During my 23 years at the American Lung Association of Santa
Clara-San Benito Counties, I have seen our community take great
strides in the fight against tobacco use and addiction.
Editor,
During my 23 years at the American Lung Association of Santa Clara-San Benito Counties, I have seen our community take great strides in the fight against tobacco use and addiction. From the passage of Proposition 99 to the implementation of the STAKE Act, a growing consensus has formed around the need to protect the health of our communities. Yet, in recognizing our progress, we must not only laud the larger policies and actions taken by the state, but also the critical role played at the local level. And nowhere is this more apparent than current efforts to protect citizens from secondhand smoke.
Over the years, as more individuals have become aware of the dangers of smoking, tobacco control has shifted its focus towards secondhand smoke. Research continues to show the danger of the Group A carcinogen which contributes to close to 5,000 deaths in California each year. Furthermore, studies have shown that even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can impair lung function and trigger asthma attacks in susceptible populations, such as children and the elderly.
In response to this growing body of evidence, last year the California legislature passed AB 846, banning smoking within 20 feet of any main entrance, exit or window of any building owned, leased or operated by a public entity. This included buildings under the auspices of all levels of government as well as our public school systems. By creating a smoke-free perimeter, the legislature took a crucial first step in protecting the public health and promoting a uniform standard for California.
Nonetheless, the key to protecting our communities from these dangers lies in local activism, for which the South Valley has become an exemplary model. This can entail a proactive approach to the execution of state initiatives, as is the case throughout San Benito County. Here, county supervisors and city councilmembers in Hollister acknowledged the importance of AB 846 and made its implementation a priority. Through their leadership, as well as the dedicated efforts of public health officials and local law enforcement, public awareness of the law has remained high and enforcement of violations has been vigilant.
In certain cases, local efforts can go beyond what the state has prescribed and better protect the community. In the true spirit of student activism, shortly after the passage of AB 846, campus leaders at Gavilan College mobilized to further protect themselves from secondhand smoke. In coordination with other campus groups, professors, health services and the administration, the students were able to extend the smoke-free building perimeter to 25 feet, ban smoking in all college-owned vehicles and prohibit the sale of all tobacco products on campus.
Thus, as tobacco control efforts continue, it is important to remember the critical role played by local governments and organizations. By recognizing actions taken in the South Valley and replicating them throughout the state and country, we can achieve a comprehensive approach to fighting the effects of tobacco use. For while policymakers in Sacramento and Washington may set the direction in tobacco control, it’s local efforts which bring these laws to life and set social norms throughout the community. And when we’re talking about tobacco use and secondhand smoke, these efforts may just be a matter of life and death.
Margo Sidener – Executive Director, American Lung Association of Santa Clara-San Benito Counties
