Reducing Youth Prevalence by Limiting Exposure to Smoking and Access to Tobacco.

Reducing Youth Prevalence by Limiting Exposure to Smoking

and Access to Tobacco

Presented by

Jacqueline M. McNamara, J.D.

Legal Resource Center for Tobacco Regulation, Litigation & Advocacy

University of Maryland School of Law 500 W. Baltimore Street

Baltimore, MD 21201410-706-1129 (phone) 410-706-1128 (fax)

tobacco@law.umaryland.edu

Why regulate cigarette smoking and tobacco use in outdoor areas?

1.Health reasons2.Environmental reasons

3.Policy reasons

Health Reasons: Secondhand Smoke (SHS)SHS exposure is dangerous, especially to

children.There is no risk-free level of exposure to SHS.Exposure to SHS outdoors can even have

negative health consequences: A study published in 2007 found that SHS

exposure in outdoor areas such as parks can rival SHS amounts in indoor spaces.

Health Reasons:Parks & recreation areas exist mainly for healthy activities

Environmental reasons: LITTERCigarette Litter

Cigarette butts Most prevalent form of litter on Earth Are mostly made of cellulose acetate (a form of

plastic), not readily biodegradable Ingestible by wildlife and small children (also a health

issue) Cost money and manpower to clean up

Cigarette packaging

Smokeless/Spitless TobaccoSpitting from smokeless tobacco (may also be health

issue) Pouches from new snus products ?

Environmental reasons: PROTECTION OF PARK RESOURCES

National Park Service may designate a portion of a park area, or all or a portion of a building, structure or facility as closed to smoking when necessary to protect park resources, reduce the risk of fire, or prevent conflicts among visitor use activities. 36 C.F.R 2.21 (a)

Policy reasons:• Philosophy behind parks and recreation areas

is contradicted by allowing smoking and tobacco use:– Promoting healthy outdoor living and

environmental awareness– Promoting fitness and recreational activities

• Adult smoking in family-friendly environments like parks and recreation areas sends the wrong message to youth:– Adults as role models/smoking as non-

normative behavior– Remove easy access to tobacco

– initiation and sharing issues

Tobacco-Free Recreational FacilitiesRule:(a) A person may not use any form of tobacco: (1) in a

restroom, at a spectator or concession area, dog park, aquatic facility, or playground in any County park; or (2) within 100 yards of an organized activity at a County park.

(b) (1) “Organized activity” means an event that has a defined time for starting and ending and is in a designated or permitted area of a County park. “Organized activity” includes athletic events, concerts, and special events such as arts fairs. (2) “Park” includes recreational facility. (3) “Tobacco” to include but not be limited to cigarettes, cigars, snuff, pipes and spit tobacco.

Maryland

Enforcement:(a) Recreation and Parks staff shall post appropriate

signage: (1) in restrooms,  and at spectator and concession areas, dog parks, aquatic facilities, and playgrounds; and (2) in locations at which organized activities take place.

(b) Recreation and Parks staff shall notify community organizations and distribute brochures to park users.

(c) Recreation and Parks staff shall monitor compliance. (d) For any person who violates the tobacco-free rule,

Recreation and Parks staff shall request that the person cease the use of tobacco and give a verbal warning.  If the person refuses to cease, staff authorized by the Director may request that the person leave the park.

Maryland

The Department of Recreation and Parks has a responsibility to protect the health and safety of our community's children and adults while they use the County's recreation facilities, and adopting the Tobacco-Free policy is part of this responsibility.

Secondhand smoke is harmful in both indoor and outdoor settings.  Exposure to secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in America.  Secondhand smoke levels in outdoor public places can reach levels as high as those found in indoor facilities where smoking is permitted.

Almost 90% of adult smokers began to use tobacco at or before age 18.   (Source: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)

Tobacco-Free policies are public park policies similar to those prohibiting alcohol use or littering in public parks and recreational facilities.

Maryland

Benefits of Anne Arundel County’s Tobacco-Free Recreational Facilities Policy

Protects the health of youth and adults by eliminating exposure to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

Encourages youth not to start using tobacco products.

Demonstrates that adults want youth to remain tobacco-free and provides youth with positive role models.

http://www.aacounty.org/RecParks/sports/tobaccofree.cfm

Maryland

What effect can such regulations have on smoking behavior?Part of comprehensive approach to tobacco

controlDenormalize smoking in family-friendly,

fitness-oriented, recreational environmentsReduce access to tobacco,thus minimize opportunitiesfor smoking initiation andsharing tobacco amongyouth

Tobacco-Free Public Parks & Outdoor Areas

“Smoke Opponents, Not Cigarettes”