Policy Objective: Prevention of Secondhand Smoke Exposure
Setting: State
Below, you will see a list of goals for this policy objective. Click on the specific goal to read strategies you can use to achieve that goal in this setting.
100% Tobacco-free Policies
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There are no federal, state or local laws that prevent a landlord, housing authority or condominium association from adopting a 100% smoke-free policy. Both public and private facilities have the right to adopt smoke-free policies. Non-smoking provisions in leases and sales agreements should include terms that address smoking in both common areas and residential units. Products other than cigarettes should be included in these policies. For example, in the exhaled smoke or vapor, hookah, cigars and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS, or e-cigarettes) emit some of the same chemicals as cigarettes.
Warning: The tobacco industry is well-known for its effective marketing schemes and retaliation tactics. The industry battles potential smoke-free housing policies by contending that smoke-free housing policies will cost landlords and management companies money because people will not want to live there if they can’t smoke. Another frequently used argument is that proper ventilation will alleviate secondhand smoke exposure. Be aware of these tactics when looking to take action on this recommendation.
Recommended by:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)– Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs, 2014- page 6
- CDC– Health Equity in Tobacco Prevention and Control
- National Academy of Medicine Report– Ending the Tobacco Problem: A Blueprint for the Nation, 2007- Recommendation 7
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development– Smoke Free Housing- A Toolkit for Owners/Management Agents of Federally Assisted Public and Multi-family Housing
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development– Smoke Free Housing- A Toolkit for Residents of Federally Assisted Public and Multi-family Housing
- World Health Organization (WHO)– WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008: The MPOWER Package- Intervention P
For more information:
- AAP Issue Brief– Tobacco-free Environments
- Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights– Going Smoke-free in Your Community
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control– The MPOWER framework and United Nations human rights treaties: An additional argument for the promotion of tobacco control goals
- The Center for Social Gerontology– Smoke-Free Environments Law Project
- US Department of Housing and Urban Development– Optional Smoke-Free Housing Policy Implementation
For More Information about tobacco industry tactics:
- Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights– Economic Impact
- Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights– Tobacco’s Dirty Tricks
- Surgeon General Report– The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke- page 11
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All places where children and adolescents learn, live, play and work (eg, schools, universities, child care settings, restaurants, cars, public parks, multi-unit housing, sporting arenas, airports and vehicles) should be smoke free in order to discourage smoking initiation as well as to eliminate exposure to secondhand and thirdhand smoke.
Children and adolescents with chronic conditions (eg, asthma) face significant health harms from tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. Those who suffer from chronic conditions, which are often not visible, could be at an even greater risk for adverse reactions if environments are not smoke or tobacco free. Smoke-free laws should include electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS, or e-cigarettes), as secondhand vapor from these products contains some of the same chemicals as secondhand smoke.
As of October 2015, only 24 states have smoke-free laws in workplaces, restaurants, and bars. Areas with smoke-free laws do not experience any economic harm from implementing these laws- States such as Minnesota, Washington, New York, California, Massachusetts, and Florida did not experience any economic harm due to implementing smoke-free laws. Additionally, a number of state and local chapters of business associations now endorse smoke-free laws. It is important to emphasize to lawmakers that the majority of the population does not smoke, supports smoke-free air laws, and that such laws do not harm businesses (and may actually improve business).
Warning: The tobacco industry is well-known for its effective marketing schemes and retaliation tactics. The industry battles pending smoke-free or clean air ordinances by contending that such laws will negatively impact business owners, or that the use of proper ventilation will alleviate secondhand smoke exposure. The industry also lobbies for preemption laws that take power from local governments, which is where tobacco control advocates typically are the most successful. Be aware of these tactics when looking to take action on this recommendation.
Recommended by:
- AAP policy statement– Clinical Practice Policy to Protect Children From Tobacco, Nicotine, and Tobacco Smoke
- AAP policy statement– Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
- AAP policy statement– Public Policy to Protect Children From Tobacco, Nicotine, and Tobacco Smoke
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)– Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs, 2014- pages 6, 50
- CDC– Health Equity in Tobacco Prevention and Control
- CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Review, February 25, 1994– Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use and Addiction- Recommendation 1
- National Academy of Medicine report– Ending the Tobacco Problem: A Blueprint for the Nation, 2007- Recommendation 4
- Surgeon General report– The Health Consequences of Smoking— 50 Years of Progress, 2014- page 827
- Surgeon General report– Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults, 2012- page 460
- Surgeon General report– Children and Secondhand Smoke Exposure, 2007- pages 6, 70-71, 88-89
- Surgeon General report– Reducing Tobacco Use, 2000- page 261
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development– Smoke Free Housing- A Toolkit for Owners/Management Agents of Federally Assisted Public and Multi-family Housing
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development– Smoke Free Housing- A Toolkit for Residents of Federally Assisted Public and Multi-family Housing
- World Health Organization (WHO)– WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008: The MPOWER Package- Intervention P
For more information:
- AAP Issue Brief– Tobacco-free Environments
- American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation– Smoking Policies in the 35 Busiest US Airports
- Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights– Going Smoke-free in Your Community
- Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids– Smoke-Free Laws
- Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids– Smoke-Free Laws Do Not Harm Business at Restaurants and Bars
- ChangeLab Solutions– Model Ordinance: Comprehensive Smokefree Places
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control– The MPOWER framework and United Nations human rights treaties: An additional argument for the promotion of tobacco control goals
- Public Health Law Center– Vehicles
- University of Michigan– Smoke-free Campus Supervisor's Toolkit
For more information about tobacco industry tactics:
- Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights– Advice to Business Owners
- Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights– Tobacco’s Dirty Tricks
- CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Review, March 18, 2005- Preemptive State Smoke-free Indoor Air Laws--United States, 1999--2004
- Surgeon General report– The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke- page 11
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State preemption laws prohibit local governments from enacting stronger smoke-free laws in local jurisdictions. Tobacco control advocates have been most successful in creating policy change at the local level. Over time local jurisdictions have been innovative in their approaches to smoke-free laws, which are often stronger than existing state tobacco control and smoke-free laws and can be effective in limiting exposure to secondhand smoke and youth access to tobacco products.
Warning: The tobacco industry is well-known for its effective marketing schemes and retaliation tactics. The industry also lobbies for preemption laws that take power from local governments, which is where tobacco control advocates typically are the most successful. Preemption should be abolished, as it gives an unfair advantage to tobacco companies. Work with local coalitions to track legislation impacted by preemption in your state, and whenever possible, encourage state legislators to vote in favor of the public’s health. Be aware of these tactics when looking to take action on this recommendation.
Recommended by:
- National Academy of Medicine report– Ending the Tobacco Problem: A Blueprint for the Nation, 2007- Recommendation 10
For more information:
- AAP Issue Brief– Tobacco-free Environments
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control– The MPOWER framework and United Nations human rights treaties: An additional argument for the promotion of tobacco control goals
For more information about tobacco industry tactics:
- Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights– Preemption: Tobacco Control's #1 Enemy
- Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights– Tobacco’s Dirty Tricks
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Review, March 18, 2005– Preemptive State Smoke-free Indoor Air Laws--United States, 1999--2004
- Protect Local Control
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Statewide programs can train local community coalitions on legal and technical aspects of smoke-free air ordinances and provide enforcement. Providing direct funding to statewide organizations and offering trainings can aid in mobilizing organizational assets to strengthen community resources.
Recommended by:
- AAP policy statement– Public Policy to Protect Children From Tobacco, Nicotine, and Tobacco Smoke
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)– Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs, 2014- page 20
Tobacco-free Schools
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Children and adolescents spend much of their day in child care centers or in school/university settings. Implementing tobacco-free policies will reduce the dangers of secondhand and thirdhand smoke exposure and the risk of modeling tobacco use by those adults with whom children and adolescents spend much of their day.
