After 35 years in the public health field and 12-plus years with the Green County Health Department, I will be retiring early next month. It has been a wonderful opportunity to serve Green County as your health officer.
The one issue that I would love to have seen resolved under my watch is tobacco use, particularly as it relates to exposure for nonsmokers. However, tobacco use remains the No. 1 cause of premature death in our society. It is tragic that people continue to die early, become disease-ridden and disabled and expose nonsmokers to the detrimental health and financial affects of tobacco. Each Green County resident carries an annual tobacco burden of $390 per year, so this is an issue that affects smokers and nonsmokers, alike. Tobacco burden is what it costs each citizen every year to cover the costs associated with tobacco use.
There are some favorable changes that are being seen in the area of environmental smoke. Recently the Mellman Group and Public Opinion Strategies conducted a statewide survey of 700 voters in Wisconsin. This report shows strong and growing support among Wisconsin voters for a statewide law that would "prohibit smoking in most indoor public places, including all workplaces, public buildings, offices, restaurants and bars." A large majority (60 percent) strongly favors this law, while only 21 percent strongly oppose it. The trend clearly is toward increased support for a statewide smoke-free law.
Contrary to opinions expressed by some opponents of smoke-free laws, there is evidence that such a law actually could increase patronage of restaurants and bars. Nearly a third of voters (31 percent) said they would go to bars and restaurants more often if they were smoke-free, compared to only 7 percent who claimed they would go out less often.
Most Wisconsinites expect the state to become smoke-free in the near future. More than three-quarters of the voters (78 percent) believe it is likely "smoking will be prohibited in most indoor public places in Wisconsin within the next two years".
The intensity of support for a smoke-free law is further evident in the fact that Wisconsin voters say a candidate's position on this law will influence their votes. Some 60 percent of the voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who "supports the state law that would prohibit smoking in most public places, including workplaces, public buildings, offices, restaurants and bars, " while only 24 percent say they prefer a candidate who opposes the law.
This is not only a huge societal problem but on a personal level, my husband was a victim of tobacco addiction, suffered many long-term ills from it, and died a premature death. Divulging this is not meant to engender sympathy, but should explain why I feel so strongly about this issue.
Citizens should be angered at being exposed to second-hand smoke in public places as well as having to share the financial burden of tobacco. Each of us should take every opportunity possible to express this sentiment to the area legislators and ask that they support legislation to regulate tobacco use in worksites and public places. As private citizens, congregations, businesses, service clubs, etc., unite as a society to let your voice be heard by sending this message to our lawmakers. We need to drive down the financial burden of tobacco and eliminate the health risk for everyone, workers and patrons, alike, in public places.
The one issue that I would love to have seen resolved under my watch is tobacco use, particularly as it relates to exposure for nonsmokers. However, tobacco use remains the No. 1 cause of premature death in our society. It is tragic that people continue to die early, become disease-ridden and disabled and expose nonsmokers to the detrimental health and financial affects of tobacco. Each Green County resident carries an annual tobacco burden of $390 per year, so this is an issue that affects smokers and nonsmokers, alike. Tobacco burden is what it costs each citizen every year to cover the costs associated with tobacco use.
There are some favorable changes that are being seen in the area of environmental smoke. Recently the Mellman Group and Public Opinion Strategies conducted a statewide survey of 700 voters in Wisconsin. This report shows strong and growing support among Wisconsin voters for a statewide law that would "prohibit smoking in most indoor public places, including all workplaces, public buildings, offices, restaurants and bars." A large majority (60 percent) strongly favors this law, while only 21 percent strongly oppose it. The trend clearly is toward increased support for a statewide smoke-free law.
Contrary to opinions expressed by some opponents of smoke-free laws, there is evidence that such a law actually could increase patronage of restaurants and bars. Nearly a third of voters (31 percent) said they would go to bars and restaurants more often if they were smoke-free, compared to only 7 percent who claimed they would go out less often.
Most Wisconsinites expect the state to become smoke-free in the near future. More than three-quarters of the voters (78 percent) believe it is likely "smoking will be prohibited in most indoor public places in Wisconsin within the next two years".
The intensity of support for a smoke-free law is further evident in the fact that Wisconsin voters say a candidate's position on this law will influence their votes. Some 60 percent of the voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who "supports the state law that would prohibit smoking in most public places, including workplaces, public buildings, offices, restaurants and bars, " while only 24 percent say they prefer a candidate who opposes the law.
This is not only a huge societal problem but on a personal level, my husband was a victim of tobacco addiction, suffered many long-term ills from it, and died a premature death. Divulging this is not meant to engender sympathy, but should explain why I feel so strongly about this issue.
Citizens should be angered at being exposed to second-hand smoke in public places as well as having to share the financial burden of tobacco. Each of us should take every opportunity possible to express this sentiment to the area legislators and ask that they support legislation to regulate tobacco use in worksites and public places. As private citizens, congregations, businesses, service clubs, etc., unite as a society to let your voice be heard by sending this message to our lawmakers. We need to drive down the financial burden of tobacco and eliminate the health risk for everyone, workers and patrons, alike, in public places.
