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Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of heart disease, particularly in adults aged 35 to 64. This blog post breaks down ways the Surgeon General's report on smoking cessation may be helpful to state health officials.

ASTHO Commends the Surgeon General Advisory about Marijuana Use on the Developing Brain ARLINGTON, VA—Michael Fraser, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), issued the following statement in response to the Surgeon General’s advisory on marijuana use and its impact on the developing brain: “State and territorial public health officials commend the Surgeon General’s announcement today. We strongly encourage pregnant and breastfeeding women, parents, and youth to learn more about the risks associated with marijuana products by consulting with their health care provider. ASTHO supports the Surgeon General’s request for additional research on the health impacts of marijuana use. A strong evidence base rooted in science will allow state and territorial health agencies to effectively fulfill their responsibility to promote and protect the public’s health. We also strongly encourage increased investments in substance abuse and misuse prevention programs, public awareness initiatives, and health care provider education programs centered on marijuana use.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Public Health Leaders Applaud U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on E-Cigarette Use ARLINGTON, VA—State and territorial health leaders applaud the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General for issuing today’s advisory and setting strong recommendations to curb the sharp increase in youth e-cigarette use. “Today, the Surgeon General took bold action by issuing an advisory on the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use. We stand with the Surgeon General and support these recommendations calling for public spaces to be free from e-cigarette vapor and implementing strategies to make it more difficult for youth to purchase e-cigarette products,” says Michael Fraser, CEO of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). “We applaud the administration’s aggressive steps to stop a generation of children from becoming addicted to nicotine. These recommendations echo ASTHO’s position on comprehensive tobacco control policies and are endorsed by our nation’s state and territorial public health leaders. We look forward to working with states and communities throughout the country to implement these measures.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO Launches National Campaign to Support Healthy Communities, Aligning with NACCHO and the U.S. Surgeon General ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) announced this week the launch of a multi-year initiative to build healthier and more resilient communities across the country. The challenge, “Building Healthy and Resilient Communities,” will be led by ASTHO’s president and director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, in partnership with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and aligned with the U.S. Surgeon General’s focus on community health and economic prosperity. The challenge calls on state, territorial, local, and tribal health officials to align strategic investments and promote community-driven, place-based solutions to empower communities to be as healthy as possible, reduce health disparities, and stimulate economic development. Examples of such initiatives include Rhode Island’s Health Equity Zones, Purpose Built Communities in Georgia, the Fort Worth Blue Zones Project, and Live Well San Diego. Activities to support the challenge will center on creating opportunities for health officials to mobilize community advocates and partners towards making lasting systems and policy changes that improve living conditions at the community level. Using this platform, ASTHO and its partners, along with NACCHO and the U.S. Surgeon General, will connect public health officials with business leaders, policymakers, and other cross-sector stakeholders to shift investments to promote sustainable, equitable community development. “Health officials have a critical role to play ensuring that everyone in every community has an equal opportunity to be as healthy as they can be, regardless of their zip code,” says Dr. Alexander-Scott. “My vision is for ASTHO, along with NACCHO and the U.S. Surgeon General, to empower all public health leaders to build stronger, more connected communities that have the assets and resources they need to create the conditions for success to be as healthy as possible. By funding and implementing sustainable strategies that are tailor-made for each community, we can amplify the community’s voice and transform public health for generations to come.” “America’s greatest assets are its communities, so we should turn to them more often,” says VADM Jerome Adams, MD, MPH. “We have the best healthcare system in the world, yet life expectancy in the United States is lower than in many other high-income countries. State and local health officials know their communities best and should be inspired to change the community environment to make sure that healthy behaviors are easy behaviors that are available to everyone.” “We’re pleased to lead this challenge with ASTHO and recognize there are great synergies between state and local health officials that will allow us to be successful in equipping and encouraging communities to think more strategically about health at the community level,” says Kevin Sumner, MPH, NACCHO president and health officer for the Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission in New Jersey. View ASTHO’s President’s Challenge for more information. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

State and Territorial Health Leaders Commend Nomination of Dr. Jerome Adams for U.S. Surgeon General ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) commends the Administration for nominating Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Jerome Adams to the position of U.S. Surgeon General. Adams has served as commissioner of the Indiana State Department of Health since 2014, where he oversees the public health protection and laboratory services, health and human services, healthcare quality and regulatory, and tobacco prevention and cessation commissions. “The Administration has nominated a true public health leader to serve as U.S. Surgeon General,” says Dr. Michael Fraser, executive director of ASTHO. “Dr. Adams understands the healthcare landscape, has first-hand experience dealing with serious public health issues, and will be a strong advocate for state public health, bringing a unique and valuable set of skills to the nation’s healthcare system. His knowledge of public health challenges and opportunities as Indiana State Health Commissioner will serve our nation well in the months and years ahead.” As a member of ASTHO, Adams has worked nationwide to address public health issues, including the challenges presented by the current opioid crisis. His clinical acumen combined with strong clinical and community-based experience make him a uniquely qualified candidate for the nation’s top physician. “Our nation needs a strong, experienced, and articulate public health champion, and Jerome is the right person at the right time to serve as our Surgeon General,” says Dr. Jay Butler, ASTHO president and chief medical officer for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. “This nomination recognizes his state and national leadership experience, his broad perspective, and his clinical expertise—he brings all this to the very important job of Surgeon General.” Adams earned a B.S. in biochemistry and a B.A. in biopsychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He has been a researcher at medical schools in both the Netherlands and Zimbabwe and has worked under Nobel Prize winner Dr. Tom Cech. He earned his Medical Doctorate at the Indiana University School of Medicine, and his Masters of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley.  He has been an active member of ASTHO, including representing ASTHO at the American Medical Society House of Delegates and participating in national initiatives to address significant public health challenges. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

This episode highlights ASTHO’s President’s Challenge, “Building Health and Resilient Communities,” which is a multi-year campaign that calls on state, territorial, local, and tribal health officials to align strategic investments and promote community-driven, place-based solutions to empower communities to be as healthy as possible, reduce health disparities, and stimulate economic development. The challenge is aligned with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the U.S. Surgeon General’s focus on community health and economic prosperity.