Joanne Graff: Going tobacco-free at Boise State is a win-win for everyone

In a Nov. 29 Reader's View, smoker Ed Dienes took issue with the smoking ban proposed for the entire Boise State University campus. He argues that smokers are being singled out and that problems associated with secondhand smoke pale in comparison to other issues. He's probably right - smokers and other tobacco users are finding it harder to enjoy their habits in places public and private, indoors and out, for very good reasons.

All tobacco products contain dozens of known carcinogens. There is no longer any question of the connection between tobacco use, disease and death. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States - an estimated 438,000 deaths per year. So why would a responsible public institution, like a university, hospital, health or school district, want to invite the use of such products on their campuses?

Indoor smoking bans have become widespread, and as a result even smokers have come to accept them. But the new frontier in tobacco regulation is banning outdoor use as well. A 2006 Stanford University study published in the Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association indicates that exposure to secondhand smoke in outdoor settings, like sidewalk cafes and bars, can be as dangerous as indoor levels - even after accounting for pollution sources in the environment. Secondhand smoke is harmful wherever you're exposed to it.

Smoking bans have public health benefits beyond protecting non-smokers from second-hand smoke. Studies have shown that businesses that create smoke-free environments help their smoking employees reduce their cigarette consumption and improve their chances of quitting altogether. We can expect similar trends for students and employees at Boise State University.

In sheer economic terms, going tobacco-free makes sense, not just for Boise State University, but for every business. Consider that tobacco use is the leading cause of reduced worker productivity. Smokers are sick and miss work at a rate almost twice that of nonsmokers. The cost of health care for smokers is double that of nonsmokers. Businesses pay 12 times more in workers' compensation claims to smokers than nonsmokers. And smoke-free businesses may qualify for lower fire insurance costs.

Comparing tobacco use to other health conditions, like obesity and diabetes, Ferdinand Schlapper, executive director for Health, Wellness and Counseling Services at Boise State, probably said it best: "The health problems with sugar, fat, salt and alcohol stem from the misuse, overuse and abuse of these products. Tobacco is the only product that, when used properly, as directed, leads to severe illness and premature death."

Boise State University is exhibiting leadership with the proposal to ban smoking on campus, and other organizations should follow suit. If you are a tobacco user, I encourage you to consider quitting; it will improve your health and that of the people around you.

Banning smoking at Boise State University is a start toward a healthier community - one in which we can all breathe easier.

Joanne Graff is program coordinator for Tobacco Prevention, Tobacco Cessation, and Cancer Control with the Central District Health Department.