Hamilton County’s two-year grant from Indiana State Health Department, Tobacco, Prevention and Cessation Commission (TPC) has been renewed for another two years (2019-2021), providing $400,000 to help the efforts by Breathe Easy Hamilton County (BEHC) and its Alliance to reduce the abuse of tobacco.
BEHC was formed to help county residents, health care providers, businesses and other organizations become more aware of the health effects of continued tobacco use. It not only effects those who use tobacco, but also those who are exposed to the secondhand smoke and the impact it has on the local economy because of the rising health care costs.
Nancy Chance, executive director of the Good Samaritan Network and the lead agency for BEHC, expressed gratitude for the support that comes from the city and county leaders, local agencies, business owners and the community members.
“Without everyone working together, we would not be able to be successful with the tobacco education, cessation, and prevention programs,” Chance said. “It takes the whole community truly understanding the dangers of tobacco use. Everyone in the community should encourage more people to break their addiction to tobacco, and educate our youth to never start. We are thrilled TPC recognizes everything we are accomplishing.”
In Hamilton County, more than 19,000 residents smoke and 436 deaths are attributed to smoking each year. Tobacco is the number one cause of preventable disease and death in Indiana. Chance urges the community to become involved with BEHC, which is a broad-based alliance of local organizations and individuals.
Stacy London, TPC Program Coordinator, said, “We believe everyone deserves the right to breathe smoke-free air at work and in public places.”
BEHC has multiple opportunities for the engagement of county residents to actively acknowledge their support for a smoke-free Hamilton County. Simply visit breatheeasyhamiltoncounty.com and select the “Community” page. Then, follow the prompts when you select the supporter card signup, alliance member signup or even schedule a presentation about BEHC.
BEHC is working to ensure that all workers in Hamilton County are protected from secondhand smoke exposure.
“As an alliance working with local organizations and individuals within the Hamilton County community, we are promoting tobacco-free living in order to reduce mortality and morbidity rates,” said London.
The alliance will remain focused on improving the health of Hamilton County residents through education about the dangers of tobacco and secondhand smoke, and promote evidence-based cessation services through the Indiana Tobacco Quitline. The Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW) is a free phone and web-based tobacco cessation counseling service available to all Hoosiers. There are also specialized programs and additional sessions available for pregnant women and youth who vape through the Quitline.
“We need more people to participate in the work of BEHC, and a great starting point is to become part of the alliance or become engaged in any capacity,” said Chance.
There will also be a concentrated effort to help Hamilton County improve the quality of air everyone breathes. Even though there is a statewide smoke-free air law in place, BECH says it does not go far enough to protect everyone because it doesn’t cover all indoor spaces. Clean air for all Hoosiers should be a priority for healthy living.
Any individual or organization that wants more information about the dangers of tobacco or if an organization needs a speaker to talk about the dangers of tobacco, secondhand smoke and/or e-cigarettes, call BEHC Program Coordinator Stacy London at 317-340-6679. If anyone needs help to stop their tobacco addiction, call Cessation Specialist Joan Monninger at 317-850-2841 or the Indiana Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW.