Public Health Groups Support Prohibition of Menthol Cigarettes
Excerpt: We write in support of prohibiting menthol cigarettes, which is a key part of the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act (H.R. 2339). There is overwhelming scientific evidence that menthol cigarettes have had a profound adverse effect on public health. Removing them from the market would [More]
Comments on Tobacco Products; Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements
Excerpt: The undersigned public health and medical organizations submit these comments in response to the request for comments on FDA’s proposed rule to establish new required health warnings for cigarette packages and advertisements, “Tobacco Products; Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements,” 84 Fed. Reg. 42754 (August [More]
Strong evaluation data for point of sale strategies will come from communities like YOURS and leaders like YOU!
LaPointe brothers offering a sacred tobacco blessing at opening ceremony At the National Conference on Tobacco or Health (the “or” leads me to admiringly call it the “ultimatum conference”) this year, there was a strong showing of breakout sessions focused on point of sale (POS) [More]
We had a great time at NCTOH!
We're still processing all the experiences we had at the National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH) in Minneapolis, MN recently. There were thought-provoking discussions, insights gained, and we were finally able to put some faces to names. Our Tuesday networking lunch was a success with [More]
Generally Unhealthy: A Look at National Chains Using Maps
Every morning, I scroll through LinkedIn’s Daily Rundown, an easy-to-digest recap of trending “professional news,” while enjoying my first sips of coffee. I don’t know if the content is tailored to me by an algorithm, but back in January, this headline caught my eye: Dollar General’s secret [More]
Counter Tools’ Partner Indiana Featured in CDC’s Programs in Action
Counter Tools' longtime partner, the Indiana State Department of Health’s tobacco control program, is featured in Programs in Action by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office on Smoking and Health (CDC OSH). The tobacco control program takes a comprehensive approach to the issue by looking at [More]
Board of Directors Announcement of Executive Director Resignation & Search
Dear Friends, Colleagues and Partners of Counter Tools, With both sadness and gratitude that we must announce that Nina Baltierra will be resigning as the Executive Director of Counter Tools. Nina joined Counter Tools as a Project Director in 2014, but first took on the role of [More]
Celebrating 10 Years of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
President Barack Obama, surrounded by members of Congress, and others, signs the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act in 2009. (Edmonds/AP) via nydailynews.com Tomorrow, June 22, 2019, marks the 10th anniversary of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act going into effect. [More]
Letter from Public Health Groups on Senate T21 Bills
Excerpt: We are writing to express our strong support for raising the legal age for sale of tobacco products to 21 and to share our views on two bipartisan bills recently introduced in the Senate. We commend Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Todd Young (R-IN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), [More]
Counter Tobacco Podcast: An Interview with Katherine Ungar on Tobacco 21 (Episode 10)
In the latest episode of the Counter Tobacco Podcast, we interview Katherine Ungar, Executive Director of the Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation. Learn about how interest in policies raising the minimum legal sales age to 21 (or "Tobacco 21" policies) has grown in the US, what makes a [More]
Counter Tools featured in Innovate Carolina’s newsletter!
We're thrilled to be featured in Innovate Carolina's weekly newsletter, IN the Know! IN the Know shares interesting and inspiring news and updates about innovative and entrepreneurial activity at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which is where we were founded seven years ago.
Letter from Public Health Groups on House T21 Bills
Excerpt: We are writing to express our strong support for the Tobacco to 21 Act (H.R. 2411) and the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act (H.R. 2339), both of which would raise the legal age for sale of tobacco products to 21. Raising the tobacco sale age [More]
Letter of Support for the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2020
Excerpt: We are writing to express our strong support for H.R. 2339, the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019. Your legislation will address the current youth e-cigarette epidemic that is threatening to undermine the progress that has been made in reducing youth cigarette use and [More]
We Can’t Wait: Governmental Action Can Do More than Voluntary Corporate Action
In a statement released on March 4, 2019, the FDA announced new actions taken by the agency to warn Walgreens and 15 other corporate-owned chains and franchise stores, including Walmart, with violation rates greater than 15%. Since then, we have seen several chains announce actions they [More]
Comments of Public Health Groups on FDA Draft Guidance Modifying Compliance Policy for Certain Deemed Tobacco Products
Excerpt: The undersigned organizations submit these comments in the above referenced Docket on the Draft Guidance for Industry on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposed Modifications to its Compliance Policy for Certain Deemed Products, issued in March 2019 (Draft Guidance). The Draft Guidance can be a [More]
[UPDATED!] See you at NCTOH!
Counter Tools will be at the National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH) August 27th to 29th in Minneapolis, MN---will you? During the conference, we invite you to stop by our exhibitor booth (#111) to grab some promotional materials and talk further with us about our products [More]
House Agricultural Subcommittee & FDA Letter From Public Health Groups
Excerpt: As your Subcommittee moves forward with the FY 2020 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we urge you to approve the authorized level of user fees for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to oversee tobacco products. These user fees [More]
House CDC OSH Letter from Public Health Groups
Excerpt: As your Subcommittee moves forward with the FY 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we urge you to increase funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) by $100 million, for a [More]
My Place: That’s So ‘South of Shaw’
"My Place" is a series of blog posts authored by the Counter Tools team that aims to shed light on the impact place has had on each of our lives. In this My Place post, we hear from Executive Director Nina Baltierra. I grew up in Fresno, [More]
Response to CDC Request for Information on Advancing Tobacco Control Practices
February 11, 2019 Randi Frank Office on Smoking and Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mail Stop S107-7 Atlanta, GA 30341 Re: Request for Information on Advancing Tobacco Control Practices to Prevent Initiation of Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults, Eliminate Exposure [More]
