The Problem
Tobacco use is the chief single
avoidable cause of disease and
premature death in our society,
responsible for more than 430,000
deaths each year.
The Problem
Tobacco Use is:
#1 cause of all cancers
#1 cause of emphysema
A leading preventable cause of heart disease
and strokes
Major contributor to low birth weight and
premature delivery
Smoking in WV
On average, 11 West Virginians die each day
due to smoking, more than 1 of every 5
deaths.
WVBPH; Tobacco Is Killing (and Costing) Us, August 2005
Smoking in WV
Total adult smoking prevalence in WV is
27.4%, ranging from 21.1% in Marion
County to 39% in Boone and Lincoln
Counties. The national adult smoking
prevalence rate is 22.7%
WVBPH; Tobacco Is Killing (and Costing) Us, August 2005
Smoking in WV
WV has the highest smoking
rate among pregnant women
in the US with a rate of more
than 26%, more than double
the national rate of under 11%.
WVBPH; Tobacco Is Killing (and Costing) Us, August 2005
Smoking in WV
Direct healthcare costs of smoking in WV in
2004 are estimated at over $1 billion
WVBPH; Tobacco Is Killing (and Costing) Us, August 2005
Smoking Employee Costs
According to the American Cancer Society:
Cigarette smokers are absent from work 6.5
days more than nonsmokers
Average lifetime medical care costs for male
smokers are 32% higher than nonsmoking
males. For female smokers, that cost is 24%.
About 8% of a smoker’s working hours are
spent on smoking rituals
Patient Costs
Smoking will retard wound healing,
whether the wound is surgical or the
result of trauma or burns.
Smoking and wound healing.
Am J Med. 1992 Jul 15;93(1A):22S-24S. Review.
PMID: 1323208 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Patient Costs
Patients who smoked
regularly before
surgery had twice the
risk of wound
infections as non-smokers.
Jones, RM: Smoking before surgery: The case for stopping BR Med J 1985
Patient Costs
Recovery room stays are 20% longer
for smokers than non-smokers.
Handlin DS, Baker T. Woolwich J: Effect of smoking
on duration in recovery room. Anesthiology 1990
A smoker’s broken bones take almost
twice as long to heal compared to those
of a non-smoker.
USA Today, February 1995
Secondhand Smoke
The facts are in, there is no longer any debate.
Secondhand smoke is a cause of premature death
and serious disease among adults and children who
do not smoke.
There is no safe level of exposure.
The only way to protect individuals is to eliminate
exposure.
2006 US Surgeon General report: The Health Consequences of
Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke.
Tobacco-Free Environments in
West Virginia
Great progress is being made in WV to
promote and protect public health and safety
Tobacco-free public places and worksites
across the country are becoming the norm.
All of West Virginia’s 55 counties have some
type of clean indoor air regulation, several of
which establish restaurants, worksites and
even bars as 100% smoke-free.
Tobacco-Free
Hospital Environments
Hospitals across the
country are establishing
tobacco-free campuses to
save lives, save money,
and lead the way to a
healthier worksite,
community and state.
What Others Are Doing
Similar initiatives are underway across the
country, including in our neighboring states of
Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and
Virginia.
Tobacco-Free Campus - Why?
Improves health of staff, inpatients and
outpatients by eliminating exposure to
secondhand smoke
Decreases employee tobacco use rates and
related employee costs
Strengthens the image of the hospital as a
healthcare leader
Changes attitudes toward tobacco use within
the community
Tobacco-Free Campus - Why?
Promotes hospital mission statement
Saves money
Increases productivity
Sets example for the community, supports
local clean indoor air regulations and other
tobacco-free worksites
Sets new standards of care for hospitals in
treatment of tobacco diseases
What WV hospitals are doing
Tobacco policy survey done by WVHA in
2006
29 completed surveys returned
5 hospitals have tobacco-free campus
21 hospitals offer some tobacco cessation
programs
Additional WV hospitals have advanced tobacco-use policies since
the 2006 survey. Updates will be provided on the WVHA website,
Tobacco-Free Hospital Initiative.
How WVHA will help
Adopt a policy in support of a tobacco-free
environment
Work with WVHA members to assess current
policies and identify needs
Share information about what others are doing to
achieve this goal
Encourage all WV hospitals to work towards a
tobacco-free campus by 2008
Provide WV hospitals with a tool kit, technical
assistance, and other resources to support hospital
efforts to establish tobacco-free environments