A View From Above: The National Perspective on Becoming Smokefree American Public Health Association Conference November 8, 2006

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A View From Above The National Perspective on
Becoming SmokefreeAmerican Public Health
Association ConferenceNovember 8, 2006

• Cynthia Hallett, MPH
• Executive Director

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Status of Smokefree Air

• 45.7 of the U.S. population protected by local
  or state law with smokefree provisions (as of
  10/6/06)
• 519 communities and 18 states in addition 13
  countries have a smokefree regulation in effect
• Westin and Marriott hotel chains have gone
  smokefree in North America
• Many hospitals and government buildings are
  smokefree
• 17 state and national organizations have adopted
  policies or resolutions to hold meetings in
  smokefree municipalities

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From Sections to Smokefree

• 1980s Smokefree Sections
• 1990s Smokefree Policies
• Separately enclosed, separately ventilated rooms
• 2000 100 Smokefree Indoor Environments
• These shifts toward stronger provisions were
  supported by a combination of public demand and
  the science on the health effects of secondhand
  smoke.

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As of October 6, 2006
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Why Work on Smokefree Issues?

• There is no risk-free level of exposure to
  secondhand smoke.
• U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, June
  2006
• Secondhand smoke is a toxic air contaminant,
  an air pollutant which may cause or contribute to
  an increase in deaths or in serious illness, or
  which may pose a present or potential hazard to
  human health.
• California Air Resources Board,
  January 2006

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Annual Deaths Due to Secondhand Smoke
37,000
13,000
3,000
Source Wells,1998
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What Policies Are Effective?

• Smokefree workplace policies are the only
  effective way to eliminate secondhand smoke
  exposure in the workplace. Separating smokers
  from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and
  ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposure.
  Source The Health Consequences of Involuntary
  Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke, 2006

Any law that calls for a 100 smokefree provision
is progress, even if one has to take an
incremental approach toward comprehensive
coverage (e.g., workplaces, then restaurants,
bars, casinos, and beyond).
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Ventilation is NOT a solution

• ASHRAE Board Policy Statement affirms that
  Ventilation cannot eliminate all the health risks
  caused by secondhand smoke exposure.

• The 2006 Surgeon Generals Report confirms and
  reiterates this finding.

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From Local to State

• Successful trend has been to start at local
  level, then progress to state law.
• Benefits of local smokefree laws are
• Public Education
• Community buy-in
• Easier to enforce
• Buildup of community support
• Power at the local level
• Leads to stronger states laws and power to
  defeat tobacco industry interests in state
  Capitols this rule changes in preemption states

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Why not a Federal Regulation?

• Politically risky The likelihood of getting a
  strong, 100 smokefree regulation is low given
  tobacco interests and lobbyists in Capital.
• Federal rules would preempt future state and
  local laws, and may supercede existing, strong
  smokefree laws.
• Greatest successes have been at the local level,
  historically. First state law was passed in CA
  in 1994 after massive local action. Eight years
  later, DE and NY passed laws in 2002 and 2003,
  respectively.

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Industry Response to Smokefree Successes

• Oppose all smokefree and related
  tobacco-prevention legislation by any means
  necessary
• Legal threats, public relations blitz, financial
  contributions to allied parties
• Current examples
• R.J. Reynolds is sponsoring opposing Smokefree
  Initiatives in Ohio and Arizona
• Philip Morris/Altria is contributing millions
  against Californias Tobacco Tax Initiative
• Ongoing attempts to pass Preemptive legislation
  in state legislatures

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Movement Continues at Rapid Pace

• Three Smokefree Ballot Initiatives in 2006 Ohio,
  Arizona, and Nevada
• Hundreds of localities are considering or in the
  process of a smokefree campaign
• Current leaders at local level are Mid-Western
  states IL and IN current leaders with the most
  new local laws so far in 2006 race for ANRs
  Smokefree Air Challenge award
• More states likely to consider and successfully
  pass laws, particularly those with significant
  local coverage Risk of Preemption is High

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How can YOU contribute to smokefree successes?

• Get involved!
• Is your community smokefree? Does it have a weak
  law that needs strengthening?
• If not, is smokefree an issue yet?
• Is there a coalition, and are YOU a member (e.g.,
  citizen or professional capacity)?
• Does your organization have a Smokefree Cities
  meeting policy? APHA, NCI, NIDA, CDC-OSH do!
• Speak Up!
• Provide professional leadership on the issue in
  your organization, with colleagues and friends,
  with media (re health effects and benefits of
  smokefree environments).
• Contact ANR/F for information on how to start or
  improve the smokefree effort in your area, model
  legislation, combat tobacco industry
  interference, referrals to other partners and
  more.

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Tools for Success
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Thank you
Cynthia Hallett, MPH Executive Director Cynthia.Ha
llett_at_no-smoke.org [phone] www.no-smoke.org
www.protectlocalcontrol.org