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Secondhand smoke is the third leading preventable cause of death according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It causes cancer, heart disease and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, killing 53,000 Americans every year (National Institutes of Health). In children, secondhand smoke triggers bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma.
• One-third of Louisiana workers aren’t protected by smoke-free policies. (CDC)
• On average, children under 11 have more than twice the level of metabolized nicotine in their blood as nonsmoking adults. (CDC)
• Between 1980 and 1995, the percentage of children with asthma doubled. Today, 7.5% of children suffer from asthma. (EPA)
• Kids’ exposure to secondhand smoke leads to over 500,000 physician visits for asthma and 1.3 million visits for coughs annually. (DiFranza, J.R. and R.A. Lew, Pediatrics, April 1997)
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• In 1998, Louisiana taxpayers spent $518 million through the Medicaid program to treat tobacco-related illnesses and diseases. That’s 17% of all Medicaid expenditures (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)
• Every objective study of smoke-free restaurant ordinances shows they either have no impact on restaurant revenue, or a positive impact on revenue. (Scollo, Michelle and Lal, Anita, “Summary of Studies Assessing the Economic Impact of Smoke-Free Policies on the Hospitality Industry, December, 2002)
• Over 1,600 local communities across the US have adopted smoke-free ordinances. The number keeps growing each month. |
• Louisiana is one of a handful of states that has taken away a community’s right to enact protections against secondhand smoke in workplaces like casinos, bars and restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages. Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas do not prohibit local smoke-free ordinances.
• 2,086 cigarettes are sold each year for every man, woman and child in Louisiana. That’s 51% higher than the sales rate in Texas. (CDC)
• 71% of Louisiana voters favor a local ordinance in their community that would ensure smoke-free workplaces, restaurants and public buildings. (2002 Ed Renwick poll) |
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