Ban compliance proves costly

By KAY SEDGMER, Times Leader Staff Writer
YESTERDAY MARKED the first anniversary of Ohio’s controversial smoking ban in public places.

Passed by Ohio voters in November 2006, enforcement of the smoking ban began on May 3, 2007. The law prohibits people from lighting up inside public buildings and places of employment.

The ban was expected to project patrons and employees from the health hazardous of tobacco smoke. As a result, restaurants, bars, clubs, bowling alleys and other such places have removed ashtrays from their tables.

A year into enforcement of Ohio’s smoking ban, essentially an unfunded mandate, compliance has proved to be a costly venture.

Some local health departments do the investigation when a complaint is made, while a few counties has opted out of enforcing the ban and rely on the state’s Department of Health.

Initially, eight counties throughout Ohio said no to enforcing the ban, including Harrison County. “Since that time an additional eight counties or so have dropped out also,” said Jamie Howell, Harrison County Health Department Administrator. “Our board realized the expense would just be too much for the county.”

Statewide statistics show only 22 reports of infractions have been made in Harrison County.

The Belmont County Health Department does complete investigation and has had over 200 complaints filed in the past year.

All complaints concerning businesses or any other public place not enforcing the ban should be addressed to the Ohio Department of Health at www.odh.state.oh.us or by calling 1-866-559-6446.

Statewide, a number of employers have started offering or paying for tobacco cessation programs and services for their employees. Some public and private employers are choosing to charge higher health insurance premiums for employees who use tobacco. Still others have gone further by implementing policies for hiring only non-smokers.

According to statistics, when employees smoke less, productivity goes up. A 1999 study on the costs of smoking shows that the indirect costs due to lost productivity from smoking-related illnesses were $1.5 billion.

Locally, the Health Plan of the Upper Ohio Valley is currently conducting cessation programs facilitated through the American Lung Association. Deb Diter and Joy Gillespie present the eight-week program.

“We meet once a week throughout the program,” said Diter. “The program is free to the public and we follow the guidelines provided through the Lung Association.”

She said anyone interested in the cessation program should contact her or Gillespie at (740) 695-3585 or 1-800-624-6961.

Barnesville Hospital has been named a Quit Site Hospital and is in the midst of a session program.

“People can call and get additional information for smoking cessation and also inquire into our next session,” said Jeff Britton, Cardio Pulmonary and Physician Relations. He also said the facility is working to become a smoke-free campus. For more information or details on the programs offered through the hospital, call (740) 425-3941.

Carole Patton, Executive Assistance at Harrison Community Hospital in Cadiz, said the hospital’s Cardio-Pulmonary Department does have a great deal of information available to residents who wish to stop smoking. “People can call the hospital to obtain the information,” she said. The number is (740) 942-2623.

East Ohio Regional Hospital does not have a public program but does have one for in-patients according to Diana Laroche of the Cardio-Pulmonary Department.

Carol Zimmerman of Lesic & Camper Communications in Columbus said numerous programs are available statewide. “Many are provided through local hospitals,” she said. “The American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society also have programs.”

If you need assistance locating businesses and organizations in your community participating in cessation programs, please contact Zimmerman at czimmerman@lesiccamper.com or (614) 224-0794.

Sedgmer may be reached at ksedgmer@timesleaderonline.com