National
Marijuana use is outpacing cigarette use for the first time on record
Posted on · Cigarette use has been declining for decades, while marijuana use has been on the rise, according to a new Gallup survey in the U.S.
Tag: smoking
Houston Matters
Banning vaping and e-cigarettes in public, and the week in politics (March 30, 2022)
Posted on · On Wednesday's show: City council considers banning vaping and smoking e-cigarettes in public, we discuss the week in politics, we learn why most Americans aren't getting the end-of-life care they need, and we talk with filmmaker Ti West.
Houston Matters
Full Show: Raising The Age For Tobacco, And The Lost Galveston Hurricane Statue (May 22, 2019)
Posted on · On Wednesday's Houston Matters: Raising the age for buying tobacco, the weekly political roundup, water conservation, and a lost statue in Galveston.
News
Ban on Smoking in Public Housing Is Already in Effect in Houston
Posted on · Public housing authorities around the country must now comply with new federal directives. But Houston took action to prohibit smoking a few years ago.
Houston Matters
What’s the Effect of Houston’s Smoking Ban, Ten Years Later?
Posted on · This year marks ten years since the City of Houston banned indoor smoking in public areas and workplaces. That means, for a decade, smokers have been relegated to smoking at least 25 feet from building entrances and exits. Ten years later, the city's health department is examining the impact the ordinance has had. We learn […]
Full Show
Hate Crime Series and Ten Years Since the Smoking Ban: Thursday’s Show (November 17, 2016)
Posted on · The number of hate crimes against Muslims reported to police rose by 67 percent in 2015, according to numbers released by the FBI this week (Nov. 14, 2016). And, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there have been more than 200 incidents of hateful harassment and intimidation since Election Day. With that in mind, […]
Houston Matters
How Effective Are Tobacco Policies in Improving Public Health?
Posted on · Smoking bans and cigarette taxes – they're part of many policies aimed not only at curbing smoking but also reducing associated health conditions like heart attacks and strokes. But are they working? A recent report examines the impact of two tobacco policies aimed at reducing hospitalizations. We talk with the co-author of that report, Vivian […]
Health & Science
Report: Texas Needs Stronger Policies To Lower Tobacco Use
Posted on · Researchers say Texas needs stronger policies to curb tobacco use, and state leaders could look to Houston as an example.
Houston Matters
Houston Doctor Leads Charge to Raise the Legal Smoking Age
Posted on · You may have heard in the news recently that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended the purchasing age of cigarettes nationwide should be changed to 21. That recommendation came from a Houston doctor, Harold Farber. He’s associate professor of pediatrics in the section of pulmonary medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital […]
Full Show
Renewable Energy, Smoking Age and Red Pearl: Tuesday’s Show (November 10, 2015)
Posted on · The Texas Renewable Energy Industry Alliance is a non-profit that promotes the clean energy industry in Texas. Starting tomorrow (Nov. 11, 2015), the group hosts GridNEXT, a conference focused on how renewable energy sources can integrate into the current distribution system. On this edition of Houston Matters, we talk with Mark Sanders, the alliance’s executive […]
Houston Matters
What’s It Like to Be a Smoker in Houston?
Posted on · Earlier this month, the City of Houston expanded its no smoking policy to all public pedestrian plazas. It’s just the latest in many ongoing policies nationwide to discourage smoking in general, and specifically reduce second-hand smoke in public. Some smokers feel unreasonably persecuted. Some non-smokers feel current policies don’t go far enough. We consider what […]
Full Show
Smoking in Houston, John Hofmeister, and Women in Space: Houston Matters for Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Posted on · Earlier this month, the City of Houston expanded its no smoking policy to all public pedestrian plazas. It’s just the latest in many ongoing policies nationwide to discourage smoking in general, and specifically reduce second-hand smoke in public. Some smokers feel unreasonably persecuted. Some non-smokers feel current policies don’t go far enough. On this edition […]
Houston Matters
What Can You Do To Stop Smoking?
Posted on · Is ‘quitting smoking’ on your list of resolutions for 2014? Dr. Alicia Kowalchuk of the Harris Health System has a few pointers on how to kick the habit.
Houston Matters
Do Smoking Policies Go Too Far — Or Not Far Enough?
Posted on · If you’re a smoker, you might be annoyed by the ever-shrinking number of public places where you can smoke. If you’re not a smoker, maybe you’re still annoyed by the presence of smokers where they’re allowed. Either way, we talk about smoking policies in Greater Houston with Jeff Conn, environmental investigator with the Houston Department […]