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To our Hamilton County community leaders and business colleagues,
The statistics about tobacco and vape product use in Indiana are sobering: More than one in five Indiana adults still smoke cigarettes (21.5 percent), one of the highest rates in the nation. Nearly 20 percent of Indiana high school students report vaping at least once in the past 30 days.
Secondhand smoke is estimated to cause over 1,300 deaths among Hoosiers each year. About one in four nonsmokers nationwide are exposed to secondhand smoke on a regular basis, with some people’s only exposure to secondhand smoke happening in their workplace.
Strong smoke free air laws protect more than workers – they protect all residents from secondhand smoke in public places.
Indiana’s smoking law was enacted in 2012, allowing continued exceptions to the law for some workplaces. Thousands of communities across the nation have made the smart choice to go smoke free. The Tobacco Free Hamilton County coalition is working hard to make Hamilton County the next on that list.
Tobacco Free Hamilton County’s efforts for a smoke free community, like many other important initiatives, were paused by the global pandemic. COVID-19’s devastating impact on the respiratory system highlights the need to refocus on lung health and the public need for smoke free air. While masks protect us from airborne virus droplets, they do not protect people from secondhand smoke. Smoke free air laws do.
I encourage you to learn more about the coalition’s efforts on Facebook at Breathe Easy Hamilton County. Let’s all do our part to improve the health of all Hamilton County residents and workers.
Yours in health,
Rocky Singh, MD
Indiana University Health