EAMC campuses to go tobacco free; Auburn, Opelika participate in Great American Smokeout

By: Brittany Whitley Staff Writer | Opelika Auburn News
Published: November 17, 2009

Monday morning, the East Alabama Medical Center announced that its campus will be tobacco-free effective Oct. 4, 2010.
The change means that patients, visitors and employees will not be permitted to smoke on the EAMC campuses, said Kathe Briggs, manager of promotion and wellness at EAMC.
“We care about the health of the community, the employees. The healthcare institution needs to set the example for the community,” Briggs said. “We need to take the next step.”
Known tobacco-users who are admitted will be prescribed nicotine replacement, which include nicotine patches, inhalers, lozenges and gum, like any other medication, she said.
“When they come in, if they’re struggling, we’re going to help them,” she said.
Briggs said it’s not just EAMC that becoming tobacco-free, but that the phenomenon of hospitals banning cigarettes and other tobacco products is a national trend.
“There’s quite a few (hospitals participating),” she said.
The tobacco ban’s effective date was set for October to allow patients, employees and the community the chance to become familiar with the idea, and if need be, make arrangements, Briggs said.
“We’re giving them plenty of time,” said John Atkinson, public relations for EAMC.
Both Atkinson and Briggs said there have been no complaints about the tobacco ban since it was announced to employees a week ago.
As the announcement was made Monday morning, Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and Auburn Mayor Bill Ham signed proclamations at the hospital recognizing Thursday as the Great American Smokeout.
The date began 30 years ago as a campaign to encourage smokers to stop smoking for one day. Now it’s a campaign aimed at overall well-being, said Heather Williams, area director of the American Cancer Society.
“Now we ask people to make a life-long commitment,” Williams said.
All this news comes on the heels of the steady decline in smoking that’s slowing down, said Demetra Peoples, the tobacco prevention and control coordinator of the Alabama Department of Public Health.
She said more young people are using tobacco products, and they don’t often report their use, she said.
According to the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout Web site, researchers say quitting smoking can increase life expectancy – smokers who quit at age 35 gain an average of eight years of life expectancy. The site goes on to say that those who quit at age 55 gain about five years; and even long term smokers who quit at 65 gain three years.
For more information of the Great American Smokeout, visit www.cancer.org/GreatAmericans.