Smoke-free Air Policies to Reduce Smoking

Background Misuse and Abuse of Tobacco Increase rates of cancer – Lung cancer Heart disease Poor circulation High blood pressure

Key Facts on Tobacco Use It is estimated that two people die each minute from tobacco-related disease in the Western Pacific. On the average, smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers.

Secondhand Smoke There are over 7,000 known chemicals found in secondhand smoke and 250 are known to be toxic.

Designate Smoke-Free Evidence has shown that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Separate or ventilated smoking areas do not protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. Only 100% smoke free places improve overall air quality.

Pregnancy and Tobacco Smoke Risk of stillbirth Babies with birth defects – cleft palate – heart problems Low birth weight baby Chemicals from secondhand smoke affect the brain and interferes with the infants breathing

Youth and Tobacco Studies have shown that children whose parents smoke are sick more often. – Get more frequent and severe asthma attacks – Lung problems, like bronchitis and pneumonia – Ear infections We must protect our youth from tobacco!

WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Identifies key policy interventions critical to combat tobacco To stop the NCD epidemic, leaders at all levels must commit to fully enacting the provisions outlined in the Framework Convention

Article 8: Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke total elimination of smoking and tobacco smoke in a particular space or environment in order to create a 100% smoke free environment – indoor workplaces – indoor public places – public transport – public outdoor places: entry ways, outdoor venues

Important Considerations Smoke-free laws benefit overall conditions such as air quality, environment, health, and reduces smoking. Smoke-free air acts have been enforced in indoor workplaces, public transportation, beaches, and parks. Smoke-free air acts reduce smoking by 3.8% in Canada, United States, Australia and Germany in 2002, which is about 3.1 fewer cigarettes smoked per day per smoker.

Recommendations Smoke-free air acts can be implemented at: – schools – Churches – government facilities – restaurants and bars – hotels and motels – public areas such as beaches, parks, public pools, and recreational facilities – outside of entrances and windows near a building and within a certain distance

Pass and enforce model comprehensive smoke-free air acts Chuuk’s Example Target Population: National/ Catholic Church Members Summary: Indoor Clean Air Act of 2011 Indoor Clean Air Act of 2011  After Chuuk’s Legislative building was completely destroyed from a fire in 2011, a lot of the state policies had to be recreated and rewritten  Chuuk State Law No : Smoking Act of 1991 was repealed and changed it into a more comprehensive tobacco policy, the “Indoor Clean Air Act” of 2011  Indoor Clean Air Act of 2011: -indoor smoking, selling single tobaccos and tobacco products to minors became illegal  Domino Effect: Catholic Churches in Chuuk started to prohibit their church members from smoking in church grounds and prohibited all Catholic Church officials from smoking and chewing  Currently: NCD Coalition recognizes the need for policy evaluation and is looking towards incorporating policy assessments in NCD Action Plan for years 4 and 5 of the NCD grant cycle

Pass and enforce model comprehensive smoke-free air acts American Samoa’s Example Target Population: all Department of Health employees Summary: American Samoa Department of Health (DOH) Employee Wellness Policy #13-01  October 2013: DOH implemented a policy for all DOH employees relating to proper nutrition, physical activity and tobacco smoking  Enforced Smoke-free Worksite became an extension of the Smoke-Free Environment Act of 2010  Prohibition of smoking and tobacco use in all DOH owned and/or leased locations/premises, including but not limited to all internal and external areas, parking lots and building entrances, as well as all DOH owned and/or leased vehicles

Pass and enforce model comprehensive smoke-free air acts Yap’s Example Target Population: Yap State Summary: 2010 State Law 7-75 Anti-smoking Act 2010 State Law 7-75 Anti-smoking Act  A partnership with Yap’s Tobacco Program, Substance Abuse Program, Diabetes Program, Ministry of Health (MOH) and other community organizations and Yap’s NCD Program  Educated political leaders on the harmful effects of second-hand smoking and looked at successful policies in other regions such as Hawaii’s anti-smoking laws  In 2010, the anti-smoking law in public areas and workplaces was implemented  Yap modified Hawaii’s 20 feet no smoking zone and made it into a 50 feet no smoking zones in building entrances

Intervention 2: Pass and enforce model comprehensive smoke-free air acts Guam’s Example Target Population: National Summary: PL32-60: Ban of Electronic Cigarette Sales to Minors  May 2014: Public Law banned the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors  Triggered by the increasing popularity of “vaping” or the use of electronic cigarettes among middle school and high school, in addition to the increasing propaganda selling electronic cigarettes as a safe alternative to tobacco smoking  Guam’s Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) took the prohibition of using electronic cigarettes to include all DPHSS staff within all PHSS facilities  Currently, the Guam Non Communicable Disease (NCD) Coalition is working on learning more about the contents of electronic cigarettes to better educate the public, especially the youth, on the harmful effects of these products

Who to contact? James Rarick Technical Officer, Tobacco Free Initiative WHO Western Pacific Regional Office Manila, Philippines 