Prevention Matters

The Indiana University Center for Health Policy has issued findings from a comprehensive review of existing research about the health and economic impact of smokefree workplace laws. It's designed to clear up some of the confusion created by contradictory studies that flood the offices of lawmakers and policymakers. Among the findings:

• While secondhand smoke has been definitively linked to many kinds of health problems, the most significant health consequence related to secondhand smoke is death
• Smokefree workplace laws do not have a negative economic impact on restaurants and bars
• Smokefree workplaces save employers money.
• Servers, bartenders, dealers and other workers in restaurants, bars and casinos may regularly be exposed to high levels of secondhand smoke.

While some people may argue about the health effects of second-hand smoke, a lot of them say they would be willing to stop smoking to preserve the health of the family pet.

An online survey conducted by the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit found that almost one in three smokers said the health of a pet would motivate them to try to kick the habit. Mewanwhile, 16 percent of non-smoking pet owners said their pet's health would motivate them to ask a smoking family member to quit, and 24 percent said they would at least ask the smoker to take smoke outside the building they are in.

Sounds like the makings of a new public health ad campaign.