“These findings show that people with asthma in Fayette County are breathing easier since our smoke

Public Opinion and Lexington’s Smoke-free Law January 6, 2005 Investigators: Ellen J. Hahn, DNS, RN, University of Kentucky College of Nursing Mary Kay Rayens, PhD, University of Kentucky College of Nursing Ronald E. Langley, PhD, University of Kentucky Survey Research Center Purpose of the research study: To evaluate changes in attitudes toward Lexington’s smoke-free law, adults’ social practices, protection from secondhand smoke (SHS) at work and home, and the effect of the law on adults’ health. 1Background: Each year tobacco use kills 440,000 Americans, and nearly 53,000 nonsmokers in this country die from lung cancer and heart disease due to secondhand 2smoke exposure. In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning that all persons with heart disease should avoid all indoor environments that 3 4permit smoking. In Kentucky, cigarette smoking claims nearly 8,000 lives and costs 1$1.17 billion in health care expenditures each year. In spite of the enormous economic burden caused by tobacco use, Kentucky spends only $2.7 million per year for tobacco thprevention and cessation (10.8% of the CDC recommended spending) and ranks 39 5nationally in spending on tobacco prevention. In contrast, the tobacco industry spends 6$346.4 million each year marketing tobacco products in Kentucky. 7Kentucky leads the nation in smoking, with 31 percent of adults and 33 percent of high 8school students ...