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This year, as with most, many Tennesseans will resolve to quit smoking. The goal for 2008, however, is to ensure that more of those who quit are able to kick their tobacco addiction for good.

To that end, Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper is excited about the strengthened support system the state now has in place. It’s been three months since the state went smoke free with the implementation of a broad smoking ban, which took effect Oct. 1, 2007.

Now that the air has cleared, the commissioner said there are several early indicators that are cause for excitement.

First, the anticipated outcry over the new law turned out to be barely a whimper.

“What we’ve found is there has been extraordinary reception across the state to the implementation of the Non-Smokers Protection Act,” said Cooper.

Several restaurants that initially opted to become 21 and over in order to be able to allow smoking on site ultimately decided to ban smoking and welcome all ages. The commissioner said those establishments found that what they lost in bar business was more than compensated for by additional food sales. She also said they have had good feedback from employees who are thrilled to go home without the smell of smoke clinging to their clothes.

The Department of Health is charged with surveying and enforcing compliance with the new smoking ban in restaurants, hotels and motels, pharmacies, assisted living facilities and nursing homes, among other sites. Whatever doesn’t fall under the jurisdiction of Cooper’s department is overseen by the Department of Labor.

“On the enforcement side, things are going really well,” Cooper noted. “To date, we’ve had a total of 337 calls. We’ve only had to issue two warning letters out of all those 337 contacts.”

Most of the calls have been to get clarifications about the law. Cooper attributes the smooth start to the groundwork that was laid in advance.

For those who do wish to file a complaint, the state has set up three options. First, anyone who wishes to report a violation can use the toll-free line at (800) 293-8228. The second option is to mail information to the Department of Health’s office in Nashville. The third, and perhaps easiest, alternative is to use the Web-based reporting system, which can be accessed at http://health.state.tn.us/smokefreetennessee.

The commissioner has also been excited to see the leadership stance state hospitals have taken in encouraging Tennesseans to put down tobacco. While hospitals have not allowed smoking inside for years, more facilities are making the entire campus tobacco free.

In Middle Tennessee, the hospitals of Saint Thomas Health System banned smoking anywhere on their campuses as of Jan. 1 , and other major systems including Tri-Star and Vanderbilt have announced they will follow suit in 2008. Most Memphis hospitals, along with Shelby County Health Department facilities, led the way when they instituted a comprehensive tobacco ban this past Nov. 15 to coincide with the Great American Smokeout.

Perhaps the best news is the recently released statistics showing a drop in smoking rates for Tennessee.

“Our smoking rate has declined from 26.7 percent in ’06 to 22.6 percent in ’07,” Cooper said of recent numbers published by the United Health Foundation of America. “So now instead of being third in the nation in the number of adults who smoke, we’re down to about 10th or 11th … that’s a significant drop.”

Cooper credits heightened awareness to contributing to the improved numbers. She said she believes the publicity surrounding the recent smoking ban helped put the issue in the forefront of the public’s consciousness. A $10 million allotment from the General Assembly to focus on tobacco prevention and cessation programs has also helped tremendously.

The commissioner noted the bulk of the money was used to ensure pharmaceutical options such as Wellbutrin and Chantix are available at Health Departments across the state. The rest of the funds have been used to train providers and to launch a media campaign supporting the Quit Line (800-QUIT-NOW).

“We were tracking about 700 calls a month,” she said prior to the implementation of the new law and launch of the public service campaign. “In October, we had more than 3,000 calls to the Quit Line.”

Cooper noted it often takes more than one attempt to finally break the powerful tobacco addiction, but there are a significant number of adults who want to rid themselves of the habit. Her goal, she continued, is to make sure that public health officials not only ask patients if they want to quit smoking but then immediately offer them a support system to turn that desire into action.

While there has been a lot to celebrate — Cooper calls the ban and improving cessation numbers one of the most significant health achievements she will see in her lifetime — all the news is not good.

“If you look at the data in Tennessee, there are about 23 new youth smokers daily. That works out to be between 8,400 and 9,400 new children under the age of 18 who begin smoking annually,” she said.

However, her office has committed to curb these numbers and has made money available to Tennessee counties to launch prevention programming specifically targeted to reach each county’s youth.

Knowing how many good intentions are still in tact at this early date in the New Year, Cooper couldn’t resist putting in a broader plug for a healthier 2008.

“We know there are four behaviors that contribute to 70 to 75 percent of chronic diseases -— physical inactivity, poor nutritional choices, tobacco usage and risky alcohol use — so January is a great time to make a commitment not just to your personal health but to the health of your family.

“So get up and move … make good food choices at least 80 percent of the time … avoid tobacco … and for those adults who choose to use alcohol, drink in moderation,” she concluded.

Undoubtedly, Tennesseans who accept her challenge will indeed find they have a happier, healthier 2008.



January 2008

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