Children and adolescents with chronic conditions (eg, asthma) face significant health harms from tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. Those who suffer from chronic conditions, which are often not visible, could be at an even greater risk for adverse reactions if environments are not smoke or tobacco free. Hookah, electronic nicotine delivery systems (including e-cigarettes), smokeless tobacco, and flavored tobacco products should be included in such policies, as they are popular with youth.
Recommended by:
- AAP policy statement– Clinical Practice Policy to Protect Children From Tobacco, Nicotine, and Tobacco Smoke
- AAP policy statement– Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
- AAP policy statement– Public Policy to Protect Children From Tobacco, Nicotine, and Tobacco Smoke
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)– Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs, 2014- pages 6, 50
- CDC– Health Equity in Tobacco Prevention and Control
- CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Review, February 25, 1994– Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use and Addiction- Recommendation 1
- National Academy of Medicine Report– Ending the Tobacco Problem: A Blueprint for the Nation, 2007- Recommendations 8 and 9
- Surgeon General report– The Health Consequences of Smoking— 50 Years of Progress, 2014- page 827
- Surgeon General report– Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults, 2012- page 460
- Surgeon General Report– Reducing Tobacco Use, 2000- page 261
- World Health Organization (WHO)– WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008: The MPOWER Package- Intervention P
For more information:
- AAP Issue Brief– Tobacco-free Environments
- American Lung Association of Oregon– Model Policy for Head Start Programs
- Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights– Going Smokefree: Colleges and Universities
- Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids– Smoke-Free Laws
- CDC– School Health Index
- ChangeLab Solutions– Model Ordinance: Comprehensive Smokefree Places
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control– The MPOWER framework and United Nations human rights treaties: An additional argument for the promotion of tobacco control goals
- Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene– The Cigar Trap
- Public Health Law Center– Vehicles
- University of Michigan– Smoke-free Campus Supervisor's Toolkit
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services– Tobacco-Free College Campus Initiative
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State preemption laws prohibit local governments from enacting stronger smoke-free laws in local jurisdictions. Tobacco control advocates have been most successful in creating policy change at the local level. Over time local jurisdictions have been innovative in their approaches to smoke-free laws, which are often stronger than existing state tobacco control and smoke-free laws and can be effective in limiting exposure to secondhand smoke and youth access to tobacco products.
Schools can benefit immensely from the lifting of state preemptions that inhibit the enactment of local smoke-free laws. Enacting local smoke-free laws can increase both support and demand for statewide smoke-free laws by demonstrating that such laws are easy to implement and reflect the social norm.
Warning: The tobacco industry is well-known for its effective marketing schemes and retaliation tactics. The industry also lobbies for preemption laws that take power from local governments, which is where tobacco control advocates typically are the most successful. Preemption should be abolished, as it gives an unfair advantage to tobacco companies. Work with local coalitions to track legislation impacted by preemption in your state, and whenever possible, encourage state legislators to vote in favor of the public’s health. Be aware of these tactics when looking to take action on this recommendation.
Recommended by:
- Surgeon General report– Reducing Tobacco Use, 2000- pages 375 and 376
For more information:
- AAP Issue Brief– Tobacco-free Environments
- American Lung Association– Laws that Prevent Stronger Local Tobacco Control Laws
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control– The MPOWER framework and United Nations human rights treaties: An additional argument for the promotion of tobacco control goals
For more information about tobacco industry tactics:
- Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights– Preemption: Tobacco Control's #1 Enemy
- Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights– Tobacco’s Dirty Tricks
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Review, March 18, 2005– Preemptive State Smoke-free Indoor Air Laws--United States, 1999--2004
- Protect Local Control
Last Updated
05/03/2021
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics