Dr. Jessie Saul brings 19 years of experience in research, program evaluation, and strategic implementation around tobacco cessation. She applies this deep understanding to improve EX Program performance and reduce tobacco use among populations. She earned her Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Cornell University.
We’ve likely all heard about the health risks associated with being a heavy smoker. But is there any danger with being a light smoker? Unfortunately, yes. What is light smoking? Light smoking is defined as smoking less than 5 cigarettes per day or smoking only on some days but not […]
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National Hispanic Heritage Month 2024, spanning from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, celebrates Hispanic and Latino history, culture, and the achievements of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Hispanic Heritage Month can also be a time to reflect on ways to help people who identify with Hispanic, Latino, LatinX, or other similar […]
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Promoting cessation programs to women who are smoking while pregnant can be a complex issue. Why? For health plans, healthcare systems, and employers, it can be difficult to know if a pregnant woman is using tobacco unless she discloses the addiction. Fortunately, there are still ways you can help. Impact […]
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So, your company is ready to implement an incentive or a tobacco surcharge on insurance for employees who use tobacco products. The next task at hand is identifying individuals eligible for the incentive or premium discount. To achieve this, many organizations rely on self-reported data through a tobacco attestation form. […]
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A tobacco cessation program is a standard option for many health plans, but now more than ever, standard is often not enough. While the overall prevalence of smoking among U.S. adults has been declining, large disparities in tobacco use continue across groups defined by race, educational level, and socioeconomic status. […]
Read More… from How to Choose a Cessation Program that Health Plan Members Want to Use
Diabetes Alert Day should be a wake-up call on the serious consequences that tobacco use can have on this chronic condition. Every fourth Tuesday in March is Diabetes Alert Day, sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. Held this year on March 26, the one-day event highlights the challenges of living […]
Read More… from Diabetes and Smoking Cigarettes: A Risky Combination
On college campuses, the sights are often predictable: school colors, packed libraries before finals, and now, an increasing number of vape/smoke-free campus signs. As of 2023, over 2,600 campuses in the U.S. have implemented tobacco-free policies, up from 1,816 in 2017, with many more following suit thanks to Truth Initiative’s […]
So just how does tobacco use negatively impact personal finances? To answer that, think about this: Would an extra $300 or so each month help your cash-strapped employees? It’s possible to add sizable dollars like this to their wallets when you help them quit tobacco. We see EX Program participants […]
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At this point, the harms of secondhand smoke are well documented, and include higher risk of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and childhood asthma among many other issues. But are you familiar with thirdhand smoke? You should be, and here’s why. What is thirdhand smoke? Thirdhand smoke is the chemical […]
Read More… from How Long Does Thirdhand Smoke Last? What You Need to Know
The need for mental health support remains a top priority for employers (and health plans that serve employers) in 2024. Job-related stress, depression/anxiety, and financial stress are top reasons cited for behavioral health issues affecting the workplace. As a means to cope, some individuals use substances such as nicotine. Who […]
Read More… from 4 Myths about Vaping, Smoking and Mental Health
Smoking and health care costs are like mosquitoes and bug bites; they often appear together. But what happens when someone quits smoking? How soon will your company start to see health care cost savings? Here’s what the research shows. Impact of smoking on health care costs If you’re with an […]
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Everyone knows smoking causes lung cancer. But what about smoking and breast cancer? Or smoking and bladder cancer? Many employers may not be aware of how many cancers are linked to tobacco use—and how much that may be costing. Cancer costs today are increasingly top of mind for employers as […]
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Smoking and obesity together are double trouble for employee health. Each can increase healthcare costs. Together, health risks—and expenses—can be compounded. With more than 40% of U.S. adults meeting criteria for obesity, this health risk is likely already on your radar to address with employees. Strokes, type 2 diabetes, and […]
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Many health risks of smoking are well-known, such as increased risk for cancer, heart disease, and lung disease. But there are lesser-known effects of smoking that can lead to significant costs for employers, too. Here’s a major example: hearing loss. Links Between Smoking and Hearing Loss It may seem strange […]
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How bad are cigars for you and your employees or members? Here is the short answer: Although the specific health effects from a single occasional cigar aren’t so clear, there is no safe form of tobacco, and the only safe level of cigar smoking is none at all. Here are […]
Easy access to therapists, telehealth, and remote work options are expected benefits nowadays for employee mental health support. But there is one benefit that can give employee mental health a significant boost…and you likely aren’t using it. It’s a program that actively engages employees in quitting all forms of tobacco. […]
Read More… from 1 Way to Improve Employee Mental Health Support You’re Likely Missing
There is a common misconception that smoking helps people deal with stress. But the truth is that smoking doesn’t actually help reduce stress. Most health plans continuously look for new ways to help members live healthier lives. But too often, health plans don’t focus enough on one proven way to […]
Read More… from Health Plan Tip Sheet: How to Help Members with “Stress Smoking”
In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new statistics about smoking and tobacco use among U.S. adults. The main finding was a headline-grabbing conclusion that cigarette smoking continues to decline. That’s welcome news but it doesn’t tell the whole story. See 3 facts from the CDC’s […]
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Did you know you can use wellness dollars from your health plan to buy a point solution for tobacco cessation? Many employers don’t realize that some insurance carriers will provide wellness dollars to companies to implement wellness programs. These wellness dollars are available to fully insured and self-insured companies. The […]
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Nearly 1 out of every 5 employers use a tobacco surcharge on insurance, according to a SHRM Employee Benefits Report. A tobacco surcharge or other form of financial incentive can help motivate people to take action who might not feel confident about quitting, or might not be motivated to quit […]
