Kelly Larson’s Post

🆕 findings from our partner Ekonomický ústav SAV / The Institute of Economic Research SAS provides an overview of #tobacco use & #tobaccocontrol policies in #Slovakia 🇸🇰 The #researchers find that: 1️⃣. Overall, #cigarettes have become more affordable over time as tax policies failed to keep up with income growth & inflation. 2️⃣. Most alternate #tobacco products are not subject to #excise taxes & are growing in popularity as cheaper alternatives to cigarettes. 3️⃣. Loopholes in #smokefree policies result in exposure to #secondhandsmoke in restaurants, bars & other public spaces. Learn more about the recommendations for #policymakers to strengthen tobacco control efforts👇 https://lnkd.in/guwGxd4W

USA: Potential Effects on Tobacco Tax Revenues of a Ban on the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products: 2024 Update “Chaloupka finds that such a policy would reduce tax-paid cigarette sales by 19.2%, varying from state to state. As a result, tax revenues would fall by 19.1% overall, between 3.0% in Alaska and 30.2% in Delaware. These estimates, however, is based on limited data and is likely to overstate actual declines as they do not consider substitution between tobacco products or users who relapse after quitting. There would be significant public health benefits following this ban. 5.6% of menthol smokers, or more than 420,000 adults, would quit smoking in the short run, thus reducing the number of deaths by over 98,000. Further, this ban would deter young people from taking up smoking, which would increase the public health benefits. The reduction in tobacco use would also decrease Medicaid costs by $2.5 billion the year after implementation and decrease lifetime smoking-attributable health care costs by over $4.4 billion among current menthol smokers. The report concludes that a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products would have financial and public health benefits in the long-term, despite any loss in revenue from tobacco taxes.”

🆕 #research from Univerzitet u Banjoj Luci finds that a 1️⃣5️⃣% increase in the #cigarette excise tax in 2024 & 2025 would result in substantial fiscal & public health benefits for #BosniaandHerzegovina 🇧🇦 Each year, raising the #tobacco tax would: - increase tax revenues by 11%, - reduce number of cigarette packs sold by 1.2%, - prevent 10,647- 21,175 premature deaths, and - discourage 8,067- 16,595 youth from starting to #smoke. Learn more about their findings & the #policy recommendations 👇 https://lnkd.in/dFiXznCi

In #Bulgaria 🇧🇬, new #research from Smoke-Free Life Coalition finds that ⬆️ #cigarette excise tax by 7.25% would: -⬆️ tax revenues by BGN 31 million & -⬇️ cigarette consumption by >5%. #Policymakers can raise taxes even further to decrease cigarette consumption. The benefits of reducing tobacco-related costs in the medium- and long-term would outweigh any decrease in cigarette tax revenues 📈 Learn more about these findings & recommendations from the authors 👇 https://lnkd.in/gPUBTbae

Why policymakers in Bosnia and Herzegovina should increase tobacco excise taxes? Based on our research done in partnership with Tobacconomics, the policy brief provides the answers. Find out more by clicking on the link below: https://lnkd.in/dFiXznCi

In #Montenegro, 🆕 #research from our partner ISEA MNE assesses #alcohol use in & alcohol control policies, including excise #taxes 🔎 Prevalence of alcohol use is very high among adults & youth in 🇲🇪, while alcohol tax rates remain relatively low. Increasing the excise tax on #spirits, specifically, from 12.5 to 15 euros per liter would: 1️⃣. raise prices by 7%, 2️⃣. reduce consumption by 5%, & 3️⃣. increase tax revenues by 9.36%. Learn more about these findings & their #policy implications in a #brief 👇 https://lnkd.in/gN-Kx-3C ... or in the two related #reports 👇 https://lnkd.in/gdyXTPQ8

We worked with our local partner, Development and Policies Research Center (DEPOCEN), to update the #Vietnam 🇻🇳 Evidence Matrix 🔎 The Matrix includes >100 studies from 1997 through 2023 on the economics of #tobacco & #tobaccocontrol with a focus on tobacco taxes. Learn more about these #research findings 👇 https://lnkd.in/g53r5RGz

In #Pakistan 🇵🇰, the 🆕ly passed Finance Act raised the minimum price of #cigarettes without raising #tobacco excise taxes. SPDC (Social Policy and Development Centre) finds that this will benefit the industry rather than increase tax revenues for the gov't as: - 22% of brands will have to increase prices to the new minimum price, - 19% of brands may increase prices from the old minimum price to the new one, & - 59% of brands may increase prices to the new price limit for low-price cigarettes. Learn more about expert recommendations to raise additional tax revenue & improve public health 👇 https://lnkd.in/gRUDcwaF

"No declarations of funding, or conflicts of interest were made by any of the participants, nor was the session explicitly described as collecting evidence from alcohol industry-related stakeholders," public health academics warned UK Parliament Health Committee this week, referring to evidence heard in February (see https://lnkd.in/dgaqrD_b). "The evidence presented by the alcohol industry participants contained a wide range of serious inaccuracies and misrepresentations. These include misrepresentations of the evidence about alcohol harms, and about how such harms may be effectively prevented," the academics' written submission to the committee says. It then examines the statements the alcohol industry made to the committee on February 6th in turn, before concluding, "The alcohol industry practices outlined... have real consequences, and harm real people; [it] does not simply result in a misinformed public: it results in real cases of cancer, and real children with FASD."

Clinical trial diversity refers to the representation of diverse populations in clinical research studies, including individuals from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, age groups, genders, socioeconomic statuses, and geographic locations. It is essential to ensure that clinical trial participants reflect the demographics of the population that will ultimately benefit from the medical interventions being studied. There are several reasons why clinical trial diversity is important: Evaluating Safety and Efficacy Across Populations: Different populations may respond differently to medical treatments due to genetic, biological, cultural, and environmental factors. By including a diverse range of participants in clinical trials, researchers can better understand how treatments affect different populations and ensure that they are safe and effective for everyone. Addressing Health Disparities: Health disparities exist among various demographic groups, with certain populations experiencing higher rates of certain diseases or poorer health outcomes. Clinical trial diversity helps to identify and address these disparities by ensuring that treatments are effective for all populations and that healthcare interventions are accessible to everyone. Improving Generalizability of Results: Clinical trial results are used to inform medical guidelines, treatment decisions, and healthcare policies. However, if clinical trials primarily include homogeneous populations, the findings may not apply to the broader population. By including diverse participants, researchers can improve the generalizability of study results and ensure that healthcare interventions are relevant and effective for everyone. Enhancing Equity in Healthcare: Lack of diversity in clinical trials can perpetuate inequalities in healthcare access and outcomes. By actively recruiting and including underrepresented populations in clinical research, researchers can promote equity in healthcare and ensure that all individuals have equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from medical advancements. Meeting Regulatory Requirements: Regulatory agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), increasingly emphasize the importance of diversity in clinical trials. Many regulatory authorities require sponsors to provide evidence of diversity in study populations as part of the drug approval process. In summary, clinical trial diversity is crucial for ensuring the safety, efficacy, and relevance of medical treatments across diverse populations. By promoting diversity in clinical research, we can address health disparities, improve healthcare outcomes, and advance health equity for all individuals. Regards, Satra