Tobacco prevention group expands efforts
Tobacco prevention efforts are moving forward in Southern Indiana.
Programs designed at reducing tobacco related illness and two recent studies — linking the rate of heart attacks to smoking — are adding to the incentives for residents of Southern Indiana to cut out tobacco for good.
The Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency is helping to develop a program similar to the one currently in place in Clark County and extend it to Scott County.
“The agency awarded Clark Memorial Hospital funding to continue as the fiscal agent for Clark County Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Coalition and to develop a coalition in Scott County as well,” said Andi Hannah, Clark County coordinator in a press release.
The hospitals’ programs are aimed at reducing tobacco related illnesses, which are higher in both Scott and Clark counties than the state and national averages, according to Hannah.
The term for the grant awarded will carry the program through the 2009-2011 grant cycle.
More information is also aiding to the tobacco prevention programs.
Two studies released in September linked a drop in heart attacks with smoke-free work environments.
The first study, published Sept. 21, said, “Communities that enacted smoke-free air workplace ordinances had an average of 17 percent fewer heart attacks within one year after the ordinances had been enacted. Over three years the rate dropped by 36 percent.”
The second study, released on Sept. 29, had an even greater decline in heart attacks.
This study saw an average decline of a 26 percent in the first year after the ban, with the greatest benefit coming to people younger than 50.
“These reports send a clear message that smoke-free air workplace ordinances do work and the long term impact is more lives are being saved and the community, as a whole, is healthier,” Hannah said.
Jeffersonville, locally, is the only city that has enacted a limited smoke-free workplace ordinance.
New Albany, Charlestown, Clarksville and Sellersburg are among the other local cities and towns that do not have a similar ordinances in place.