Read More… from Tobacco Surcharge: What the Evidence Shows Will Help People Quit
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, making it a good time to take a deeper look at the disease and its significant impact on individuals, employers, and health plans. The American Association for Cancer Research cites lung cancer as the most common cause of cancer death—not just in the U.S., […]
Read More… from When Is Lung Cancer Awareness Month? Answer: November
In our online EX Community, members who have smoked for 30 or more years often ask “is it too late to quit smoking?” EX Community member Kikison08, for example, writes, “I feel like it’s too late for me. I keep trying and failing then I am angry at myself, which […]
June is Pride Month, when people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT) come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves. However, current LGBT smoking rates indicate that freedom from tobacco remains a very real struggle. Here are some key facts about LGBT smoking rates: The LGBT […]
Every year, the World Health Organization celebrates World No Tobacco Day to raise awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco and to discourage its use in any form. The goal is to encourage a global 24-hour pause from all forms of tobacco use. World No Tobacco Day is May 31; […]
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Because tobacco use trends show a decline in cigarette smoking over the past several decades, it’s easy to imagine this downward trajectory would continue. Unfortunately, the truth is more complicated. According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults reported tobacco […]
Read More… from Tobacco Use Trends You Need to Know from New CDC Data
At first glance, it might seem like job burnout and tobacco use are 2 separate detrimental issues when it comes to health. However, they actually have much more in common than you might think. Here are 5 surprising ways that smoking and job burnout are similar: Job burnout is a […]
Do cigarette taxes work with smoke-free laws to help people quit tobacco? If you operate in a state with strong smoke-free laws and high tobacco taxes, you might think there’s nothing else you can do to help employees quit. However, the truth isn’t as clear-cut as that. A 2021 study […]
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Every company is covered with a no smoking policy in the workplace because all states have smokefree laws that cover workplaces, right? Nope. In the U.S., only 28 states and the District of Columbia have comprehensive smokefree laws that prohibit smoking in all public places and workplaces. The good news: In […]
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With stress levels at an all-time high, smoking cessation and smoking in healthcare are timely issues. Among nurses, for example, months of working in a high-stakes environment is leaving a huge impact on their mental health. A recent American Nurses Foundation survey found that 75% of nurses feel stressed—and 67% […]
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Just how long do New Year’s resolutions to quit smoking last? When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, quit smoking is often right up there in the top 5. And it’s likely that for 2022, “quit smoking” may even get bumped up a few notches, considering that the pandemic caused […]
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and smoking are like lightning and thunder; they often go together. COPD refers to a group of diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. With COPD, less air flows through the airways and this can cause symptoms such as: Shortness of breath Wheezing or nagging cough […]
From start to finish, how long does it take to quit smoking successfully? There’s a range of advice from experts about how long you need to develop a new behavior. But with tobacco addiction, those estimates don’t apply. Here’s why. There’s no standard for being “quit” If you quit your […]
With wider COVID-19 vaccination, experts are talking about the return to some daily activities that we haven’t seen in many months. That’s great news and in response, many organizations are revisiting which benefits—such as flexible work hours and paid time for childcare, for example—they’ll continue to offer post-pandemic. However, to […]
Read More… from Long-lasting Impacts of Weight Gain, Mental Health, Smoking and COVID-19
Every day, those who work in healthcare see the effects of addiction, including smoking. From chronic bronchitis to lung cancer, the outcome of tobacco use is front and center—yet many of these same health professionals still take time out for smoke breaks. Why do people who understand all the risks […]
Read More… from Strange Bedfellows: Smoking and Healthcare Workers
As we continue to face unknowns with the pandemic, the focus of National Men’s Health Awareness Month this June includes steps men can take to reduce their risk with coronavirus. And one of these steps is to quit tobacco. Because COVID-19 attacks the lungs, it could be an especially serious […]
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It’s a controversial question that has dominated headlines recently. As the COVID-19 vaccines continue to have limited rollout due to supply and planning issues, controversy is being sparked by new federal guidelines that recommend smokers—even those under age 65—should be put near the front of the line, ahead of essential […]
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Health plans know there are lots of good reasons to help pregnant smokers quit. The earlier in their pregnancy, the better. There are risks to mom, and risks to baby—all of which add up to excess costs for health plans. It’s estimated 20% of pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid smoke […]
With National Women’s Health Week kicking off May 10, more discussions about how to boost the health of female employees are likely to bubble to the surface. In addition to providing enhanced resources for stress management and mental health, offering digital, easily-accessible-from-anywhere, effective benefits to help women smokers stop using […]
With workplace smoking policies, a vaping at work policy should be included, too. Many of us have seen smokers who disappear for longer (and more often) than their designated 15-minute breaks. Given the addictive nature of tobacco, it makes sense why smokers struggle to stay within the breaks they may […]
Read More… from 3 Things to Know about Creating a Vaping at Work Policy
Not every business leader embraces a smoke-free policy or tobacco-free workplace. Surprised? Don’t be. Today 20% of indoor workers in the U.S. are not yet covered by a 100% smoke-free policy. And if you work in certain industries, such as construction, agriculture, and transportation, your company is even less likely […]
Read More… from Your Boss Doesn’t Support a Smoke-Free Policy…Now What?
With the rising use of e-cigarettes, many HR managers are playing catch-up to answer questions like: Are e-cigs as harmful as other tobacco products? Should these be handled in a no smoking policy at work? The issue can be complex, but we do have some answers to guide you. Why […]
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Introduction Internet interventions can reach large numbers of individuals. However, low levels of engagement and high rates of follow-up attrition are common, presenting major challenges to evaluation. This study investigated […]
