Tobacco-Free Colorado Communities

Smoke Free Multi-Unit Housing Initiative: Delta Housing Authority

It’s about the smoke, not the people who smoke

Why Promote Smoke-Free Housing?

Health SafetyMoney

You Are Not Alone In Colorado, more than

950 multiunit residential communities with 25,000+ units have 100% no-smoking policies indoor.

19 Colorado Housing Authorities have implemented or are phasing in no-smoking policies in 521 buildings with 3,833 units.

The Impact of Tobacco Individual

◦ Financial wellbeing◦ Health◦ Employment and

housing opportunities Family

◦ Second-hand smoke◦ Third-hand smoke

Community◦ Litter◦ Loitering

Tobacco’s Deadly Toll

443,000 deaths in the U.S. each year

4.8 million deaths worldwide eachyear

Estimated that by the year 2030there will be 10 million deaths eachyear

53,000 deaths each year in the U.S.due to second-hand smoke exposure

Tobacco is Still the Leading Cause of Preventable Death in the U.S.

In the U.S., smoking causes more deaths than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders COMBINED.†

In Colorado, nearly 4,400 deaths each year due to tobacco use.*

* MMWR (2009), 58 (02); 29-33.

Financial Impact

A pack a day smoker spends on average… $5.00 per day $35.00 per week $152.10 per month $1,825.00 per year $18,250.00 per 10 years

U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, 2010

Tobacco smoke contains a deadly mix of more than 7,000 chemicals. Hundreds are toxic. About 70 can cause cancer. Here are some of the chemicals.

The Dangers of Second-Hand Smoke There is no safe level of second-hand smoke Being around tobacco smoke can cause

disease and death in nonsmokers Serious health effects include sudden infant

death syndrome (SIDS), lung and ear problems, asthma

When people smokeindoors they putothers’ health indanger

The Dangers of Third-Hand Smoke Tobacco smoke lingers in

fabric, carpets, furniture, clothes

Remains on unwashed surfaces for months

Toxins are absorbed through the skin and inhaled

Particularly dangerous for children, infants and pets

Lower Risk of Fire

A smoke-free building is safer for children, adults, seniors, and pets

Cigarettes cause an average of 5% of all residential fires in Colorado

In 2006 residential fires caused 39% of all residential fire fatalities, 7% of residential fire injuries, and 3% of all residential property loss

Colorado State Fire Chiefs Association

Cleaning a Smoke-Free Unit

Two-bedroom, two-bath apartment estimate

Total Cost $570$420

$100

$50

Labor

Paint

CarpetShampoo

Cost can vary depending on the extent of the damage and the equipment used

Cleaning a Smoky Unit

Two-bedroom, two-bath apartment estimate

Cost can vary depending on the extent of the damage and the equipment used

Total Cost $4,003 BluSky Restoration

$2,425

$875

$560

$503

$493 Labor, light fixtures,kitchen, bath, appliances

Walls and ceilings

Deoderize building andcarpet

Cabinets, countertops,ductwork

Clean, strip, wax floors,doors, windows

Is Ventilation an Option?

Secondhand smoke cannot be controlled using ventilation or air-cleaning systems

Up to 50% of the air in multiunit housing may be re-circulated throughout an entire building

“At present, the only means of effectively eliminating the health risk associated with indoor exposure is to ban smoking activity.”

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) sets the industry standards for ventilation

Colorado Residents Support No-Smoking Policies

66.3% of Boulder County Housing Authority’s residents in January 2008. 285 out of 467 (61%) residents participated.

65% of Lakewood’s Eaton Terrace Senior Residences in April 2008. 119 out of 122 (98%) residents participated.

64% of Longmont’s Inn Between homeless people and families in September 2008. 39 out of 50 (78%) residents participated.

70.5% of Salida’s Mount Shavano Manor residents in September 2008. 45 out of 50 (90%) residents participated.

100% of Alamosa’s Tierra Nueva farmer worker residents in July 2009. 20 out of 32 (62%) residents participated.

61.9% of Alamosa Housing Authority’s residents in September 2009. 21 out of 41 (52.5%) residents participated.

Recommendations for Tobacco-Free Policy

(Prior to Implementation)

Allow for adequate preparation

Conduct surveys to determine residents’ preferences

Communicate the policy through meetings and in writing

Incorporate tobacco cessation education into services

Promote implementation date via flyers, emails, signage

Celebrate upcoming policy with fun events

Stick to your launch date and enforce the policy from day 1

Smoking Cessation Help Health Care Provider

Smoker’s help lines

Nicotine patches and other medications

Coaching and behavioral change strategies

Quit smoking classes and groups

Quit-Kits

Contact Information

Karen O’BrienDelta County Health Dept.Health Education970-874-2517kobrien@deltacounty.comWebsite: www.deltacounty.com/tobaccofree