Stephanie Nathan: Limiting smoking in homes improves health for all

Re the blog “Anxiety grows among smokers in public housing with new tobacco free rule” (Sept. 26, www.mercedsunstar.com): Smoke-free multi-unit housing is not new. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued policy memos in 2009 and 2010 to strongly encourage local public housing authorities to implement non-smoking policies in some or all public housing units. The Surgeon General issued a “Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes” in 2009, recommending eliminating second-hand smoke to protect in homes.

As the article points out, 26 housing authorities statewide had adopted smoke-free policies for some or all units. In April 2014, the American Lung Association surveyed Merced County residents living in multi-unit housing to gauge the level of support for smoke-free housing; 69 percent of county residents favored prohibiting smoking in the outdoor common areas, including swimming pools, play areas and courtyards.

Implementing smoke-free policies protect the elderly and young and people with chronic illnesses. Low-income residents in public housing complexes who are involuntarily exposed to second-hand smoke might have limited alternative housing options or be unable to move. Smoke can migrate between units in multifamily housing, causing respiratory illness, heart disease, cancer and other adverse effects for neighboring families.

The Merced County Department of Public Health should continue to work with the Merced Housing Authority to provide education and cessation classes.

This story was originally published October 5, 2015 at 12:57 PM with the headline "Stephanie Nathan: Limiting smoking in homes improves health for all."