was told he lost somewhere around $50,000 over a 6 month time-span. It started with trips to casinos with friends, and over time evolved into him going alone to the casinos to try and regain what was lost. The situation almost tore his marriage apart, as well as his financial situation. He made the choice to start attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings, and save his marriage and family, and overcame his urges to gamble. Talking about it recently, he put it into perspective, in that “the thought of losing [his] family was 100 times worse than any amount [he] could lose while gambling,” which motivated him to stop. It has been over a decade since he last gambled, and is still happily married. This is not to say that everyone who gambles will become addicted, but there are some people with personality types that are more vulnerable to this sort of addiction.

For more information about the pros and cons to legalizing gambling in Texas, check out this link:  http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/default/article/PRO-CON-Should-Texas-Legislature-legalize-casino-747623.php

-Ian Cannon