Pubdate: Wed, 27 Nov 2002 Source: West Hawaii Today (HI) Copyright: 2002 West Hawaii Today Contact: http://westhawaiitoday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/644 Author: Kevin Kunz, M.D. DRUG-FREE MEANS TOBACCO-FREE Dr. Kunz is a specialist in Addiction Medicine, and a member of the West Hawaii Tobacco Free Coalition. There are many reasons to ban tobacco in public places, but I believe that the following are the top 10. For the benefit of our children, let's state clearly: "drug free means tobacco free." 10. Freedom to smoke cannot be freedom to harm. The Freedom-to-Smoke tobacco lobby was conceived and financed by the tobacco industry. Except for tobacco growing states, this argument is now generally accepted as bogus, dishonest and self-serving. We all share the right to seek health, happiness and freedom. 9. Environmentally safe alternatives exist. Environmentally acceptable forms of tobacco and nicotine are available. For smokers who are addicted, there are many alternative forms of nicotine, which are harmless to others. These include snuff, pinch, chew, nicotine gum, nicotine patches, nicotine inhalers, and nicotine nasal spray. Tobacco in small, clean oral pouches is now available to place by the gums. These products give the needed nicotine fix. The cost is similar to cigarettes. Many nicotine-addicted persons already use these products when flying. Alternative nicotine drug delivery systems do not expose others to the toxic and carcinogenic risk of tobacco smoke. 8. Oahu and Maui are showing us the way. The smoking ban on these islands was passed after public, open debate. The acceptance of a smokeless policy is widespread, and there is no reason to think the Big Island will be unique. 7. Smokers are taxed and treated unfairly. Hawaii has one of the highest tobacco taxes in the country, and it is scheduled to increase. And the Master Tobacco Settlement Fund for Hawaii - $1.38 billion - has minimal contributions to spend on smokers addiction (only 12.5 percent over 25 years). It is true - smokers won't be getting their fair share of tobacco tax or settlement money. If we can help them quit by limiting their smoking opportunities, they, too, will be better off financially. 6. Doomsday economic predictions have not materialized. Jurisdictions that have mandated smoke-free public places have not had the economic downturn that the pro-smoke lobby predicted, and the overall economic advantages have been positive. On the Big Island, the first smoke-free restaurant was Bianelli's, 13 years ago. They didn't lose business, and, in fact, have tripled their seating. 5. Employee and patron health. Non-smokers who are exposed to cigarette smoke have higher rates of abnormal lung function, respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer than their counterparts who work in tobacco-free environments. There is no justification for non-smoking employees or patrons to suffer damage to their health while they are at work, or in a public place. 4. Public pressure helps smokers quit. Despite all of the scientific facts regarding tobacco disease and death, the general knowledge that even smokers have about tobacco's harm, and even though 70 percent of smokers want to quit when asked, knowledge and desire have proven inadequate in curtailing the American tobacco epidemic. Believe it or not, the most successful element in the campaign to reduce tobacco consumption in the United States has been the "non-smoker's rights" movement. By insisting on smoke-free environments for everyone, tobacco-free advocates are enhancing the chances for better health and longevity for smokers especially. 3. Addiction is a disease. It is a brain disease. Why use a drug that will change your brain, not just when you use it, but for a long time? The hallmarks of addiction are denial (I smoke because I like the taste, I can quit any time), lack of control over drug use (can't stop even for a short time in a restaurant?) continued use despite consequences (50 percent of smokers with lung cancer keep smoking after surgery), and the compulsion to use the drug against your will and best intentions. Tobacco is the crack cocaine form of nicotine. People who smoke tobacco become quickly and severely addicted to nicotine. They are not bad people, just addicted. 2. Successful quit therapies are available. Ninety percent of ex-smokers have quit without professional help, support groups, or nicotine replacement systems. Most of them tried multiple times before quitting for good. So, don't give up. But for the hard-core nicotine addict, many effective therapies are available. In addition to nicotine replacement products like nicotine gum and patches, you can easily receive prescription nicotine products and medications from your doctor. There are also cessation support groups, most of which are free. Finally, some of that settlement money from Big Tobacco is funding a program on the Big Island to help you quit, and those services are free (call locally 647-QUIT). 1. Drug-free means tobacco-free. If we want our young people to learn that their lives will be better without addictive drugs, we have to let them know we mean all addictive drugs. We have to be honest. No double messages. Legal drugs are not necessarily less harmful than illicit drugs. In fact, some are much worse. And especially for our teens, tobacco is the gateway drug. Most experts agree that drug dependence is a childhood disease almost all people with a drug problem started in adolescence, with tobacco. Our message as a community has to be clear: We oppose the use of all dangerous drugs, and that includes all tobacco products. Let's get this tobacco issue settled; we have the ice epidemic to fight. Kevin Kunz, M.D. Kailua-Kona - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk